Ole Miss O-Lineman Killed in Car Crash, Tributes Pour In
The Independence Day weekend was meant to be a day of celebration. For Park Stevens’ family, it’ll be a day of tears.
According to multiple Twitter reports, the walk-on offensive linesman was killed in a car crash today. According to the Clarion-Ledger, Stevens was killed when his pick-up truck collided with rear of an 18-wheeler at the intersection of Egypt Road and Highway 45A at around 3 p.m.
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze tweeted this statement: “Our Rebel family and team are so saddened at the loss of one of our teammates, Park Stevens. May God be with his family and our team”.
By all the tweets coming out, he was a bright light in the Ole Miss dressing room, and was known as ‘Big Dog’.
Also on Twitter:
Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace: “Times like these Rebel Nation comes together!! Prayers to Park’s family and my teammates!!”
Ole Miss defensive line coach Chris Kiffin: “Very saddened by the news about Park Stevens. He was a great young man! Praying for his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Starting left tackle Emmanuel McCray: “The news I just got about Park Stevens has me kinda stuck right now. That kid had the most upbeat personality and enjoyed life. RIP big dog.”
Defensive back Chief Brown: “My prayers are sent to Stevens family!! Gone but never forgotten, RIP Park Stevens.”
2012 Ole Miss kicker Andy Pappanastos: “Everyone please pray for the family of Park Stevens. Terrible tragedy to an awesome teammate & even better friend. We love you big dog.” Ole Miss defensive back Justin Anderson tweeted: “RIP Park Stevens. You will be missed brother #rebelfamily“.
The recruiting sites were the first with the sad news….
Ben Garrett of ‘The Ole Miss Spirit’: “Walk-on offensive lineman Park Stevens of Columbus, Miss., was killed in a car wreck today. Tragic. Prayers to his family.“
Webb Lewis of competing site Rebels 24-7: “Recruiting battles, wins and losses seem so small on a day like today. Heart goes out to the family, friends and teammates of Park Stevens.“
The notes have been coming thick and fast.
Herb Hand, O-Line coach at Vanderbilt: “Prayers to the family of Park Stevens as well as the Ole Miss football program. May God bless you with His peace in your time of loss. Amen.”, while his colleague Ricky Rahne, the Vandy quarterbacks coach tweeted: “Just heard the heart breaking news of Park Stevens. My condolences to his family & Ole Miss football. Every father & coach’s worst nightmare.“
And the rival schools have added their prayers:
Ben Beckwith, an O-Lineman at Mississippi State, who lost Nick Bell in 2010: “I know we’re rivals on the field but my prayers go out to Ole Miss and Park Stevens family I know the feeling of losing a teammate it’s rough.” Insider linebacker Ryne Rankin at Georgia said: “My condolences go to the family of Ole Miss Park Stevens, who was killed in a car wreck. #RIP“. Former Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson said: “Praying for the family of Park Stevens and the Ole Miss Team“. Christian Morris, an offensive linesman at UCLA tweeted: “Prayers go out to Park Stevens family of Ole Miss.”
There have been no details of the accident thus far.