Cougar football player narrowly avoids death

As important as college football is to so many millions of people around the country (myself included), and as worked-up as we as fans tend to get over it, we always need to remember that it still just a game, played by young men for the purpose of entertaining us and making us feel better about our school. Horrific incidents such as this one put really things in perspective:

Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden suffered an injury that "has never been seen or reported in association with a football injury" and has a 95 percent fatality rate, team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said Thursday.

In a statement released by UH, Lowe confirmed that Hayden required immediate surgery Tuesday night for a tear of the inferior vena cava, the large vein that carries blood from the lower half of the body back to the heart.

Lowe described the injury as "very serious and life threatening."

The injury occurred during practice last Tuesday. Hayden, who has been one of the standout players on Houston's otherwise-struggling defense, suffered the injury after colliding with another player. He is now awake and in stable but critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

"This injury has never been seen or reported in association with a football injury and is more associated with high-speed motor vehicle," Lowe said.

Lowe credited the quick action of the UH training staff, EMS paramedics and the trauma staff at Memorial Hermann Hospital, including operating surgeon Dr. John Holcomb.

Considering that D.J. survived an injury that kills 19 out of every 20 people who suffer it, I'd say that he is very fortunate indeed. As physically violent as football might be, nobody should lose their life while playing it.

Hayden, who had six tackles in last weekend's 48-28 loss at East Carolina (a game I don't really feel like writing about, especially in light of this near-tragedy) is obviously done for the year. I wish him a speedy recovery, and hope that this truly was a freak accident that never again occurs in football.