Northwestern State University has made the difficult decision to cancel its football team’s season following the tragic death of one of their players. The announcement came just 14 days after junior safety Ronnie Caldwell was shot and killed near NSU’s campus in Louisiana.
Key Takeaway
Northwestern State University has decided to cancel its football season in the aftermath of a player’s tragic death, prioritizing the mental health and well-being of the student-athletes.
The university cited the “mental health and wellbeing of its student-athletes” as the primary reason for this decision. In a statement, NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones expressed that although their initial instinct was to return to the field after Caldwell’s death, they realized that the pain and grief among the team were too deep. It was in the best interest of the players, coaches, and staff to pause, mourn, heal, and support Ronnie’s family during this difficult time.
A Season Cut Short
The team initially canceled its game against Nicholls State immediately after Caldwell’s death. However, they decided to suit up for the game against Southeastern Louisiana a week later as a way to honor Caldwell’s memory. Unfortunately, they lost the game with a score of 37-20.
Despite having four more games remaining on the schedule, the university made the difficult decision to forego the rest of the season in light of the recent tragedy.
Coach Resigns
The heartbreaking loss of Ronnie Caldwell has also led to the resignation of NSU head coach Brad Laird. After being with the program for the past six years, Laird expressed that he couldn’t fully devote himself to the players or the program due to the emotional burden caused by Caldwell’s passing. He described the players as family and losing Caldwell felt like losing a son to him.
Laird stated, “I love this program and this university, and I know it will persevere and move forward with the competitive spirit that is at the core of our DNA.”
A Promising Player Gone Too Soon
Caldwell, who had played in 11 games for NSU last season, unfortunately, hadn’t been able to join the team this season due to a preseason injury. His potential and talent showed great promise, but his life was tragically cut short at the age of 21.
The Northwestern State University community comes together during this difficult time to mourn the loss of Ronnie Caldwell and provide support to his family, teammates, and coaches.
