What Henry Blackburn did in the game against Colorado was bad, but what is happening to him in the aftermath is even worse.
Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn and his family have received death threats after his late hit to Colorado star Travis Hunter, according to Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell and athletic director Joe Parker who have condemned the behavior.
Blackburn was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after drilling Hunter on a pass that had fallen incomplete well before Blackburn laid the hit. Hunter, a star two-way athlete who plays wide receiver and cornerback, was sent to the hospital and is expected to be out for three weeks.
Colorado State athletics director Joe Parker told ESPN on Monday that Blackburn and his family have received death threats over the incident.
“We’re very concerned about our player’s safety, as Henry and his family have continued to receive these threats,” Parker told ESPN. “Henry never intended to put anyone in harm’s way on the football field. It’s not what we teach or coach. We hope that the irrational vitriol directed at Henry stops immediately.”
“It’s just sad,” Colorado State’s head coach Jay Norvell told reporters on Monday, pertaining to the threats Blackburn and his family allegedly received. “It’s sad that that’s the state of the world we live in. It’s a football game. Let’s not make it more than that. We don’t want anybody to get hurt. We don’t coach that kind of football.”
Blackburn’s and his mother’s cellphone numbers, along with his campus and home address were published online.
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Colorado ultimately won the game 43-35 in double overtime.
Norvell added that Blackburn would not be suspended for the hit. Blackburn was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play, but did not receive a targeting violation and was allowed to remain in the game.
Colorado has not revealed the nature of Hunter’s injury.
