Bethune-Cookman mourns the loss of freshman football player
September 15, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman College football player, Kovensky
Pierre was killed in a tragic car accident as he returned to campus on
Tuesday, September 14, 2004.
Pierre along with high school teammate Willie Jackson was headed to Daytona
Beach from Tallahassee. The accident occurred midday on Interstate 10/295 in
Jacksonville. Pierre was pronounced dead at the scene, while Jackson was taken
to Shands Hospital, were he is listed in critical condition.
Pierre, a Delray Beach native was expected to report to back to school on
Monday, September 13, but informed the Bethune-Cookman football coaching
staff that he was having car trouble, and would return Tuesday. After not
hearing from him by Tuesday evening, the football coaches called his mother
Anne Marie Pierre, and she informed them of the accident.
Jackson, a freshman also from Delray Beach, was set to sit out his
freshman season at Bethune-Cookman as a Prop 48 recruit.
Bethune-Cookman coaches were shocked and disarrayed after hearing the news.
“It’s like someone dropped a ton of bricks on my head,” said head coach
Alvin Wyatt. “The entire coaching staff is disheartened and confused about
this tragic accident. I am finding it difficult to comprehend.”
Pierre, a freshman offensive lineman was slated to redshirt the 2004
football season, but had already made an impact on the team and coaching
staff.
“He was a great student and we expected him to be one of our role models,”
said Coach Wyatt. “He was one of our future stars on the offensive line, a
big athlete with great speed, who was always willing to go that one step
beyond.”
Members of the Bethune-Cookman athletics department and local ministers
will conduct a prayer session with the entire football team Thursday
afternoon at 3:15 p.m. on campus.
“We are in a state of shock,” said athletic director Lynn Thompson. “But we
are also in a posture of prayer for this young man, his family and the
entire Wildcat family. Once a Wildcat always a Wildcat.”
The Student Government Association plans to memorialize their classmate
early next week. Funeral arrangements are not known at this time.
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