Good evening, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports fans.
We’re stepping out of the ACC tonight to talk about Georgetown senior, Ty Williams.
Georgetown Coach Rob Sgarlata had seen Ty Williams, a junior linebacker, make the play dozens of times. A St. Francis tight end came open in the end zone. Williams sprawled to knock the pass away. He did, but at the last minute, the receiver lunged for one last chance at the ball.
Williams felt a tingle in his neck, and then pain spread down his spine. He tried to do a push-up and get back in the huddle, but he couldn’t move his extremities.
At a nearby hospital, the diagnosis was “C6 incomplete”: a fractured vertebra that left partial feeling in his lower body but not the ability to will it to movement.
Doctors strategically never told the Gaithersburg, Md., native whether he’d walk again. On Saturday, he answered that question.
With the help of a walker and a large brace, Williams walked across the stage as his name was called at Georgetown graduation. Volunteers stood in front and behind him to help Williams keep his balance.
At the end of the stage, he threw himself into a hug with Jack DeGioia, president of the university.
Oh, and I’m not crying, you are. Because you’re seeing him walk below:
A moment we will never forget: @HoyasFB senior Ty Williams, who suffered a spinal chord injury in a game in September 2015, walks for the first time in 2.5 years at @Georgetown‘s graduation on Saturday where he earned his degree in government. #HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/VKOh8bFOmr
— Georgetown Hoyas (@GeorgetownHoyas) May 19, 2018
After suffering a neck injury in a 2015 football game, Ty Williams (C’18) promised he would walk across the stage at graduation. Today, he fulfilled that promise. @Georgetown @GeorgetownHoyas #Hoyas2018 #werenotcryingyourecrying pic.twitter.com/wTlDNzsDLD
— Georgetown College (@GeorgetownColl) May 19, 2018
Too often we see the negative with sports – here we’re seeing someone who was told he’d never walk again go across the stage and get his diploma.
Oh, and I’m not crying, you are.
Make sure you follow the All Sports Discussion Twitter account at @AllSportsDACC and please like our Facebook Page
Leave a Reply