Neal Brown Sends Condolences to Family of West Virginia Boy Who Died at Football Practice

In the midst of the excitement about WVU’s season opening game against Penn State, head coach Neal Brown made sure to recognize why there’s a somber atmosphere looming over West Virginia.

Brown opened his Monday press conference by sending his condolences to the family of a 13-year-old boy who died during middle school football practice in West Virginia over the weekend.

“I want to start with a little bit of somber news. Thoughts and prayers to Cohen Craddock’s family down in Madison, West Virginia. Saw that this morning and…just sad. I don’t have anything else to really say on it. Sad, I have a 13-year-old myself, a daughter. And as the season kicks off, that’s definitely on a somber note, but I want the people down in Madison and throughout southern West Virginia, especially his family, to know we are thinking about them,” said Brown.

Eighth grader Cohen Craddock, who played defensive line for Madison Middle School in Madison, W.Va., died after suffering from a head injury that caused suffered severe brain bleeding and swelling after making a tackle Friday.

According to the Associated Press, Craddock got back up after the collision and took a few steps before losing consciousness. His oxygen level was low while he was in the ambulance, his father told the AP.

In a statement circulated by the AP, Boone County Schools Superintendent Matthew Riggs said counseling and other support services were being offered this week to Madison Middle School students, faculty and staff.

Madison Middle School Principal Shann Elkins said Cohen “was a wonderful, polite, and smart young man who was an important part of our school family.”

Ryan Craddock said he plans to work toward getting other players soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps.

“I want to take the loss of my boy to try to protect the other guys,” he said. “I don’t want anybody else to go through what we are going through currently.”