TAMPA, Fla. — Tennessee Tech wide receiver Drew Hixon remained in a medically induced coma Monday following a helmet-to-helmet collision that knocked his helmet off his head, university officials said.
Hixon, son of Washington Redskins assistant coach Stan Hixon, remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit of St. Joseph's Hospital, according to a statement from Tennessee Tech.
He has not regained consciousness since being leveled after catching a pass in the second quarter of Saturday's 21-7 loss to South Florida.
Hixon was strapped to a backboard and immediately taken to a hospital where doctors used drugs to induce a coma. Tests later indicated a brain injury.
His mother, Rebecca, was at Saturday's game, and her husband joined her Sunday, missing the Redskins' opener with Tampa Bay. The family issued a statement Monday thanking people for their support.
"Although he is in critical condition, we are trusting God for his life and healing. We know that nothing is impossible with God and we request your continued prayers for Drew's full and complete recovery," the statement said.
Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said Hixon left Saturday night to be with his son.
"We've just been in real prayer for him the last two days, the team has, and we're just praying that he's going to make a quick recovery," Gibbs said.
The 5-foot-10, 181-pound Hixon is a senior who had been Tennessee Tech's leading receiver with 10 catches for 102 yards. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the Golden Eagles' season opener Sept. 4.
The Golden Eagles held a team meeting Saturday night and didn't return to Cookeville, Tenn., until Sunday afternoon.
"Drew is an exceptional young man, and our only concern is for his complete recovery," Tennessee Tech athletic director Mark Wilson said. "Our thoughts and prayers are for Drew and his family during this difficult time."
BOWDEN STAYS WITH RIX: Chris Rix will remain Florida State's starting quarterback despite a dreadful performance in last week's loss at Miami.
Coach Bobby Bowden announced his decision at a booster luncheon on Monday.
Rix, who is Bowden's first-ever four-year starter, became Division I-A's only quarterback to go 0-5 against the same school after failing to lead the offense to a touchdown in Friday night's loss at the Orange Bowl.
"People want to give up on Chris," Bowden said. "I'm hoping that's his bad one for the year."
Rix completed 12 of 28 passes for 108 yards, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, including a critical one in overtime in the 16-10 loss. He ranks 10th in the Atlantic Coast Conference's passing statistics with a 61.0 efficiency ranking.
"It's way too early to panic," added Bowden, who has spent most of the past three autumns defending Rix, now 24-11 in four seasons leading the Seminoles, who dropped from No. 4 to 8 in the latest media poll. "It's not time."
Bowden was quick to remind Florida State fans in the audience that the Seminoles ran the table in 1988 after losing their opener to Miami. Florida State finished No. 3 in the AP rankings that season.
"We've been there before," Bowden said. "The only thing that game the other night proved was we're not going to have a perfect season."
Bowden also has few alternatives as no other quarterback on the Seminoles roster has ever started a game or seen any significant playing time. Backup Wyatt Sexton was 3-of-5 for 45 yards in limited mop-up duty last season.
Fabian Walker, who had backed up Rix the previous two seasons, transferred to Valdosta State over the summer.
However, Bowden conceded he had thought about playing the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Sexton, a 4.0 student and the son of running backs coach Billy Sexton.
"We definitely need to get him some action," Bowden said. "I've got to get him into a game."
Bowden hopes to redshirt freshman quarterbacks Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford.
Next up is Alabama-Birmingham, a team that crushed Baylor 56-14 in its opener and has Bowden more than a little worried.
"It's a good time to play Florida State — after Miami," Bowden said. "They're a team that can beat you."
SUSPENDED VICK AVOIDS JAIL: Suspended Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick avoided jail Monday by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a night of drinking with underage girls.
Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, settled on the plea agreement rather than pursuing an appeal of a juvenile court conviction and 30-day jail sentence on three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
As part of the agreement, Vick received a suspended 30-day jail sentence, was fined $100 and ordered to perform 24 hours of community service. The judge also prohibited Vick from contacting the teenage girls who were at the party.
"Marcus has and does apologize for hurting so many people," defense lawyer Marc Long said. "I believe this is a life-changing experience for Marcus Vick."
Vick was arrested in February with teammates Mike Imoh and Brenden Hill after an encounter with 14- and 15-year-old girls at the quarterback's apartment in Blacksburg.
While Vick was acquitted of a charge of having sex with one of the girls, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,250 for the other charges.
Hill settled on a similar plea agreement that erased two of the three misdemeanor counts. Hill pleaded no contest to the same charge last week and received the same penalty as Vick. Tailback Mike Imoh is expected to appeal his conviction this week.
Tech suspended Vick this season and said he could possibly be readmitted in the spring after completing a drug education and counseling program. Any more criminal, athletic or university violations would result in permanent dismissal.
Long said Vick has told him he plans to re-enroll at Tech this spring. Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said Monday that Vick's status at the school remains unchanged.
Last month, Vick pleaded guilty to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession related to a traffic stop this summer. As part of a plea agreement, Vick was placed in a drug offender program requiring 24 hours of community service, drug counseling and random drug tests. He also must give up his driver's license for six months.