Post by trnyerheadncough on Feb 11, 2019 11:31:25 GMT -5
Great Story.
Schoffel: A thrilling Seminole win, a heart attack, a chop for the ages
There's no telling how many times Michael Fernandez's father has done the chop at Florida State sporting events.
Since attending the university in the early 1960s, he has been a football season ticket holder, a rabid fan of all FSU sports and an active member of Seminole Boosters.
He has bled garnet and gold for more than 50 years. In the late 1970s, he was a driving force behind the first FSU booster club in St. Petersburg. He was so tireless in his support of Seminole athletics that his son remembers Bobby Bowden coming by the house to visit.
“This guy is the epitome of a Florida State fan ... for life, man," Fernandez said. "Through thick and thin, the guy’s been solid. He’s like the perfect fan."
'He's such a die-hard 'Nole'
Saturday morning started like so many others for the Fernandez family. Michael and his father, who is now 77, left their homes near St. Pete and made the more than four-hour drive to Tallahassee. The patriarch doesn't make it up for as many events as he used to -- he recently gave up his football season tickets after many years -- so Michael was excited to bring him back up for Saturday's men's basketball game between No. 16 Louisville and the No. 22 Seminoles.
“We’re both die-hard Noles," said Michael, who graduated from Florida State in 1991 and now has a daughter attending the school. "We hadn’t gone to a game together in awhile, so I thought it would be a good father-son thing to do." It was a perfect trip, in so many ways. The father and son chatted the whole way up. They talked about sports and family, reminisced about old games and discussed the state of the football program. Michael listened to his father relive old memories, like sitting in the stands and watching Fred Biletnikoff help the 'Noles record their first win over rival Florida back in '64.
"He was at that game!" Fernandez said in a tone of amazement. Like all longtime Florida State fans, they have seen so many wins and defeats. Celebrated national championships. Lamented losses to rivals.In that regard, as well, Saturday was such a good day.
Florida State got off to a slow start and had to claw from behind the entire game. The Cardinals were the aggressor early, they hit some big shots in the second half and suddenly led by 10 points with less than 10 minutes remaining. The Seminoles kept battling back, however, and eventually forced the game into overtime, where they would roll to an 80-75 victory.
It was a thrilling game. A wonderful win. The kind Fernandez and his father will likely reminisce about for years to come, even if the 77-year-old didn't exactly enjoy every minute at the time.
“He gets so intense that he sometimes can’t watch games on TV," Michael said. "When the games get that tense when he's watching at home, he sometimes will turn the games off. He can’t watch because he gets so nervous -- he’s that into it.
"He’s such a die-hard 'Nole. I mean literally.”
Once Saturday's game ended, the cheers subsided and the fans started heading for the exits, Michael and his father had one last bit of unfinished business. They strolled toward the middle of the court to get a closer view of legendary ESPN announcer Dick Vitale. Maybe they would say hello and share how much they enjoy his work. Perhaps they'd just watch him finish the broadcast. As it turned out, they would get the chance to do neither. As soon as they approached the announcers' area, Fernandez's father grabbed a seat in the fourth row and quietly said to his son, "I don't feel so good."
Michael, who works in healthcare and could see the distress in his father's face, didn't waste a moment asking questions. He sprinted up the arena steps and found a Tucker Center staff member, who immediately radioed for help. By the time Michael raced back to his father's side, a firefighter/paramedic and a Florida State University Police officer, Sgt. Jeremy Izquierdo, were by his side. The father was experiencing chest pains and sliding in and out of consciousness.
“He did not look good," Michael said. "We had to physically carry him down to the court. He could not walk.” Most of the next several minutes were a blur filled with adrenaline and fear.
"Stay with me. Stay with me."
That's what Michael remembers telling his father over and over. Suddenly, they were surrounded by people rushing in different directions. Someone calling for an ambulance. Someone locating a portable oxygen tank. Someone calling the locker room for FSU's team physicians -- Dr. Todd Hewitt and Dr. Jason Oberste.
“The first responders were fantastic," Fernandez said. "He was really struggling. But as soon as they laid him on the court, and they put the oxygen on him, the physicians came out of the locker room and they started talking to him and asking questions. He was answering the questions -- he was still in pain, but he was answering the questions.
"They did a phenomenal job. I’m so thankful for them, because they were there before the ambulance got there.” What Fernandez didn't realize was that a group of about 100 fans also remained in the stands watching the drama unfold. They stood silently as his father was stretched out on the basketball court floor. They likely said prayers as one of the workers started doing chest compressions to keep his weakened heart beating. For several minutes, there were no visual signs of whether the longtime Florida State fan was going to make it out of the building alive.
Michael Fernandez still can't believe he didn't see it. He thinks he was busy talking with one of the team physicians or one of the first responders. Everything was a blur. The ambulance had just pulled into one corner of the Tucker Center, and his father was beginning to show show signs of improvement. He was feeling so much better that he actually sat up slowly on his own. Within an instant, the anxious fans in the stands let out a cheer of support and applause.
“That was pretty cool," Fernandez said. "We didn't even know people were watching." Then a moment later, there was an even louder cheer. While Fernandez had his back turned, his father did the one thing that came natural in his groggy state. Before getting onto a stretcher, being carried into the ambulance and driven to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, the 77-year-old die-hard Seminole raised one of his arms, turned toward the fans and did Florida State's iconic chop.
"I didn't even see it," his son said, "but I heard the crowd respond." It was actually more than an hour later that Fernandez first learned what his father had done. How he became the subject of a viral post on the social networking app Twitter. Fernandez has a Twitter account and checks it occasionally. The last post he made before Saturday was in 2016. Before that, his last activity was retweeting a post by former FSU quarterback EJ Manuel in 2012.
But there would be no missing this trending topic. While sitting in the hospital, Fernandez quickly asked his father if this was true. Was he really doing the chop in the midst of having what doctors later determined to be a mild heart attack?
"Yes, I was doing it," the father responded. Of course he was. How else would a 'Nole tell other 'Noles that he's not done yet? When Fernandez responded to the original tweet to let everyone know that his father was recovering in the hospital, he really came to understand the reach of social media and the passion of the Florida State fan base. Within minutes, he was receiving scores of well-wishes from complete strangers. Then came the text messages and phone calls from friends and family.
“Now I’m getting calls from my buddies in Denver and Dallas saying, ‘Hey, is that your dad?!’” Fernandez said with a laugh. "They were reading about it on Twitter and on Warchant.
“I’ve just been totally blown away by all the support from these random strangers, all these people reaching out and saying, ‘Prayers for your dad.’ It’s heartwarming, man. It’s crazy, I never would’ve expected it.
"It just goes to show how great our fans are, no matter what. So what we had a bad season in football ... we have a damn good fan base. And I’ll be a 'Nole for life, but this kind of reinforces it for me. And I’ve been a fan since I was 10 years old.”
Fernandez said his father appreciates the support as well -- "I read him some of the responses on Twitter, and he can't believe it" -- although he is a little bit embarrassed about all the attention. For that reason, the father asked not to have his name published in this article. Michael originally considered not granting an interview as well, which is totally understandable. After watching your father suffer a heart attack and then undergo an emergency medical procedure at the hospital, speaking with a reporter isn't usually the preferred next step. But Michael decided to go ahead with it for two reasons.
Number one, he wanted to personally -- and publicly -- thank the first responders, team physicians and others who helped save his father's life. And number two, he wanted his father's love for Florida State to be celebrated.
“I appreciate you doing this, because I’m proud of him for being a lifelong 'Nole," Fernandez said. "He’s put so much time and energy and money into supporting the program … he’s been a booster forever." By the time we talked Sunday afternoon, Fernandez had so much to be thankful for. The fast response on Saturday, the quality care over the weekend, and the fact that his father appears to be on the path to a full recovery.
“He should be fine, thank God," Fernandez said. "It could’ve been really bad.”
If the heart attack had happened 10 or 15 minutes earlier, it might have interrupted the game. If it had happened 10 or 15 minutes later, they could have been in the car stuck in traffic. Instead, Fernandez and his father were right where they were supposed to be. Surrounded by fellow Seminoles. Doing the chop after another FSU victory.
“The chop was just awesome," Fernandez said. "It should be like a symbol for something. We’ve had a rough year at FSU. We’ve all been disappointed. But this is a little more than just about winning or losing football games.”
It is, indeed.
Schoffel: A thrilling Seminole win, a heart attack, a chop for the ages
There's no telling how many times Michael Fernandez's father has done the chop at Florida State sporting events.
Since attending the university in the early 1960s, he has been a football season ticket holder, a rabid fan of all FSU sports and an active member of Seminole Boosters.
He has bled garnet and gold for more than 50 years. In the late 1970s, he was a driving force behind the first FSU booster club in St. Petersburg. He was so tireless in his support of Seminole athletics that his son remembers Bobby Bowden coming by the house to visit.
“This guy is the epitome of a Florida State fan ... for life, man," Fernandez said. "Through thick and thin, the guy’s been solid. He’s like the perfect fan."
'He's such a die-hard 'Nole'
Saturday morning started like so many others for the Fernandez family. Michael and his father, who is now 77, left their homes near St. Pete and made the more than four-hour drive to Tallahassee. The patriarch doesn't make it up for as many events as he used to -- he recently gave up his football season tickets after many years -- so Michael was excited to bring him back up for Saturday's men's basketball game between No. 16 Louisville and the No. 22 Seminoles.
“We’re both die-hard Noles," said Michael, who graduated from Florida State in 1991 and now has a daughter attending the school. "We hadn’t gone to a game together in awhile, so I thought it would be a good father-son thing to do." It was a perfect trip, in so many ways. The father and son chatted the whole way up. They talked about sports and family, reminisced about old games and discussed the state of the football program. Michael listened to his father relive old memories, like sitting in the stands and watching Fred Biletnikoff help the 'Noles record their first win over rival Florida back in '64.
"He was at that game!" Fernandez said in a tone of amazement. Like all longtime Florida State fans, they have seen so many wins and defeats. Celebrated national championships. Lamented losses to rivals.In that regard, as well, Saturday was such a good day.
Florida State got off to a slow start and had to claw from behind the entire game. The Cardinals were the aggressor early, they hit some big shots in the second half and suddenly led by 10 points with less than 10 minutes remaining. The Seminoles kept battling back, however, and eventually forced the game into overtime, where they would roll to an 80-75 victory.
It was a thrilling game. A wonderful win. The kind Fernandez and his father will likely reminisce about for years to come, even if the 77-year-old didn't exactly enjoy every minute at the time.
“He gets so intense that he sometimes can’t watch games on TV," Michael said. "When the games get that tense when he's watching at home, he sometimes will turn the games off. He can’t watch because he gets so nervous -- he’s that into it.
"He’s such a die-hard 'Nole. I mean literally.”
Once Saturday's game ended, the cheers subsided and the fans started heading for the exits, Michael and his father had one last bit of unfinished business. They strolled toward the middle of the court to get a closer view of legendary ESPN announcer Dick Vitale. Maybe they would say hello and share how much they enjoy his work. Perhaps they'd just watch him finish the broadcast. As it turned out, they would get the chance to do neither. As soon as they approached the announcers' area, Fernandez's father grabbed a seat in the fourth row and quietly said to his son, "I don't feel so good."
Michael, who works in healthcare and could see the distress in his father's face, didn't waste a moment asking questions. He sprinted up the arena steps and found a Tucker Center staff member, who immediately radioed for help. By the time Michael raced back to his father's side, a firefighter/paramedic and a Florida State University Police officer, Sgt. Jeremy Izquierdo, were by his side. The father was experiencing chest pains and sliding in and out of consciousness.
“He did not look good," Michael said. "We had to physically carry him down to the court. He could not walk.” Most of the next several minutes were a blur filled with adrenaline and fear.
"Stay with me. Stay with me."
That's what Michael remembers telling his father over and over. Suddenly, they were surrounded by people rushing in different directions. Someone calling for an ambulance. Someone locating a portable oxygen tank. Someone calling the locker room for FSU's team physicians -- Dr. Todd Hewitt and Dr. Jason Oberste.
“The first responders were fantastic," Fernandez said. "He was really struggling. But as soon as they laid him on the court, and they put the oxygen on him, the physicians came out of the locker room and they started talking to him and asking questions. He was answering the questions -- he was still in pain, but he was answering the questions.
"They did a phenomenal job. I’m so thankful for them, because they were there before the ambulance got there.” What Fernandez didn't realize was that a group of about 100 fans also remained in the stands watching the drama unfold. They stood silently as his father was stretched out on the basketball court floor. They likely said prayers as one of the workers started doing chest compressions to keep his weakened heart beating. For several minutes, there were no visual signs of whether the longtime Florida State fan was going to make it out of the building alive.
Michael Fernandez still can't believe he didn't see it. He thinks he was busy talking with one of the team physicians or one of the first responders. Everything was a blur. The ambulance had just pulled into one corner of the Tucker Center, and his father was beginning to show show signs of improvement. He was feeling so much better that he actually sat up slowly on his own. Within an instant, the anxious fans in the stands let out a cheer of support and applause.
“That was pretty cool," Fernandez said. "We didn't even know people were watching." Then a moment later, there was an even louder cheer. While Fernandez had his back turned, his father did the one thing that came natural in his groggy state. Before getting onto a stretcher, being carried into the ambulance and driven to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, the 77-year-old die-hard Seminole raised one of his arms, turned toward the fans and did Florida State's iconic chop.
"I didn't even see it," his son said, "but I heard the crowd respond." It was actually more than an hour later that Fernandez first learned what his father had done. How he became the subject of a viral post on the social networking app Twitter. Fernandez has a Twitter account and checks it occasionally. The last post he made before Saturday was in 2016. Before that, his last activity was retweeting a post by former FSU quarterback EJ Manuel in 2012.
But there would be no missing this trending topic. While sitting in the hospital, Fernandez quickly asked his father if this was true. Was he really doing the chop in the midst of having what doctors later determined to be a mild heart attack?
"Yes, I was doing it," the father responded. Of course he was. How else would a 'Nole tell other 'Noles that he's not done yet? When Fernandez responded to the original tweet to let everyone know that his father was recovering in the hospital, he really came to understand the reach of social media and the passion of the Florida State fan base. Within minutes, he was receiving scores of well-wishes from complete strangers. Then came the text messages and phone calls from friends and family.
“Now I’m getting calls from my buddies in Denver and Dallas saying, ‘Hey, is that your dad?!’” Fernandez said with a laugh. "They were reading about it on Twitter and on Warchant.
“I’ve just been totally blown away by all the support from these random strangers, all these people reaching out and saying, ‘Prayers for your dad.’ It’s heartwarming, man. It’s crazy, I never would’ve expected it.
"It just goes to show how great our fans are, no matter what. So what we had a bad season in football ... we have a damn good fan base. And I’ll be a 'Nole for life, but this kind of reinforces it for me. And I’ve been a fan since I was 10 years old.”
Fernandez said his father appreciates the support as well -- "I read him some of the responses on Twitter, and he can't believe it" -- although he is a little bit embarrassed about all the attention. For that reason, the father asked not to have his name published in this article. Michael originally considered not granting an interview as well, which is totally understandable. After watching your father suffer a heart attack and then undergo an emergency medical procedure at the hospital, speaking with a reporter isn't usually the preferred next step. But Michael decided to go ahead with it for two reasons.
Number one, he wanted to personally -- and publicly -- thank the first responders, team physicians and others who helped save his father's life. And number two, he wanted his father's love for Florida State to be celebrated.
“I appreciate you doing this, because I’m proud of him for being a lifelong 'Nole," Fernandez said. "He’s put so much time and energy and money into supporting the program … he’s been a booster forever." By the time we talked Sunday afternoon, Fernandez had so much to be thankful for. The fast response on Saturday, the quality care over the weekend, and the fact that his father appears to be on the path to a full recovery.
“He should be fine, thank God," Fernandez said. "It could’ve been really bad.”
If the heart attack had happened 10 or 15 minutes earlier, it might have interrupted the game. If it had happened 10 or 15 minutes later, they could have been in the car stuck in traffic. Instead, Fernandez and his father were right where they were supposed to be. Surrounded by fellow Seminoles. Doing the chop after another FSU victory.
“The chop was just awesome," Fernandez said. "It should be like a symbol for something. We’ve had a rough year at FSU. We’ve all been disappointed. But this is a little more than just about winning or losing football games.”
It is, indeed.
