After suffering a blow to the head during a football game vs. Alabama St. on October 26, redshirt freshman football player Medrick Burnett was hospitalized and pronounced dead by his school Alabama A&M on Wednesday, November 27.
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However, now the university is retracting their original statement as the update is Burnett remains alive on life support.
Update: Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. is still alive and on life support.
AAMU has retracted its previous announcement that he passed away.
Let's lift Medrick and his family up in prayers. 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/AAHKFoMuEx
— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports) November 27, 2024
"Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence," the school's athletic department said in a statement Wednesday evening. "Upon hearing from a representative from UAB Hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive."
Alabama A&M Athletic Director Dr. Paul A. Bryant announced that Medrick Burnett Jr. had passed away, and later retracted the statement pic.twitter.com/u2B12iwkZh
— What's Da Bizness (@whatsdabizness) November 28, 2024
"We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information. However, we hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition."
Press statement from AAMU retracted
* HBCU Premier Sports learned from WSFA that Alabama A&M LB Medrick Burnett is alive at B'ham hospital family confirmed
* This our pregame video at the Magic City Classic of Medrick #51, moments before tragic head injury pic.twitter.com/DoDhzewrih— HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1) November 27, 2024
A statement on the gofundme.com page, that Burnett's sister Dominece James created, read: "Please pray he is having a tough time but we are holding on til the very end. God give us strength so we can keep the faith."
This is good news considering that there is still hope for the 20-year-old young man from Lakewood, California, who had transferred from Grambling State this past summer.
Alabama A&M linebacker #51 Medrick Burnett Jr.
The outpouring of support has been felt as teammates, coaches, and fans of Burnett have reached out ever since the tragic injury took place.
"At the end of the day we play a game, but his life is on the line and that's on our hearts."
Connell Maynor wore Medrick Burnett Jr.'s No. 51 yesterday. Burnett is still hospitalized after sustaining a serious head injury in the Magic City Classic.
AAMU Emergency Fund:… pic.twitter.com/TFPIcIkuWI
— Nick Kuzma (@NickPKuzma) November 3, 2024
