When it was learned that one of Ohio State’s starting linebackers, Tyler Moeller, would miss the 2009 season because of a head injury, it was reported/rumored that Moeller had either fallen during a vacation in Florida in July or had been assaulted on said vacation.
Today, Moeller’s family confirmed that it was indeed the latter.
We were on a family vacation in Florida, celebrating his grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary following the end of the OSU summer quarter,” the statement from the family read. “On the first evening of vacation, Tyler was with several family members, including his uncle at a popular restaurant/bar; it was there that Tyler was assaulted. He never saw it coming and did nothing to provoke it, which is substantiated by neutral parties. The subject was immediately arrested and the case is currently in the hands of the State Attorney’s Office.
The statement also confirmed that Moeller had been hospitalized twice since the incident, with the latter stay culminating in surgery being performed. While the statement doesn’t spell it out explicitly, multiple reports have stated that the LB underwent brain surgery to relieve pressure that was believed to be the cause of at least one seizure.
Tyler received immediate medical attention for a head injury suffered as the result of the assault, was admitted in to the emergency room and spent several days in a Florida ICU unit. We’re very appreciative of the care that we received there.
Once back in Columbus, Tyler followed up with additional medical treatment which resulted in a decision last Friday to admit Tyler to University Hospital for surgery that was performed early Saturday morning. The surgery was very successful and Tyler was released on Monday. He is now at home recuperating and hopes to return to Columbus shortly.
The statement also said that Moeller “is doing extremely well and chomping at the bit to get going again.”