FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Sunnyside High School’s opening football game of the season carried extra weight as the community honored Robert Peele, a 14-year-old JV football player who died after an e-bike crash in July.
Before the game, the school held a moment of silence for Peele, known to friends as “Budda.”
Sunnyside High School’s opening football game of the season carried extra weight as the community honored Robert Peele, a 14-year-old JV football player who died after an e-bike crash in July (FOX26).
The tribute drew a large crowd, and emotions were high as players, coaches and families remembered a teammate they said was deeply loved.
Before the game, the school held a moment of silence for Peele, known to friends as “Budda” (PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT PEELE).
“Robert was an amazing person. He wasn’t just a great student. He was also a great football player. He was a great team member. He was an amazing person,” JV football coach Blane Cook said. “The world lost an amazing person, an amazing team member.”
Peele was riding his e-bike to practice in July when he was involved in a car crash and later died in the hospital, the day before his 15th birthday.
Peele was riding his e-bike to practice in July when he was involved in a car crash and later died in the hospital, the day before his 15th birthday (PHOTO: PHOTOJOURNALIST JOHN DWELLE).
“It would have been good to see him actually turn 15 and seeing the spirit that he was in and being able to run out with his teammates and actually play. It would have been a great sight to see,” Peele’s uncle said. “He had a big heart. He come from a good crop of football players already, and so he was just getting ready to really show his talent.”
Peele battled sickle cell disease, meaning he was not guaranteed to be put in the game depending on his health that day, but that it never stopped him from showing up.
During the varsity game, the school honored Peele’s memory by having his parents take part in the coin toss (PHOTO: PHOTOJOURNALIST RONNIE GERBER).
“Robert made a choice to come practice that day without even knowing if he could play the sport of football. He just wanted to be a person and a lot of us take our choices for granted. We have a choice to try,” Cook said.
The JV team won its first game of the season.
The JV team won its first game of the season (PHOTO: PHOTOJOURNALIST RONNIE GERBER).
During the varsity game, the school honored Peele’s memory by having his parents take part in the coin toss.
“I hope to honor him throughout this season, both with our play and both with instances like tonight because Robert’s legacy is going to live on,” Cook said.
The tribute comes as e-bike safety remains a growing conversation in the community.
At Fresno State, an e-bike ban went into effect yesterday, Aug. 19.
The ban includes motorized scooters, electric bicycles, mopeds, motorized skateboards and Segway-style devices, with exemptions for devices used for mobility purposes.