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UPDATE (9/29, 9:15 AM) - Southern has announced that they have officially set up a fund to assist with Devon Gales living and medical expenses. You can contribute to the Devon Gales Fund at this link.
Here is the Southern press release in full:
Coach Mark Richt and Coach Mark Fox have already tweeted out calls to Dawg Nation to help Devon how we can.
Calling all Dawgs. If you would like to help Southern University Devon Gales and his family with medical expenses here's how we can do it.
— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) September 29, 2015
Here's the website. http://t.co/4I97y4jErl
— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) September 29, 2015
Let's show the country what we can do the bless Devon and his family!!
— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) September 29, 2015
DawgNation, please help Devon Gales. https://t.co/UfxfEDV1q4 If 1,000 RT's & $100K to the fund then @UGASPIKESQUAD gets a visitor #BeatBama
— Mark Fox (@coachmarkfox) September 29, 2015
And as before, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Devon during his recovery.
UPDATE (9/27, 6:55 PM) - Seth Emerson has filed this update on Devon's condition, including comments that Mark Richt made during his weekly teleconference.
A couple of quotes from the article:
Gales' parents are with him: They were flown in from Louisiana at UGA's expense on Saturday night, then driven to Athens by Georgia staff, according to Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity. There has been an active and concerted effort by Georgia officials, led by head athletic trainer Ron Courson, to coordinate with Southern and help out.
"We're trying to cover him up with as much love as we can, and let him know that we care, let him know that we're here to help," Richt said. "We're just gonna continue to pray, and I know the Bulldog nation is behind him as well. There may come a time where there may be some needs. Not exactly sure yet. But it does come to that I'm going to be calling all Dawgs to get involved and to help out."
UPDATE (9/27, 6:50 pm) - From Southern University:
UPDATE (9/27, 3:45 PM) - Chris Hagan of WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge tweeted the following updates last night, but we just saw them this afternoon:
Prayers up for #Southern WR Devon Gales. Being told his family is flying into Athens and will be with him for spinal surgery in the morning.
— Chris Hagan (@ChrisHaganTV) September 27, 2015
Multiple sources also say Gales is in good spirits, laughing. Has ability to use arms and hands, able to scratch his head.
— Chris Hagan (@ChrisHaganTV) September 27, 2015
UPDATE (9/27, 3:30 PM) - Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald is reporting that Gales' parents parents are in Athens with their son at Athens Regional. Weiszer quoted Greg McGarity as saying:
[The UGA athletic department] has been heavily involved in assisting the family and school officials from the time of the accident and throughout the time they will spend in Athens. We've kind of treated it as if one of our student-athletes was injured. [UGA Director of Sports Medicine] Ron Courson and his staff have been tremendous as well as a lot of other people that offered to help.
UPDATE (9/27, 11:30 AM) - Rivals is reporting that Gales is scheduled to undergo surgery today. We will keep you updated with any additional news that we have.
The original story is below.
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With 2:00 left in the 3rd quarter of the Georgia-Southern game, Devon Gales appeared to be injured on a kickoff return for Southern. The Southern athletic department has released an official statement saying that Gales suffered a "spinal injury," and asked for prayers for Devon and his family.
Here is the official statement:
We here at Dawg Sports want to send our thoughts and prayers to Devon, his family, and the Southern football family. We are praying for Devon's quick and complete recovery.
Other Georgia twitter accounts have been expressing their support for Devon Gales, as well:
Our thoughts & prayers are with Southern wide receiver, Devon Gales, who sustained a spinal injury today. #UGAFamily pic.twitter.com/IO32LbwnkU
— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) September 26, 2015
Me and my family's hearts and prayers go out to Devon Gales of Southern University and his family.
— Kevin Sherrer (@CoachSherrerUGA) September 26, 2015
Everyone please keep Devon Gales from SU in your prayers !!
— Keith Marshall (@Truthh4) September 26, 2015
At the end of the day it's all a game... Praying for @SouthernU_BR and Devon Gales
— lorenzo carter (@LCarter_25) September 27, 2015
Prayers for Devon Gales.
— Hunter Long (@hlong73) September 27, 2015
My family and I are praying for Devon Gales, the young man who suffered a significant injury today! He and his family need our prayers!
— Brian Schottenheimer (@CoachSchottyUGA) September 27, 2015
We will continue to update this situation as we have official, confirmed news to share. (Please do not share unconfirmed rumors in the comments below, but feel free to express your well-wishes for Devon.)