A couple days ago it was reported that two NFL and two former University of South Florida collegiate players were lost at sea off the Gulf of Mexico while on a deep sea boating trip. The two NFL players were Raiders’ special teamer Marquis Cooper and former Lions’ defensive lineman Corey Smith, while the two former USF players were William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler.
When the news first broke, I posted just a small piece on it hoping that the next time I would have to address the story, it would be another small blurb saying that the four men had been found. I kept waking up and checking Internet reports throughout the day hoping that the four men would be returned safely to their families.
But it truly saddens me to write that the search has been called off for Cooper, Smith and Bleakley, all of which were never found. The lone bright spot in this story is that Schuyler was rescued a couple days ago after authorities found him clinging to the bottom of a boat in the middle of the Gulf. But unfortunately Schuyler couldn’t help the Coast Guard find the other three boaters.
I started reading little bits and pieces of this news story throughout the past week, but could never finish the entire articles. I just kept thinking about the three men being carried off into the harsh conditions and what they must have gone through in trying to survive. Schuyler even said that at one point, a helicopter was circling over the four men, but it never spotted them because the conditions were so bad and the visibility was so low.
My heart goes out to their families and to Nick Schuyler, who has no doubt suffered greatly. I still hold out hope that the three men will eventually be rescued but for now, let me just say that my prayers go out to them and their families.
