TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—Indiana State receiver Dante Hendrix sees the slow, steady steps his teammates have taken since a program-changing tragedy nearly two weeks ago.
Mourning and sadness replaced X’s and O’s. Visiting dorms and food runs were more important than studying the playbook. Talking through the emotions of a car crash that left three students dead and two hospitalized with serious injuries, four of them football players, was suddenly a critical part of Indiana State’s routine.
Players and coaches were coping with the most daunting opponent of all—grief.
“I’ve never been through anything like this,” Hendrix said. “I’ve been a captain for about three years now and I never really experienced how to lead in this type of situation. I’ve never had a teammate or two teammates die like this.”…