After Florida State's football team beat East Texas A&M 77-3 on Saturday, head coach Mike Norvell awarded the ceremonial game ball to freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who remains hospitalized after being shot in the back of the head last week.
Norvell reported on Wednesday that Pritchard is in stable condition. The first-year player was hit in the back of the head by a bullet on Sunday, Aug. 31. Pritchard was driving his aunt home after a family event when he turned a corner and heard gunshots, his father told WFTV.
On Saturday, FSU players wore wristbands displaying Pritchard's jersey number 35.
Following the win, Norvell presented the ball to Earl Pritchard, Ethan's father, who was wearing a shirt with his son's picture on it. Florida State posted a video of the ceremony.
"A lot of great performances today," Norvell is heard telling his team as he stands next to Earl Pritchard. "But, if you guys are good, I'm gonna give it to him."
In 2023, Norvell and FSU began a tradition surrounding the game ball. After wins, someone is presented with the ball while Norvell speaks about why they deserve it. After Norvell's speech, that person then takes a gold sledgehammer and breaks apart a cement rock with the opponent's logo on it, symbolizing the victory.
In honor of his son, Earl Pritchard broke the rock, eliciting cheers from his son's teammates in the locker room.
In Norvell's speech, he shared a bit of the conversation he had with his injured player's dad ahead of Saturday's win.
"His dad came to spend the day with us. He told me the other day, this is where his boy wants to be. So we got it done for him."
Norvell then handed the ball to Earl Pritchard, saying, "I want you to take that to him."
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