There have been a number of severe injuries to #TXST players over the last four years. 2015 had over a dozen season-ending injuries to players. Since 2016, a handful of players’ careers have ended due mainly to concussions. I have sources telling me this is not a coincidence:
After David Gish, award-winning TXST head athletic trainer for 17 yrs, passed away in 2014, Jason Karlik took over. Allegations say Karlik has been uncommunicative with coaches’ concerns with player’s health and is rarely on the job, regulating duties to student trainers.
Karlick isn’t around b/c he has a second job teaching classes, which might make him the only FBS head trainer that isn’t full time.
“Only time you see him working is when he is taping ankles bc everyone is needed... You will never see him on the floor working rehab.”
“Only time you see him working is when he is taping ankles bc everyone is needed... You will never see him on the floor working rehab.”
On Karlick, “He has NO relationship with any of the players and they simply dont trust him but have no other options.”
Concerns from the staff about player safety were either played down or outright ignored by the administration.
Concerns from the staff about player safety were either played down or outright ignored by the administration.
“There are nearly 100 emails btwn the football office and the athletic admins over a 2 1/2 year period. (documented) that stressed concerns that something tragic was going to happen in the training room if it didn't get fixed quickly. Tracy Shoemake (FB admin at the time)...
... “came back with the statement ‘You guys always exaggerate. All you want is control.’ She never held (Karlick) accountable and follow protocol. Rather, she empowered him to remain defiant.”
Not until the Maryland situation, where a player died, did the school plan a move.
Not until the Maryland situation, where a player died, did the school plan a move.
That move was to put Karlick in an administration position in order to avoid a tragedy (or a lawsuit). But they didn’t move Karlick and more than three months after the Maryland story came out, he’s still the trainer at TXST.
I personally know of two players who’s careers were ended due to mishandled injuries at TXST and I suspect more. I don’t want to toss names out yet (I will eventually) but there is one injury that was discussed in press conference before so I’ll bring it up: Pierce Withers.
Pierce Withers was initially diagnosed with a shoulder subluxation (partial dislocation) by the training staff in Aug. He rehabbed every day with staff and, despite still being in pain, was cleared to play in week three. 6 weeks since injury, pain didn’t subside so...
He consultes an outside Dr. (keep in mind, his dad is the coach and even they didn’t trust the trainer) and finds out he has a severely torn pectoral muscle that needed surgery. Karlick examined Pierce twice in those six weeks, missing a major injury.
“Torn muscle to the bone.”
“Torn muscle to the bone.”
During rehab, Pierce worked with trainer that reportedly told him he was just going to have to work through the pain.
This type of injury should have received immediate surgery, not play the first three weeks then rehab. Because of the delay, he may never regain full motion.
This type of injury should have received immediate surgery, not play the first three weeks then rehab. Because of the delay, he may never regain full motion.
Another note: Pierce Withers isn’t on scholarship yet, he is a grayshirt. His scholarship was going to kick in Jan. so they could give a scholarship to another player. First year at TXST was out of pocket. W/ injury, slim chance he gets another one, especially if he transfers.
