College Football Fans Mourn BYU Star After Fatal Accident
College Football Fans Mourn BYU Star After Fatal Accident
In what is generally a highly-celebrated week for college football, a tragic incident occurred in Kailua, Hawaii.
BYU offensive lineman Sione Veikoso passed away yesterday following a construction accident.
Team head coach Kalani Stake confirmed Veikoso’s death in a statement on social media.
“We are extremely saddened to learn of the tragic death of one of our brothers, Sione Veikoso,” Sitake wrote on Twitter.
“His passing is heartbreaking to all of us. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family as we share in their grief. Our love for you is forever, Sione!”
BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe also offered his thoughts.
“The BYU Football Family mourns the passing of our dear teammate and fellow Cougar, Sione Veikoso,” Holmoe wrote.
“May his family and friends feel our love and faith at this most sacred and difficult time. Peace be with you now and forever Sione.”
According to the Star-Advertiser, Veikoso was one of three people involved in a retaining rock wall collapse. Two others sustained injuries in the incident.
Veikoso transferred to BYU before the 2022 season after playing at Arizona State in 2021.
Obviously there have been some brutal stories in college football this season. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian being a madman. The premature passings of all-time legends. A staffer ramming into a player with her car due to a sordid affair. Jon Kitna’s son’s legal woes.
But the loss of a 22-year-old’s life in such insane fashion somehow supersedes all that. It just feels so senseless and unfortunate.
The photos speak for themselves. https://t.co/69D1YRHqTO
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 30, 2022
Particularly because it happened to a youngster who, by all accounts, just wanted to help others.
Hopefully in the coming weeks and months BYU gives Veikoso’s family the support and help that they need.
Time will never fully heal this wound, but at some point hopefully it will allow Veikoso’s loved ones to move on and honor him by doing great things in their own lives.
Related: Ohio State Staffer Makes A Ryan Day Confession
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
