In Houston-Marshall Game, Conference USA Officials Drop Ball on Player's Safety

At halftime of the Houston Cougars vs. Marshall Thundering Herd game, the bands played their show and left the field. The Conference USA officials were supposed to make sure that the end zones and anything blocking it were cleared away, but they didn't.

This meant carts for wheeling band equipment were not put away, leaving the carts in the path of any player who went out of the back of the end zone.

Unfortunately for Houston Cougars wide receiver Patrick Edwards, he experienced probably one of the worst looking injuries I've ever seen happened.

As he was trying to catch a pass in the back of the end zone he ran right into one of the carts, and since he was going too fast and wasn't prepared to run into a metal cart, his leg broke, resulting in a compound fracture.

Since the game was being called on ESPN, they showed the replay of it and the official in the end zone immediately called for help. It was a gruesome injury watching his leg just bend then snap. Even the fans in the stands for Marshall groaned when they saw the replay.

Patrick Edwards also stated in an interview he had no ill will towards Marshall. Nor should he—he should have ill will towards the officials for really dropping the ball and causing a very serious injury.

Edwards is lucky he will recover from his broken leg and should be able to play again. Meanwhile, the Houston Cougars football team is without its leading receiver thanks to the officials' blunder.

There's even more to the story. As April Vitello writes, Marshall coach Mark Snyder, cornerback C.J. Spillman, and defensive end Albert McClellan today visited with Patrick Edwards while he was in the hospital.

As for the reason for Mark Snyder being there, he's quoted as saying, “He was in good spirits. We wanted him to know that he is part of our extended football family and that we are here to help him in any way we can.”

That's what sports need more of: the proper show of support and sportsmanship; to realize after the game is over there's no animosity towards each other; that there are bigger things in life then just football, and that no one wants to see anyone be hurt like that.

If you haven't seen the play I'm talking about, here's the YouTube clip.

Conference USA needs to reiterate to their officials to make sure that the end zones are clear so something like this doesn't happen again. Not only the Conference USA officials should be reminded of it—every other conference should make sure as well.