High School Football Player's Death Raises Injury Debate
The death of Chicago high school student Andre Smith, who lost consciousness on the football field during the big game and passed away the following morning at the hospital, has left many wondering if the tragedy could have been prevented.
Smith, a senior at Bogan High School, was a perfectly healthy high school student and football player before the game, but a few hours later he was fighting for his life after a block by the opposing team left him unconscious. "It's unfortunate for him to pass, doing something he really loved doing," a friend told CBS News.
Though school officials are not saying what happened, social media reports say Smith had been blind-sided during the play, which was his last one of the game. He walked to the sidelines after the play but collapsed moments later and lost consciousness, according to the witness.
"I didn't know what to do," Andre's brother, Erick Smith, said. "It just killed everything inside of me."
Andre is the seventh high school football player nationwide to die this year. It's not clear whether there will be further investigation or even criminal charges connected to his death, but it has rekindled a national debate about whether football is worth the injuries it inflicts on its players.
That debate will be brought to the big screen with the release of Will Smith's drama Concussion this fall. Watch a clip from the film, which reportedly has the NFL very worried:
BET Sports News — Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports, including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes.
DeSean Jackson: Home Team: My Ambitions After Football – Thomas Q. Jones, in the video below.
(Photo: Andre Smith via Facebook)
