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Malbis Tiger
(68.63.35.13) on 11/10/2008 - 1:07 p.m. says: ( 29 views
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"Virgil Starks was killed in a car accident...."
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Virgil Starks was killed in a car accident after the game Saturday night. It is thought that he had a heart attack while driving. In case you didn't know (I didn't) he was Senior Associate AD/Student Athlete Support services. He has been in charge of the academic center for athletes, and was been instrumental in our superior graduation rate. He was very proud of the center and the student athletes in his charge.
Please keep Virgil’s family, his wife and daughters in your prayers. Also read the comments below from Cole Bennett's mother - apparently, based on some context, flea'd from another message board. I got them in my email:
Comments about Virgil and the rest of the Auburn staff
I guess I need to introduce myself. I'm Cole Bennett's mom. We were first introduced to the Auburn program more than six years ago when Auburn began to recruit Cole. My husband came home from a visit and told me that he was really impressed with someone named Virgil Starks. Virgil and Coach Tuberville made several things quite clear from the beginning. They both promised that our son would work harder than he ever had in his life, and that he would get a quality education. Those were the expectations. And they were right. That is exactly the way that it was.
In the midst of magical years, like 2004, and not so great years, like 2003, the boys were expected to work hard on the field and get better as well as attend class and get an education. That meant showing up for class to face the student body when we won and when we lost. We never felt that the education side of our son's time there was slighted. He was a student first, then an athlete.
We spoke with Virgil many many times over the years. He always seemed to find us at Tiger Walk. You know, he didn't have to go, but I know he was there because of the boys. He cared deeply for Auburn athletes. I know he wanted them to know that he supported them one hundred percent. I'm not surprised at all that he volunteered to stand up with a player for senior day. That is just the kind of man he was. We never saw him without that wonderful warm smile. He always told us how much he appreciated our giving Cole to Auburn. We always knew that he was there when Cole needed him. In fact, I called him a couple of weeks ago. I had a question, and I knew that if Virgil didn't know the answer, he would tell me who would. He did, and we had nice conversation. I'm glad I had that chance to speak to him one more time.
I've read this message board for many years. Many times, I had to bite my tongue and sit on my hands to keep from responding. I've been a high school coach's wife for 27 years. I've watched hundreds and hundreds of games. At times, it was three or four a week! I may not know all the ins and outs of football, but I've picked up a little bit of knowledge along the way. What I do know is the type of people I want working with my sons. Coach Tuberville and his staff and the support people like Virgil are class acts. They are good men who love Auburn and these kids. Otherwise, they would have moved on to other jobs. I know it's all about winning. Believe me, we've been fired for losing too many games, but I would dearly HATE to see Auburn lose the team of coaches we have. It is no accident that Auburn has such a fabulous graduation rate and that we don't have kids getting arrested right and left.
Coaching is a funny business. You're winning and you are a genius. Start losing, and you are suddenly the village idiot. Go figure!
We were close to the program for six years. I can't tell you how much we love Auburn and Auburn football. In that time, if there were anything that we were not proud of, we would have found it. It's a class act. I hope we don't lose sight of that in the midst of a difficult year.
Auburn will miss Virgil immensely. He was man of class and character. What a fine Auburn man!
War Eagle!
Teresa Bennett
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A high station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace. Tennessee Williams  
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