Community Rallies Around G.U. Linebacker During Recovery

Ty Williams, the Georgetown University linebacker who broke his neck in a brutal hit during the team’s Sept. 5 away game at Saint Francis University, is reportedly in stable condition and showing signs of improvement, according to the Washington Post.

A first-quarter hit left the Georgetown junior and Gaithersburg, Md.-native with five fractured vertebrae. Immediately after sustaining the injury, Williams was transported to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Altoona. He reportedly underwent over nine hours of surgery.

A week after the incident and subsequent surgery, Williams’ cousin Monica Cochran told the Post that doctors are “optimistic” that Williams will recover from the injury. In addition, she said Williams is determined to walk again and that he has been able to move one of his knees, his right foot and his left toes. WUSA 9 reports that Williams moved to a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta earlier this week.

The day after the game, Lee Reed, the Georgetown University director of intercollegiate athletics, said in a statement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Ty Williams and his family. The coming days will be very important and we will be here to support him and his family. We ask our fans and the entire Georgetown community to believe and pray for Ty as he begins the recovery process.”

Georgetown Football head coach remarked, “Ty is one of our leaders on and off of the field and is a very important part of the Hoya Football Family.”

Cochran set up a GoFundMe to provide financial support to Williams and his family. The page has nearly reached its goal of raising $40,000 to help pay for Williams’ family’s medical and travel expenses. Cochran wrote on the page, “The communities as a whole — Georgetown Univ. & alumni, Quince Orchard, St. Francis Univ., UPMC Altoona Hospital, Penn State Athletic Department, the many NFL players sending Ty well wishes an prayers (Thank you Mr. Wingo) — have been outstanding! The support is so appreciated. Thank you all so much!”

During the Hoya’s Sept. 12 home game, the team wore Williams’ number, two, on their helmets in a show of solidarity, while members of the crowd wore pins on their shirts that read, “Pray for Ty.”