Filed under: Houston, Southern Miss
Senior Night is one full of emotions on college campuses. They probably reached their apex at Southern Mississippi on Saturday night when Martez Smith appeared before the crowd of 32,606.Smith, a linebacker, was one of three Golden Eagles shot a week ago Saturday. His spinal cord was severed by the bullet and he was paralyzed from the waist down. That didn't stop him from making a pre-game appearance and waving to the crowd. His presence brought tears to the eyes of all - men, women, children.
Along with Smith, linebacker Tim Green and defensive end Deddrick Jones were also wounded. Police have arrested a number of people in regard to the shootings. One, 29-year-old Travis Brown, was apprehended on Friday in Hattiesburg. Brown is believed to be the gunman.
Smith left his hospital bed on Saturday. Wearing his No. 32 jersey, Smith sat in his wheelchair and waved to the crowd.
"First of all we set out to honor our three wounded brothers and I believe the team did that today in all three phases. I am very proud of the way they played. They played hard the entire game. It has been a long, hard week for all of us and to finish it off this way, it tells you what these guys are made of and what they have inside of them, that core, that fiber that runs through the middle of all them," Southern Mississippi head coach Larry Fedora said after his team's 59-41 victory over Houston.
Before the game, cash donations were accepted and T-shirts were sold to help offset the cost of the students' medical bills at a local bookstore.
The get well wishes will be transcribed to a web scrapbook, which will be put online next week.
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