Sierra football team remembers fallen teammate

ROCKLIN– Students, friends, family members and many other supporters of the Sierra College community and the Wolverine football team filled the west bleachers of the football field Wednesday evening to honor and remember a fallen friend. At the entrance of Homer "Buzz" Ostrom Stadium lay dozens of candles, some still burning, with trails off run-off wax from the previous few heart-sinking nights. Several pairs of cleats, footballs, gloves, bracelets and other trinkets of affection serve as the centerpiece of the vigil – all with some inscription sharpied in permanent ink with the theme of the unexpected and unwanted memorial. "LLC 27." Long Live Chance. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Wolverine football team was rocked with the tragic news of one of their own being taken way too soon. Chancelor "Chance" Fields-Colbert, a defensive back on the Sierra football team, was shot at what was supposed to be a going away party with friends at an Airbnb in Fair Oaks. He later died at a hospital from his injuries. He was 19. Wednesday at the Rocklin campus, Sierra football coach Ben Noonan addressed the crowd with memories of his former player, who had come to Sierra via West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, before the 2018 season – appropriately, by chance. Noonan was visiting Alaska for a football camp, scouting out other players who could potentially become future Wolverines. Fields-Colbert was not part of Noonan's group, but Noonan later received an email with a highlight reel. Fields-Colbert's athleticism impressed the head coach, and he was soon after a member of the Sierra football team in 2018. Fields-Colbert arrived in Rocklin as part of a trio of Alaska residents, including wide receiver Xavier Simon and quarterback Qyntyn Pilcher, who fought back tears Wednesday to speak about his best friend while surrounded by a host of teammates. "He was going to be an impact guy for us this year," said Noonan after the memorial. "He put on 20 pounds of muscle this offseason. He was ready. He was the next in line of our many kids who've signed Division I scholarships." Noonan also expressed why he'll remember Fields-Colbert the most. "Mr. Smile," Noonan said. "You can't talk to anyone that, if they described him, won't say something about his smile. He's mad at you and he's smiling. He's competing and he's smiling. Just that positivity epitomizes everything we want here at Sierra College." Several other Sierra players took the podium to share memories, poetry, tears and appreciation for the person Fields-Colbert was. He was commonly described as a very positive, uplifting and hard-working person who always had a smile on his face and was instantly liked by anyone he met. He was even described by a handful of incoming Sierra freshmen – through Noonan's speech – as the first one to greet the newcomers on the field and make them feel welcome. "His smile was the first thing I noticed," said Sierra sophomore defensive lineman Gabe Thomas. "Nice guy, easy to talk to. That's how we became friends." Other teammates remembered what kind of player Fields-Colbert was with the pads and helmet. "A grinder, he always grinds – 110 percent of the time," said sophomore Joshua Cannon. "He never took a play off. He never complained. And he was fast, real fast." Members of Fields-Colbert's family came from Fairbanks to be with the Sierra team, including his mother, Latissue Colbert, who seemed the most composed, surprisingly, of all who spoke. "I've learned that he has touched so many lives, not just in Fairbanks, but here in Rocklin, California," she said during her speech. "Growing up, we started calling him 'Chance'. Chance means the keeper of records in Heaven. He's taking records. He's keeping track." Sierra opens its 2019 season Sept. 7 with a 1 p.m. home kickoff against San Francisco, where the team will likely have some sort of honorary symbol for Fields-Colbert, the team said. "We have many ideas that have been brought to the table – we just want to do it the right way," said Noonan. "We won't be wearing his jersey this year. I just gave them both to his parents, so we don't even have a No. 27 anymore."