Marks’ road to the WSU record books hasn’t been an easy one
November 10, 2016
The last time someone heard cheering and screaming from a hospital room was in the famous film, “Remember the Titans,” when Gerry Bertier, played by Ryan Hurst, was paralyzed in his hospital room, watching his team play ball from afar.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Gabe Marks refers to this scene to describe the moment when he found himself cheering on the Cougars from his own hospital bed just two years ago.
In 2014, Marks fought an internal staph infection that not only took away his ability to walk, but also threatened his life. He was hospitalized for a month after his sophomore year at WSU and told that he had to redshirt his junior year while he was on his path to a comeback season.
He had a lot to prove after an impressive sophomore year in 2013. He earned a varsity letter after playing in all 13 games and starting in the first nine. College Football News named Marks All-Sophomore Team Honorable Mention. He posted several team-highs in receptions and caught seven passes for touchdowns, tied for the team lead.
Before Marks’ illness, he said his life was all about football, all the time. His mother, Jordanna Gersh, said the redshirt year grounded him and allowed him to live life.
“When he got sick the first thing he told me was ‘no one will remember me,’” Gersh said. “He went through some sort of depression; he had a hard time finding himself.”
Marks took this time off from the game to reflect on his life and to get to know himself as Gabe Marks, the person, instead of Gabe Marks, the football player.
“I try and tell the younger guys, when they get a chance, to make sure you get away and not think about football,” Marks said. “It’ll take over everything. That year I took off, it really allowed me to really find out more about who I was.”
When Marks isn’t on the big stage for Saturday night football, in class, or with his team, he’s in his room spending time alone with a good book.
“It’s very easy to get down on yourself and not believe that you can (perform) at this level,” Marks said. “You got to just know where your safe place is and get away.”
Marks is currently reading “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan. Marks said the book is about the universe, how small we are, and the history of the cosmos. Marks said reading a book like “Cosmos” shows how the problems faced in life aren’t as big as they seem.
Marks said he finds comfort by getting away from it all, but he is always surrounded by people. Before Marks came to Pullman in 2012, his family back in Venice, California, which gave him the foundation to be who he is today. His grandfather, Dave Weisberger-Cohen, was someone who allowed Marks to be himself, outside of being an athlete.
“I’m his emotional support,” Weisberger-Cohen said, “and I tell Gabe there are good times, there are bad times, but there are always good times ahead and do things you can control.”
Through all the news conferences, the media attention, and the spotlight, Marks has remained grounded through his roots as an educated and dedicated student-athlete who will pursue an NFL career after his time at WSU.