While Georgia prepares for the biggest game in years with Alabama coming to town Saturday, a far more poignant story has been playing out this week in a room at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Southern wide receiver Devon Gales remains hospitalized after sustaining a severe spinal injury in Saturday’s game at Sanford Stadium. He has movement in his upper body and extremities, but so far has been unable to walk. He also suffered neck fractures.
Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan, who collided with Gales when he was injured, visited Gales’ family in the hospital this week. Morgan has not been available for comment this week, but UGA coach Mark Richt endorsed the player’s visit.
“I think that was really healthy for him and the family,” Richt said. “If he didn’t go, I don’t think they would’ve thought one way or another. But I think it was good for him to go and talk to everybody. And understand that it’s football. No one’s mad at Marshall, and he didn’t do anything that was out of line in any way, shape or form. It’s just unfortunate.”
After kicking off, Morgan collided with Gales late in the third quarter after Georgia had scored to take a 48-6 lead. The players met helmet-to-helmet, and Gales immediately crumpled to the ground at the 30-yard line, where he remained essentially motionless until he was removed via a backboard.
Morgan is listed at 6 feet 3 and 194 pounds and is known for his athletic ability and strong tackling on kick coverage. Gales, a sophomore who is 5-8 and 158, underwent surgery Sunday to stabilize the fractures. The long-term effects of the injury will not be known for several weeks or possibly months.
“He’s speaking and he’s talking and he understands the road that’s in front of him,” Southern coach Dawson Odums told the Baton Rouge Advocate on Monday. “He’s a great guy, and he has the will and determination to handle whatever problems he has.”
Gales’ parents were flown in from Louisiana at UGA’s expense on Saturday night, then driven to Athens by Georgia staff, according to Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity. Richt visited Gales on Sunday, as did offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and his family. Team chaplains Kevin Hynes and Thomas Settles have visited Gales and continue to counsel the family.
“We’re trying to cover him up with as much love as we can and let him know that we care, let him know that we’re here to help,” Richt said earlier this week. “We’re just going to continue to pray, and I know the Bulldog nation is behind him as well.”
Ron Courson, UGA’s director of sports medicine, has been involved since the injury occurred on the field just in front of the Bulldogs’ sideline. Unfortunately, UGA has experience dealing with these types of catastrophic injuries. Two Georgia baseball players — Chance Veazey and Jonathan Taylor — suffered permanent spinal-cord injuries within a 17-month period from 2009-11.
Southern has set up an official fundraising account to help assist the family with his Gales’ care and expenses. Gales’ family, which includes his mother and father, stepparents and two young siblings, lives in Baton Rouge and will be displaced for several weeks until Gales can be released to return home.
Some bogus GoFundMe accounts were set up in the days following the injury. However, the account established by the Southern University Foundation (https://netcommunity.sus.edu/the-devon-gales-fund) will go directly to assist Gales and his family.
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