Photos: Football Players Grant Teammate His Final Wish

As Malik Sparkman started to succumb to the final stages of
kidney cancer, the 18-year-old linebacker told his high school teammates that
he had one request: after he died, would they carry his coffin through the
football tunnel? He wanted one last trip onto the field, a trip they’d taken so
many times together.

The high school junior, who was reportedly being recruited
by Florida State, passed away on May 17. Days later, his teammates granted this
final wish. Wearing black jerseys, five teammates carried his coffin through
the Coffee (Coffee County, Ga.) High School football field tunnel, across the
field, and into the school, where more than 500 friends and family had gathered
for a memorial service.

In photos posted on Facebook, the description says the boys
“held their heads high until the video started showing a clip of Malik.”
As their late friend’s face appeared on the screen, the boys started to cry. “Malik
was certainly special to all of them. Every time I called him and check on him,
he’d always say ‘I am great coach. Sparkman never complained about the pain,
his coach said.

His girlfriend described him as a great fighter saying he
has always said he will never give up.

Facebook and Twitter have been flooded with love and support
for Sparkman and the community.