In football-obsessed Oxford, Mississippi, Nacoma James was a beloved high school football coach and math teacher at Lafayette High School. In August, James died due to complications of coronavirus. In September, the school decided to play football this season. James’ widow Laticia supports the team, even as she struggles to find her way back to socializing in a town centered on the sport. ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill shares the story of James’ life and untimely death at age 42, and weighs the community’s pain at his loss, alongside the risk of the pandemic and its deep love of football.
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