PARKLAND'S OWEN THOMAS DIED MONDAY AT UPENN

FROM KEITH GROLLER

I've spent several days dealing with all kinds of reaction to the Dieruff boys basketball hiring.

And to those connected with that program, you understand the passion and concerns of all involved, and in the end, you simply have to hope that the right thing was done.

But then in the middle of that, you get a jolt like learning that a kid who seemingly had it all -- great football player, getting a great education at one of the best institutions in the world, with seemingly everything in the palm of his hand -- decides to ends his life.

It's heartbreaking. Crushing. Simply devastating to all of us no matter how well we know the young man involved. Suddenly, coaching hires, no matter how controversial, don't seem as important.

It hurts because this just shouldn't be. We should not lose a young man this way.

Life is not supposed to work this way.

But with the passing on Monday of former Parkland and current University of Pennsylvania standout Owen Thomas we are all reminded that what we think we see, and know, is not always reality or the truth.

No matter what we think, we can't really get inside the head of someone else and know what they are thinking, feeling, and which demons they are struggling with.

I've spent time with football coach Jim Tkach in recent years and tried to support his work for the Bo Tkach Memorial Foundation as much as possible. Jim has dedicated his life to helping others and trying to stop this extraordinary pain and sense of loss from happening to others such as he and his family experienced a few years ago.

Jim's son, Bo, also took his own life and just like Owen Thomas, he, too, was a great athlete, great student with what appeared to be a fantastic, productive life ahead of him.

But inside, he was hurting, fighting an illness that took hold of him to the point of where no one else could reach him.

I don't know the particulars of Owen's life. All I knew of him as a reporter was that he was an outstanding football player, a leader on Parkland's great teams of recent history, and a person who I never heard a negative word about.

Over the years, you'll hear phrases like "head case" or "space cadet" or "he's from another planet" about certain kids. You don't write about them, but you hear them.

Those phrases did not apply to Owen Thomas, who was raised the right way and brought up to be a good athlete, good student, and a good person.

No one has all of the answers as to why this kind of stuff happens. All I know is that when a kid is dealing with an injury, or an illness, or a disease, they are usually detectable. And because they are detectable, a battle plan can be formed and treatment can be administered.

With mental illness, the problem often gets undetected and flies under the radar, until it's too late. I guess we all just need to work harder at finding the warning signs.

For now, all we can do is send our sympathies to the Thomas family, and mourn the loss of a great young man.

And, in tribute, we can all try to be just a little more aware, a little more sensitive to what our dearest friends and family members may be going through emotionally, and not always be fooled by outward appearances.

May you finally be at peace, Owen.

FROM KEITH GROLLER