College football suffered a heartbreaking loss on Saturday, August 29, 2026 - when William Jewell College junior running back MicahJo Barnett died following a medical emergency during the Cardinals’ season opener against Fort Lewis College at Greene Stadium in Liberty, Missouri. Barnett had just scored the game’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter. He had six carries for 30 yards as William Jewell led 7–0. Minutes later, he experienced a medical emergency on the sideline. Emergency personnel immediately responded, and Barnett was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The game was suspended and ultimately canceled. Some reports referenced seizure-like symptoms, but neither William Jewell College nor authorities have announced an official cause of death. Out of respect for MicahJo and his family, we should not speculate about why this happened until additional information is officially released. Barnett was beginning his third season at William Jewell and had already established himself as a respected student-athlete, teammate and young man. His loss is bigger than football. This is a wake-up call for every parent. We see college football players with enormous strength, speed and muscle. We watch NFL players and sometimes place them on a pedestal as if they possess superhuman strength. But underneath the helmets, uniforms, statistics and highlight reels are human beings. They are sons. Brothers. Friends. Teammates. Young men who need love, encouragement, friendship and support just like everyone else. Sometimes former athletes talk about coming back because they miss the fans, their teammates and the energy surrounding the game. That energy matters. We should ALWAYS give that same energy to our children and the people we love. I reflect on my own two teenage boys, Justin Anthony (17YO) and Maine Jr., (14YO). Being away from them is always heartbreaking. I miss them every day. Every time I blink, they are getting older, growing and developing. The expression “they grow in the blink of an eye” isn’t simply about the speed at which children grow. It is also about how quickly their lives, personalities, dreams and futures develop before our eyes. Justin and Maine Jr., I love you every day, every minute, every second and every millisecond... forever & a day. To MicahJo Barnett’s parents, family, friends, teammates and fans, hold tightly to the good memories of this young man. Continue pursuing your dreams. Continue being an example to others. Continue loving people while they are here. Nothing is ever perfect. Don’t wait for perfect. Be there now. Rest in Paradise, MicahJo Barnett. 🕊️🏈 – at Dublin City, Ireland