By Thomas Ashworth & Ainslie Lee
Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze opened Monday’s press conference with a dedication for Caden Tellier.
Tellier, who played quarterback at Morgan Academy, died on Friday after suffering a critical brain injury during his team’s game against Southern Academy in Selma.
The 16-year-old junior was airlifted to UAB following the injury, which occurred after he was tackled in the third quarter of the contest.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Caden Tellier over at Morgan Academy in Selma, and Coach (Jacob) Webb as they deal with the tragic loss of one of their teammates and a son,” Freeze said. “I just can’t imagine the difficulty that they’re going through. So our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Dr. Bryan Oliver, who serves as head of school at Morgan Academy, said the school will cancel all athletic activities for the next week, including Friday’s scheduled football game at Wilcox Academy.
Morgan Academy held a memorial service on Monday in the gym, with those in attendance wearing the school’s colors of maroon and gold.
“There has been an outpouring of love that we have received from everyone in this room, people across the country,” Jamie Tellier, the teen’s father, told the community that gathered in the gym, according to the Associated Press.
“I could tell you a lot about who my son was, who my son is. My son was an exceptional athlete. But the thing he loved the most was to talk about Jesus.”
The family wrote the following on social media:
“Our boy, Caden Tellier has met Jesus face to face. We appreciate all of your prayers, and we covet them for the hard days ahead. Everyone who knows Caden has known kindness, generosity and love, and true to his nature, he is giving of himself one more time. Lives have been touched by the way he lived and now lives will be saved through his passing. We will walk out these next few days alongside him in his earthly body knowing that his spirit is rejoicing in heaven.”
AISA executive director Michael McLendon released the following statement to AL.com on Saturday evening:
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that Caden Tellier has gone to be with his Lord and Savior. Caden loved the Lord with all his heart and was a shining light every day he graced the halls of Morgan Academy. He was a student, a friend, an athlete and most important a Christ follower.
There are no words to describe how we feel as a school community and family. We will come together and support Jamie, Arsella and Lyla with our whole hearts. We offer our deepest sympathy to the Tellier’s extended family as well.
I want to thank all the schools and individuals that have reached out during this difficult time. Caden will never be forgotten for who he was and what he means to Morgan Academy.
