Matthew Clayton Ludlow: September 1, 1988 – July 10, 2011

The title to this blog only tells half the story.

The dates reveal that a young man has died. Even without knowing how he died, you sense the tragedy in the situation. Even without knowing the young man, you understand the grief that has struck his family. Even without reading the obituary, you can feel the sorrow amongst his friends.

That tragedy, that grief, that sorrow, has an all too familiar refrain when you start to read some of the tributes posted and received about Matthew Clayton Ludlow.

“Too young, too soon… you’re already missed.”

“Our best intern ever. By far. Without a doubt.”

“Matt was unquestionably one of my all-time favourite students, a great young man who excelled in and out of the classroom. He was bright, engaging and friendly, a terrific personality, humble in his achievements, a great team player, a true pleasure to be around. Matt had already embarked on a successful career that held such promise and vast potential. His Durham College classmates and teachers are all deeply saddened by this tragic loss.”

“Even though you were the only player I never had to yell at, I still did just because.”
They come from his supervisor here at TrojanOne, his boss at the OCAA, and his program director at Durham College. This young man excelled in school. He excelled in his internships. He excelled here as an intern and event staffer. He was just beginning to excel in his new role at Rogers.

The last one comes from me. His coach. I actually wrote it in December 2005, on a framed photo featuring Matt and twenty-two other young men, who came together to bring me my favourite moment as a coach. An upset, Tier II City Championship against a fierce rival in a bitter November snowstorm. Matt Ludlow was a perfect part of that team. A team blessed with courage, talent and friendship.

My copy of that team photo hangs right beside my desk. It has for six years.
Matt was no role player on that team. Nor was he a hero. He was a big athletic kid, who played on both offensive and defensive line. He was a gentle giant who never complained. He was a tireless worker who never slacked off. When I was reminded of that quote today, by one of Matt’s teammates, it made me ball. Because it was true, I never had to yell at him.

I remember talking to his dad at our victory party. His dad had asked him the night before the game, how he and his teammates felt going up against our mighty opponent. Matt told his dad what I said to the team, despite our being a massive underdog, we would be okay. That we would win.

I guess when we won and the Toronto Sun headlined their article “Tier II Title Shocker,” they didn’t believe us. I am glad Matt and his teammates did.

The other half of the story is also in that picture near my desk. That other half is Matt’s smiling friend and teammate who drove the boat last Saturday night. They were just young kids coming home from a party. We have all done it.

But on that night something went wrong. Who knows what caused the crash into an immovable island on the Lake of Bays. Who knows why Matt died and three others lived. Who knows why this same sickening story happens on lakes across Canada every week, every summer.

I wish I could have been there on that early Sunday morning on the lake. To tell Matt once again that it would be okay. To give him the confidence I gave him six years ago. But those are just the words of a grieving old man.
One of my players is dead. Another is dying inside from being the cause. Their smiling faces on my wall are a distant memory.

I have watched the video of that miraculous game twice today. I will probably watch it a third time. The best part is seeing Matt dance across the field and lift our quarterback in the air, while his friend was already being interviewed on TV.

I wish we were still there. Me, those boys, on that snowy field. Celebrating.

Click here to view obituary for Matthew Clayton Ludlow