CHICAGO — On Friday morning, as he was getting ready for classes and for his football game the next day, Central Michigan University's Malik Fountain found out his friend and former teammate had died.
Fountain's childhood friend, Andre Smith, died early Friday after suffering a blow to his head in a football game for Bogan High School on Thursday. Smith, 17, died due to blunt force trauma to his head, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said.
The tragic news caused Fountain's mind to wander, as he dealt with shock, grief and the viciousness of the game he loves, Fountain said.
But one thing became clear: When Fountain got onto the field Saturday, he wanted to play for his friend.
So Fountain took the time to write "RIP Dre" and "Long Live Andre Smith" on his forearm tape before to Central Michigan's game against Ball State on Saturday.
Rip Dre nothing but love for my brother, condolences to his family I dedicate this game to remembering Andre Smith 💯 pic.twitter.com/mlS4AXcaka
— W4L_Leek (@MalikFountain) October 24, 2015"He was a good person," Fountain, 19, said of Smith. "Always had a smile from ear to ear. I knew I wanted to honor him somehow."
Fountain met Smith when they both played for the same pee-wee football team as kids in suburban Chicago Heights. Both went to Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, though Fountain was a few years older and Smith transferred to Bogan for his senior year.
They grew apart as they got older, but Fountain said they still have mutual friends and that he knows Smith's brother and family. So when he heard of Smith's death, it hit him hard, he said.
"I was so surprised," Fountain said. "Would never think that would happen to him."
The shocking death of his friend also led Fountain to think about the dangers of football. Nationwide, Smith is the seventh high school player to die this year, according to the Illinois High School Association.
"A freak accident happened to the wrong person," Fountain said. "At least he was doing something that he loved."
Fountain said he had known football was dangerous, but he never gave much thought to how dangerous it is until Smith died. Still, it's a risk worth taking, Fountain said.
"The sport I play, you got people dying?" he said. "It's a passion that I can't give up. I definitely can't give up now. I know Dre wouldn't want me to keep playing."
Play was exactly what Fountain did.
With Smith's name on his uniform, Fountain took the field Saturday against Ball State. He promptly dislocated his finger, he said.
He thought about the injuries like the one that caused Smith to collapse and later die hours after a game. But Fountain knew he was doing something that he loved, and he knew football was something Smith loved, too.
The linebacker returned to play and helped his team beat Ball State 23-21.
"I knew I had to get back out there," he said. "I was playing for something bigger than me."
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