In an unfortunate incident, Alabama A&M apologized Wednesday for falsely reporting the death of football player Medrick Burnett Jr. The school previously reported that the 20-year-old linebacker died a month after suffering a serious head injury.
This false information was based on a message from an immediate family member that reached the university on Tuesday. But after consulting with UAB Hospital, it became clear that Burnett is alive and in stable condition. The incident prompted the school’s athletic department to issue an embarrassing statement – regretful at the mistake but elated at the positive news.
Burnett’s injuries resulted from a game against Alabama State in the Magic City Classic on October 26. According to his sister Dominece James on a GoFundMe page, he suffered severe brain swelling and bleeding. A video broadcast by WAFF-TV in Huntsville shows the player being carried off the field on a stretcher, giving the crowd a sign of optimism with a thumbs-up.
Burnett, a redshirt freshman from Lakewood, Calif., recorded five tackles in seven games this season after transferring from Grambling State. The Alabama A&M team, which has a record of 6-5, will face Florida A&M on Friday.
