102 notes. One team. A family welcomed in.
After Matti's death, the Pacific Lutheran University football team reached across 1,500 miles to support Rich Isett and the Martin family.
A relationship that started at Diamond M.
Rich Isett had lived at Diamond M Ranch and became part of the Martin family's everyday life. When Matti died, Rich told his PLU coaches and teammates. Every member of the team wrote the family a personal note.
The response moved the Martins enough that they used frequent-flyer miles to travel to Tacoma around Matti's birthday. They attended practice, spoke to the team and watched PLU defeat the University of Puget Sound 35–13.
Ronna's message to the team.
Ronna Martin selected nine thoughts from the team's 102 notes, one for each year of Matti's life. Her message focused on relationships, faith, courage and giving everything you have, all the way to the last yard line.
The family later wrote that the PLU team had truly made them part of its family, including them in team traditions and continuing to honor Matti.