Lions head coach offers game ball to the city of Oxford following school shooting

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell dedicated the game ball from the team’s first victory of the season to the city of Oxford, Mich., following the mass shooting that killed four students at a local high school. 

During his postgame press conference Sunday, Campbell opened by dedicating the game ball to the victims of the tragedy, listing them by name. 

The Lions, who started the season 0-10-1, captured their first victory Sunday with a 27-23 comeback win against the division rival Minnesota Vikings. 

“I want us to not forget these names: Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Tate Myre, John Asciutto, Riley Franz, Elijah Mueller, Kylie Ossege and Aiden Watson and Molly Darnell, who’s a teacher,” Campbell told the media. 

“Those names for all those will never be forgotten. They’re in our hearts and our prayers and all the families and not to mention all those that were affected by all of this. The classmates, brothers and sisters and cousins to teachers, everybody, coaches,” Campbell continued. 

Coach Campbell dedicated today’s game ball to the Oxford community. pic.twitter.com/kcC2zQ3IVt

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 5, 2021

Campbell said many Lions players knew someone affected by the tragedy, adding that he hoped the team’s win would “ease their suffering a little bit.” 

Lions quarterback Jared Goff also said he hoped football could offer a distraction from the tragedy. 

“I hope they were all watching today and were able to enjoy that win and we can take their minds off it for whatever it may be, three hours,” he said. “I think anytime that we can do that, it’s a lot bigger than our sport, it’s a lot bigger than us, and I think today was one of those special circumstances that we were able to rise to the occasion and make something special happen.” 

An emotional Jared Goff talking about the #Lions getting their 1st win on the same day they honored the victims of the #Oxford school shooting.

“It’s a lot bigger than our sport, it’s a lot bigger than us. We were able to rise to the occasion & make something special happen.” pic.twitter.com/GZToSmW8Vq

— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) December 6, 2021

Oxford High School student Ethan Crumbley is facing 24 charges in connection with allegedly killing four classmates and wounding seven others in the shooting last week. 

His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were also charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Friday and were apprehended a day later after allegedly attempting to escape arrest. Both parents have pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

The University of Michigan’s football team honored the four victims by wearing decals during its Big Ten championship game against Iowa on Saturday. 

We are proud to represent the state of Michigan and all of its communities. #OxfordStrong is #MichiganStrong pic.twitter.com/H7IoGtU7MI

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 3, 2021