MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Update: MSU sophomore passes away after football injury

Andy Newberry
Wichita

Editor's note: This story was published in Wednesday's Times Record News. After press time it was learned that Robert Grays had died Tuesday night in Houston, first confirmed by The Wichitan. Immediately there was an outpouring of support for his family and shock at the tragic loss of a loved young man.

 

 

Following the previously published story about the prayer gathering Monday night on campus.

Robert Grays is not physically in Wichita Falls any longer. But his presence and his impact are still very much evident at Midwestern State.

Grays, a sophomore football player, suffered a neck injury late in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M-Kingsville. He was moved to a medical facility in Houston on Sunday where he is closer to his family. 

MSU students met and prayed for injured football player Robert Grays Monday night. The sophomore from Houston suffered a neck injury in Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium.

According to those that know him, Grays shares a smile everywhere he goes. Prayer, concern and hope for a miracle is what those supporters are focused on now as many shared Monday night at a gathering for Grays outside the student center.

“Robert has been my best friend since I got here,” teammate Bryce Martinez said.

The duo are two of the smallest guys in stature on the football team. Grays is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound cornerback, and a “really important player for us” according to defensive coordinator Rich Renner, while Martinez is 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds.

“We both played last year as true freshmen and we always told each other we were going to make it,” Martinez said. “And we still are. The other night when I went to go see him, he wasn’t looking too good, but then I looked at him and it just felt like he’s going to make it, I just saw it. People think it’s going to take a miracle... Rob is a miracle and the things he would do are miraculous. He’s the strongest dude I know, the smallest dude I know and the biggest heart I know.

“I would see a smile on his face every day. Even at 5:30 in the morning. We’re going to see that smile again and he’ll be back.”

Jennifer Renner spoke on behalf of the coach’s wives and spoke about the power of prayer before a gathering of approximately 700 students with many different groups coming out to support Grays.

“When that happened on Saturday I’ll be honest my heart has never beat so fast,” she said. “We see them as our sons. To know that he gave 158 percent in that game. We can change the heart of God, He will hear us. I believe that God is with Rob right now.”

Bill Maskill and the MSU coaches know there’s the possibility of football injuries, but it’s different than it happening on your own field with one of your own.

“Rob lifted our hearts and his mon and dad are just like he is, forever optimistic and tremendously strong faith-based (people),” Maskill said. “I encourage all of us to bond together and use that power of prayer daily.

“I just think that it always happens to someone else. It’s the American way I think; it’s always going to happen to somebody else. We talked to our team after the game. We prayed about it when it happened.”

Grays made an impact and Maskill knows with his young team this situation is going to have a great impact on all of them, too.

“We have a young team to begin with and now this is something that happens that's going to be monumental in their life. Everybody is going to react in a different way; how one guy feels is not the next guy is going to feel,” Maskill said. “Everybody I talked to said keep everything as normal as possible.”

 

The Mustangs didn’t practice Monday but that was already a planned day off because of the bye week.

“We have to keep them going to class and keep in a daily routine; all those things have to be consistent; but Rob is always going to be there in their mind,” Maskill added. “And the power of prayer is instrumental.”

It even helped the coaches, who develop relationships with the players before they even get to campus, to hear the great testimonies about Grays.

“He has impacted everybody,” Maskill said. “He goes all the time. He’s so quick and so athletic and fun. He’s got a smile and he’s out there dancing. He’s a great teammate. He goes to class and gets his grades and I think he’s impacted a lot of guys on our team. It’s pretty cool to have the support of our other teams, cheerleaders and student body.”