Services set for Thomas as grief and condolences pour in from around the state and nation
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The closest daily newspaper to Pike County High is an hour away, but the high school in Zebulon has become a focus of national media after the death Sunday night of Dylan Thomas.
Most sports-related deaths of high school athletes become some form of national news, often matched with studies on the topic.
In Thomas’s case, the focus is on how, at this point, there doesn’t seem to be a clear play that led to Thomas collapsing, becoming unconscious, and then dying within 48 hours.
Head coach Brad Webber said at a Monday news conference that video has been examined, but it’s not clear that any one play or hit was the cause.
“We're in a constant process of evaluating the entire thing to see if we can pinpoint one area that maybe this occurred," Webber said. "There wasn't anything that really stuck out."
Thomas’s father, in fact, bought a helmet with more protection than the average high school helmet, a Riddell SpeedFlex helmet. And his uncle Nick Burgess told reporters that Thomas was worried about hurting another player on the football field.
The Georgia High School Association sent out a release backing all actions that were taken at the field on Friday night.
“The student was wearing a 2018 model Riddel Flex helmet (brand new). This is the highest-rated helmet that Riddell manufactures.
“It also should be noted that Pike County coaches (like all GHSA certified coaches) are required to renew the concussion protocol offered by the GHSA each year.
“There is no indication of any negligent action by anyone associated with Pike County in this incident. The coaches had taken every precaution to prepare for potential injuries and went beyond the required standards when working within the concussion protocol.”
The story was in a prime centerpiece location on CNN.com for awhile Tuesday afternoon, as well as the networks, People.com, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Washington Post, to name a few.
Funeral arrangements were announced Tuesday afternoon by Moody-Daniel Funeral Home and Cremation Services. The family will see visitor on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. The service will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Williamson, about six miles north of Zebulon. Burial is to follow at Moody Memorial Gardens.
Players from any school are asked to where their jerseys to the service.
A fundraising page was started on Facebook soon after Thomas collapsed, with a goal of $30,000 toward medical and other expenses. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, it had raised more than $44,000.
A Pike County alumni flag football game has been formed to raise funds as well. There are a variety of other fundraisers taking place in the Pike County community and throughout the state.
Pike County plays Rutland on Friday at the Ed DeFore Sports Complex at 7:30 p.m. All Bibb County football teams will here a helmet sticker with Thomas’ number for the rest of the season. There will also be a moment of silence before the game.
The overwhelming grief and support was felt and shown in the national stories, with scores of social media posts from Central Georgia. The hashtags #Dylanstrong and #Pikestrong have been the destination for people to express themselves, as well as on assorted Facebook pages.
Some came from teams and players in the same region and area as Pike County, like from Westside’s TyShaun Freeman, former Peach County standouts Kearis Jackson (Georgia) and Sean Freeman (Georgia Southern), Upson-Lee’s Travon Walker, Westfield, Jones County, and many others that had no connection or history with Pike County.
On Sunday, Griffin Christian coach EddieJones carried player Kaemyn Vanderford, with a cast on his left leg, in his arms to attend the vigil at Pike County.
Peach County is continuing to raise funds for the Thomas family, and will have a poster signed by the entire student body to present to the family and school. Peach County’s softball team will wear red ribbons during its region softball tournament, and send the ribbons to Pike County’s softball team.
Upson-Lee is sending a jersey with Thomas’s number, 32, signed by all fo the night.
Jones County, and Gray Elementary, will wear red on Wednesday, as is Houston County, among many others.
Westfield will do the same on Thursday. Skipstone has painted Thomas’s 32 in red on its field.
"He was an incredible young man with work ethic that you can't believe," Webber said. "He was the heart and soul of our defense. Just great student, great family, and the sky was gonna be the limit for him."