Oxford, AL – Versatile Burns playing for team, school. community and her ailing dad when Oxford play for the state flag football championship Wednesday
By Al Muskewitz
The moment the final whistle blew in their state semifinal victory, all the players on the Oxford girls flag football team rushed to the middle of Lamar Field, surrounded the logo in the middle of the field and symbolically thrust their flag into the artificial turf. Head coach Wes Brooks reminded them they were playing not only for themselves, but for their school, the 23,000 residents of the city of Oxford and their community. Ashlyn Burns has been playing for all of that – and a lot more.
If things go right, her dad Andrew will be somewhere in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium Wednesday watching his daughter and her team play Auburn High for the second state championship in the sport in state history. Ever since the onset of COVID, Andrew has been fighting what doctors finally diagnosed as two rare and incurable autoimmune disorders after months of testing and trials. Friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help the family through it. It’s for him she plays the hardest.
“My dad has coached me in every sport I played up to the past couple years because he couldn’t be there, so it means a lot to me to be able to play for him knowing he can’t be there sometimes,” Ashlyn said. “The days he’s not there, I get home and he’s talking about all the good plays I’ve had because sometimes they would live stream our games and he’d get to watch them. To know he came out there to watch me while he was in pain means a lot to me.” Andrew Burns had been a supervisor at the Anniston Army Depot, a national championship-winning coach and an active participant in all his kids’ activities, but since the onset of his illness he’s had to give up all of that. He can’t always make the games. The side effects of his monthly three-hour treatments leave him ill and weak. He has another round scheduled Tuesday and friends have been trying to make arrangements with state and stadium personnel to accommodate him in the event he feels strong enough to make the game. “I told (Ashlyn), my wife and a few others that no matter what I feel like I’m going to try to go,” Andrew said. “After the sessions I don’t feel like doing anything, but it’s going to be pretty tough to keep me from going to this.”
By mid-morning Monday plans had been confirmed to get him a suite in the stadium to watch the game. Former Faith Christian baseball coach Jason Pahman set the wheels in motion and is taking care of all the other arrangements. “This is awesome,” Pahman said. “I’m excited for him and Ashlyn and family for him to be able to go and be a part of this memory of hers. If I could help bring just a little joy in his life and help him feel better this will all be worthwhile. After all, isn’t this what high school sports is about – bringing teammates, fans, students and families together as one to accomplish a goal,win or lose that will bring everyone closer together.” The prospect of having her dad in attendance sure got Ashlyn excited. “It definitely would be a boost to see him up there watching me.” she said. “It would push me a lot more knowing that he came all the way to Auburn to watch, and he’s a huge Auburn fan.” [*** read more]
