Call For Prayer: Tragedy Strikes High School Football Again

by Coach Jim Baxter

We love our football in this country; this sport that has overtaken baseball as America's game. Our fascination with game and all of the violence that goes along with it has grown over the years that it excites us when it arrives and we long for it when it goes away, into the off-season.

Because we share this excitement, this passion, for the game we should also also take the time to share in the grief when tragedy strikes one of the young men whom provide us this excitement. Last night, in a scrimmage at Banneker High School in Georgia, a Creekside High School player, DeAntre Turman, was injured on a play that resulted in his death. During the tackle of a wide receiver, the 5-11, 165lbs defensive back "went limp" according to witnesses and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

This is not supposed to happen. 16 year olds are not supposed to die. These kids have their entire lifes ahead of them. I am deeply grieved by the news this morning, causing me to reflect back to last season when South Carolina lost one of our own high school players at Hartsville High School.

There are no words we can say that can take away the sting of a sudden, tragic death such as this one. But our corporate prayers for this young man's family, friends, coaches, and community will help them as they endure through their grief and seek peace at a very trying time in their lives.