Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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14 NOV. 19, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TYLER HORKA K evin Ramsey was on the field at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., when he received a text. "Did you see? Are you there?" "No, what happened?" Ramsey re- sponded. "He scored a touchdown." Ramsey's heart crashed through the turf — in a good way. The best way. There was a time when he didn't know if he'd ever see Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Prince Kollie, his protégé and forever friend wrapped into one, enter the end zone in a college football game like he did to open the scoring in a 35-14 upset of then-No. 4 Clemson Nov. 5. There was a time when Ramsey didn't know who he was. Or who Kollie was. Or anything else about himself and the life he lived. Ramsey, Kollie's wide receivers coach at Jonesborough (Tenn.) David Crock- ett High School, fell ill with COVID-19 soon after the completion of Kollie's se- nior season. He also suffered from a se- rious bout with pneumonia. The illness prompted renal failure. Delirium set in. "I almost died twice," Ramsey told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I spent about four days really only knowing my name." A 23-year Air Force veteran, Ramsey was isolated at the local Veterans Ad- ministration hospital for eight days in November 2020. Nobody was allowed to visit him as the public pushed through the pandemic. Ramsey was mentally incapac- itated to the point of not remembering his iPhone passcode. The only time he spoke with family was when his wife called, and he was able to press the answer button. Those conversations were spent coax- ing Ramsey back into his right state of mind. He had helpers in doing so on his wrist, too; one black wristband with the word "REMEMBER" in big, bold, white lettering and another white one with a gold, interlocking Notre Dame logo. Kollie committed to the Fighting Irish three months prior. Ramsey was his right- hand man in getting him to that point. The two share a bond rooted in recruiting road trips that spawned eight-hour con- versations about adversity, leadership, life goals and, of course, football. The sport was the reason Ramsey wore the Notre Dame wristband, after all. But he wouldn't have donned it if Kollie did not mean the world to him. Every time Ramsey's wife hung up the phone, Kollie was on her call list. He made sure of it. He relayed what she told him to his teammates at David Crockett. He or- chestrated prayer vigils. He disseminated updates to then-Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea and graduate as- sistant Nick Lezynski, who Ramsey had formed relationships with while the Irish pursued Kollie as a prospect. Lezynski lit a candle at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes every day while Ramsey was in the hospital. The more Ramsey stared at his Notre Dame wrist- band, the more it all came back to him. He had people who loved him. People praying for him to make it through, Kollie as instrumental as Ramsey's kin, chieftains of the crusade. Kollie said if it wasn't for Ramsey's support, he wouldn't have enrolled at a prestigious program like Notre Dame. Standing by Ramsey's bedside in spirit was a form of reciprocation. "He's done so much for me that it was only right," Kollie told Blue & Gold Il- lustrated. "I felt obligated to do what I could, say my prayers and be there for him and his family. That was a tough time for him. I felt like it was my duty, so that's what I did." There's a sense of power in persistent purpose that always seems to overcome even the toughest of odds. "The more I was able to remember about Prince and his recruitment and all the trips we went on helped to bring me out of it," Ramsey said. "My family, Prince, a lot of players I coached and a Fender guitar probably saved my life." SELFLESS NATURE The guitar is a vehicle of therapy. A SHINING LIGHT Notre Dame linebacker Prince Kollie has formed an unbreakable bond with his high school wide receivers coach Kevin Ramsey Ramsey and Kollie formed an everlasting friendship on recruiting road trips. Ramsey said that having Kollie by his side and recalling the memories the two made together during those trips helped him sur- vive a life-threatening bout with COVID-19. PHOTO COURTESY KEVIN RAMSEY