Exactly a week to the day tornadoes ravaged the state of Alabama and many other areas of the South, a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide injured during the storms has finally gone home.
Speaking at a pro-am golf tournament Wednesday, head coach Nick Saban revealed that long-snapper Carson Tinker has been released from a hospital. There’s no word on when exactly the player was released.
Tinker suffered a broken wrist and a concussion after being thrown 50 yards from his residence April 27. He had been hospitalized since.
Tinker’s girlfriend was in the same residence and was also thrown from the house, but heartbreakingly she did not survive her injuries. Saban touched on both the physical and emotional wounds his player still needs to get past.
“Carson’s good. He’s going to take a little while to get healed up. He’s also got some psychological trouble - he lost his girlfriend,” the coach said according to the Birmingham News. “It’s tough on everybody.”
Saban also addressed the devastation in his adopted state, and how the citizens of Alabama -- and fans of the state’s two flagship football programs -- need to come together in a time like this regardless of the colors they cheer for on fall Saturdays.
“We (Auburn and Alabama) have to compete against each other, but that doesn’t mean we have to be public enemies,” Saban said. “I think we all need to work together to help our state and help the people who were affected in a negative way.
“Tuscaloosa is not going to be the same. We need to do everything to support what needs to be done to get the community back to normal. It’s going to take some time. All the things that are blown up needs to be rebuilt. The loss of life - that’s the horrible part of the tragedy.”
Given the news earlier this week that the life of one of the most vile human beings to ever walk the planet has been snuffed out, the utter destruction and devastation suffered in that part of our country has sort of gotten lost in the shuffle and pushed into the background. Don’t forget about them; they still need this country’s help. Please, if you have the means, donate whatever you can to the American Red Cross.
Regardless of how small of a gesture you may think it is, it will be appreciated immensely by those who’ve had their lives turned upside down and inside out by this tragedy.
