'The King' of the sideline

Clovis East sophomore Markie Gassett doesn't let the fact he can't play sports keep him from being a part of the Timberwolves' football team

By Morgan Steger / Special to The Independent Friday, Mar. 28, 2008

Clovis East sophomore Mark Gassett loves football -- the only problem is he can't play sports.

But Mark, often called "Markie" around campus, hasn't let the heart condition that prevents him from working up a sweat on the gridiron keep him off the field.

In fact, he's become a local celebrity of sorts, the king of the Clovis East High sideline, where he can be seen at every game in his Timberwolves jersey cheering and making his rounds as a varsity ball boy and water boy.

"Everybody actually knows me," Markie said.

Except for the time out he took to recover from heart surgery last season, Markie has been a constant presence on the Clovis East sideline since he was a fifth-grader at Tarpey Elementary School.

It was his older brother Scott, a Clovis East graduate and former football player, who encouraged Markie to take the position of team water boy, said Markie's mother, Barbara Gassett.

"He's just been a part of the Clovis East tradition from then on," she said.

In the fall, weekends center around football at the Gassett home.

"We start Friday night at 11 o'clock with all the football scores, and the TV stays on football all weekend," Barbara said.

She makes a point of coming to all of Markie's games. Often his four siblings, all high school-age or older, come along too.

Markie's father, Russell Gassett, was also a game-day regular until he passed away in 2003.

"He misses his dad," Barbara said. "He's looking for someone to play football with him at night. It's been hard on the whole family."

Markie, who wants to coach intermediate school football when he grows up, lives for game nights.

On the sideline, Markie has gradually branched out from his original tasks of collecting footballs and busing water to players, said Clovis East varsity football coach Tim Murphy.

"He's kind of just become an honorary member of the team," Murphy said. "Pretty much whatever Markie wants to do, he gets to do. He's kind of a jack of all trades."

Part of being an honorary team member is taking part in the celebration when the Timberwolves defeat an opponent.

"I feel pretty happy," said Markie, of the Timberwolves' victories. "I go home and I have fun; I scream."

Motivating the team to win is one of Markie's favorite things about his job -- that and the silver and navy jersey emblazoned with a large No. 1 he's been sporting this season.

"I actually pump up the crowd and I get the team pumped up for the game," he said.

As for the numeral on his team jersey, well it symbolizes that he's the No. 1 "kid," said Markie, with a smile on his face.

If he gets his way this season, Clovis East just might be the No. 1 team, too.

"I think we might win Valley," Markie said.

Friendly Faces is an occasional series about people in Clovis who make it a great place to live. To nominate someone to be profiled in this series, please e-mail Patti J. Lippert at plippert@clovisindependent.com.