For the last 30 years, folks attending athletic events at Brandywine have come to expect a familiar scene:

A sea of maroon and gold, varying in size.

The smell of hot popcorn popping in the concession stand.

Passionate coaches, fired up and determined for a win.

And Nate Clark, decked out in a Bobcats ball cap, jacket or polo, quietly jotting down scores in his notebook.

This Brandywine super fan was as much a fixture in Selge Stadium as the scoreboard, never to be missed at a home game. A 1980 Brandywine graduate, Nate never considered himself athletic, but after returning home from serving the U.S. Navy in 1985, he became enthralled in a state championship Bobcat baseball team in 1987, following every step of the post-season, scribbling down stats as he watched win after win.

For 30 years, Nate kept up this tradition, rooting for the Bobcats in good times and bad, sometimes one of only a handful of fans on the sideline, depending on the sport.

Nate had hundreds of these notebooks, filled with countless records recounting successes of Bobcat athletic teams. If ever a fan wanted to know who held the record for most 3-pointers scored in a girls basketball season, or who the top 10 wrestlers of all time were at Brandywine, Nate was their guy.

As the keeper of records, Nate was also the go-to to determine when milestones were being reached. Nate described himself as shy, rarely shouting or cheering, just throwing his fist in the air after a good play.

On the cusp of new records, though, the observant onlooker could sense Nate’s contained excitement, rocking back and forth on his heels as athletes got closer and closer to breaking records. When Austin Knapp broke the touchdown record for the Bobcats just a few years ago, Nate met him in the end zone to celebrate.

He was a strong advocate for Brandywine traditions, known for speaking out when he disagreed with whatever changes came with time. As basketball teams began purchasing trendy black or grey jerseys a handful of years ago, he fervently shared his disfavor for the decision — a true testament to the fact that Nate Clark bled maroon and gold, and maroon and gold only.

Over the weekend, the Brandywine community was heartbroken to learn that Nate had succumbed to a heart attack at 57 years old.

Next Friday night, as the Bobcats run out onto the field for the first homecoming game in 30 years that Brandywine’s biggest fan has missed, I have no doubt they will be comforted by a familiar sea of maroon and gold, the smell of popcorn popping in the concession stand, coaches revved up, hoping for a win, and Nate’s spirit in the stadium, quietly cheering the Bobcats to victory.

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.