Lost in the utter heartbreak of a Cincinnati offensive lineman losing his life in a car wreck two weekends ago is the fact that another Bearcat is still fighting for his own life.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, wide receiver Mark Barr remains hospitalized in critical condition because of injuries he suffered in the the single-vehicle crash 10 days ago. The nature of the freshman’s injuries has not been disclosed, although he’s been listed in critical condition since he arrived at the hospital.
Offensive lineman Ben Flick was pronounced dead at the scene of the Sept. 21 accident, while the driver of the vehicle, an 18-year-old friend of Flick’s, succumbed to his injuries two days later. Another UC receiver, Javon Harrison, was injured in the accident but has already been released from the hospital.
While the sheriff’s department is still investigating, they believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
Head coach Tommy Tuberville told the media Monday that the fact that one of their own is still fighting for his life makes the grieving process even more difficult.
“I’ve really not known how to handle this,” Tuberville said according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “In 36 years of coaching, I’ve been through some deaths on football teams. This one is different, because there’s a lot of uncertainty still out there.”
Tuberville did allow that the sympathy and notes of encouragement his program has received from coaches and others across the country has been “heartwarming.” This past weekend, for example, Western Michigan wore UC’s logo on their helmet in honor of Flick.
The Bearcats will return to the playing field for the first time this Saturday since Flick’s passing, traveling to USF to take on the Bulls in what’s the next step in the grieving process.
“It’s been a tough and tragic week,” Tuberville said. “I learn every day, there is no right or wrong way to approach this. You’ve got to accept it, because this is life at its worst.”