In Loving Memory of Matthew Burrows
Sewanee Football mourns the recent passing of letterman and beloved friend Matthew Burrows. His death leaves a deep and aching quiet across our program and across all who shared the field, the locker room, and the classroom with him.
Speaking with the team, Coach McCollum remembered Matthew as a passionate, energetic, and relentlessly hard-working player who loved and was loved by his teammates. More than production, more than wins, more than accolades, Matthew embodied something rarer and more enduring. He was, in every respect, the epitome of a good teammate—a distinction Coach McCollum calls the highest compliment a student-athlete can earn.
Matthew was a member of Coach Mac’s 2023 and 2024 teams. He distinguished himself academically as well, earning 2024 SAA Academic All-Conference honors, and this past winter he was presented the Coach’s Award for his service to the team—an honor given not for talent alone, but for character, commitment, and daily example.
He will be remembered for his humor that could break tension in the longest week, for his good nature that drew others toward him, and for his relentless intention to give everything he had for the people beside him. Those who played with him will not forget the way he ran to drills, the way he showed up for lifts, the way he encouraged without needing to be asked, the way he treated people when no one was watching.
Today, Sewanee Football honors his memory by wearing the initials “MB” on our helmets. We do this not only to remember a teammate gone too soon, but to remind ourselves of the standard he set—joy in the work, loyalty to one another, and a daily willingness to empty the tank for the good of the team.
Matthew will be dearly missed. His imprint on this program is lasting. His life among us was a gift.
Forever in our hearts. MB.
