Filed under: Football
The player was rushed to the hospital, but died along the way, according to a spokeswoman from the Baptist Orange Hospital in Southeast Texas.
Garrett was reported to have had a history of seizures, and coaches are saying that he may have had a seizure on the night of his death. Hundreds of fans, players and coaches showed up to the hospital when he collapsed, and the team has not yet decided if it's going to play in next week's game.
The death of Reginald Garrett makes me think back to my days as a track coach. We would make our athletes work hard, pushing them much harder than they could ever push themselves. They would moan, sweat, cry and vomit, yet we would keep pushing them to get better.
During my days as a coach, I would often wonder how much is too much. I'd wonder if it could ever be the case that the kid bent over in pain really has a problem with ashma, seizures, or his heart. Most coaches are not equipped to discern the difference, putting thousands of young lives in danger.
I am hopeful that high school athletics' associations around the country are able to find some way to protect young athletes from latent health problems. By making sure that coaches are properly trained and also putting a physician or health professional on staff for team practices, perhaps athletes can be protected.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.