American Conference explains why UTSA-Navy game went on

A day after the tragedy, the conference put out its explanation, and the most important line came near the end.

Ross Dellenger

@RossDellenger

The American releases details of the pregame incident Saturday resulting in a service member's death. The conference, after meetings with authorities and with the support of the schools, decided to continue the game. The Air Force did not publicly confirm the death until later.

The American@American_Conf

Our hearts are with everyone affected by the tragedy at the Alamodome. We extend our deepest condolences to the airman’s family, friends and fellow service members. 🔗 t.co/xQqnVVSGSA t.co/d9Eq0X6efN

Here's what happened. Saturday was UTSA's annual Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game, and 4 officers were set to rappel from the Alamodome rafters to the field about 15 minutes before kickoff. One of them appeared to lose control on the way down, slid down the line and hit the turf. He was taken to a local hospital and died of his injuries. He was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, out of Nellis Air Force Base. The Air Force has not released his name, and the incident is under investigation.

The game started after a 10-minute delay. According to the conference, representatives from UTSA and Navy, Alamodome management and local authorities met with American commissioner Tim Pernetti and a working group while it was being played. When they talked, Nellis Air Force Base had not publicly confirmed the service member's condition. Under conference bylaws, and with both schools on board, they kept playing.

That's what people missed in the first round of outrage over a game going on after a man fell in front of the whole building. The American said respect for the family's privacy and the military's notification process drove the call, which was meant to cut off speculation about his condition and spare his family more distress. Air Force casualty procedures exist so families hear it from the right people before they hear it from a stadium PA or a timeline. Nellis didn't confirm the death until 11:40 p.m. Eastern, well after the game.

Brett McMurphy pushed the same point, noting that a conference with 2 service academies in it has a pretty good idea how this stuff works.

Brett McMurphy

@Brett_McMurphy

One important distinction in the Alamodome tragedy: The American Conference, who understands a little something about the military academies followed casualty update protocols from Air Force, in alignment with UTSA & Navy, about game continuation. Military notification protocols exist for a reason. Families come first t.co/aVWe7IV7yT

You can still argue about whether football should have been played at all that night. But stopping the game would have told 30,000-plus people and everyone watching at home what the family might not have known yet. Picture finding out your son or husband died because a game got called off on national TV. The conference, UTSA and Navy decided that was the worse outcome, and they say they followed the Air Force's lead to get there.

Next up is the Air Force investigation into how a routine pregame demo went this wrong, and eventually the release of the airman's name. Expect a lot of questions about rappelling stunts at football games. For now, a service member who showed up to honor the military at a game built around saluting it didn't make it home, and that's what matters here.