College football player dies days after suffering traumatic injury during game: School
A football player at Southern Nazarene University died Thursday after suffering a traumatic injury during a game the previous weekend, the university said.
Tyler Ulrich, 21, died after spending five days at the hospital, according to the university.
Ulrich was a sophomore who played safety for Southern Nazarene University, a private Christian university in Bethany, Oklahoma, in the Oklahoma City area.
Ulrich was playing an away football game in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, against Ouachita Baptist University when he was injured, the university said.
Dr. Keith Newman, president of Southern Nazarene University, said in a statement Thursday that since Ulrich was hospitalized, he was "continually surrounded by the love, prayers, and presence of his family, teammates, and dear friends."
"Please keep Tyler's family, teammates, coaches, and friends in your continued prayers during this unimaginably difficult time," Newman said.
"This loss is deeply felt across our campus," Southern Nazarene University wrote in a Facebook post Thursday. "Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We ask that you join us in lifting them up in prayer during this incredibly difficult time."
Jason Vines, one of Ulrich's high school football coaches at Azle High School in Azle, Texas, told ABC News that Ulrich was an "unbelievable young man" who was known and loved by his school and town.
"His smile, his demeanor, the way he carried himself, his work ethic were all very impressive, especially for such a young high school kid at the time," Vines said.
The university's football game against Southwestern Oklahoma State University scheduled for Saturday was canceled, Southwestern Oklahoma State announced.
"SWOSU Athletics extends its thoughts and support to the Southern Nazarene football program and university community during this difficult time," Southwestern Oklahoma State said in a statement.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the injury the school said Ulrich suffered during the game.
