Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini’s Bo Pelini Foundation and volunteer coach Tim Beck are being sued by Beverly Morgan, 66, who claims she suffered brain injuries during a “Football 101” clinic two years ago. From Opposing News.com :
Morgan says she was injured in a gauntlet drill in June 2010, in which she ran through two columns of women with blocking pads, who tried to knock the ball out of her hands.
“The women with the pads were encouraged by defendant Beck and/or others in charge of the drill to ‘Hit her!’ as the ball carrier attempted to get through the gauntlet line,” the complaint states.
“Plaintiff, before June 2, 2010, was unfamiliar with football other than as a Cornhusker fan.” Morgan says she asked Beck how to hold the ball, that she showed her to hold it with her arms crossed at her chest, and gave no other warnings or instructions about the drill.
“Plaintiff held the ball as shown by defendant Beck, took one or two steps and was struck by one or both of the women at the front of the gauntlet lines so hard she was knocked off her feet, hitting the back of her head on the Hawk’s Championship Training Center floor causing her cap and earrings to fly off,” the complaint states.
“Plaintiff experienced immediate headache, became nauseated, and her right foot was dragging. Defendant Beck and a woman helped plaintiff to a chair on the sidelines and left. Another individual came over to plaintiff and told her someone on the medical staff would come by to check on her. No one did. Plaintiff did not participate in any further drills.” Morgan says she suffered a traumatic brain injury, a subdural hematoma that required brain surgery, and a right rotator cuff injury that required surgery to repair tendons.”
By the way, there’s no truth to the rumor the referees who oversaw the “Football 101” seminar are scheduled to work tomorrow’s Broncos/Steelers game.