Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME from the beginning. "Greg had just come home to spend time with the family. He was just a humble, hungry kid who had a pas- sion to be a good kid and to play pro football." The passenger, Maurice Grover, told The Sun Sentinel that he did not see the shooter. "We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Grover said. Bryant arrived at Notre Dame as a five-star signee in 2013, but later ad- mitted he struggled with the transition to the program. He registered three carries for 14 yards as a freshman before being med- ically redshirted with a knee injury. In 2014, he played in 12 games, ranked second on the team in rushing yards (289) and scored three times. He also recorded a 61-yard punt return versus Louisville on senior day. Last summer, Bryant was suspended for four games for a violation of un- specified team rules and was later ruled academically ineligible for the entire 2015 season. He transferred to ASA Miami, a junior college where he played in one game last fall. In November, Bryant announced his transfer to the University of Alabama- Birmingham (UAB), which temporar- ily dropped football as a varsity sport before reinstituting it. The program is not able to play in games in 2016, meaning Bryant would have been able to only work out and practice until next year. The 2017 campaign would have marked Bryant's final year of col- legiate eligibility. Irish head coach Brian Kelly released a statement regarding Bryant's death. "This is just such a sad and tragic situation," he said. "My thoughts and prayers, as well as everyone associ- ated with Notre Dame and its football program, are with Greg's family at this incredibly difficult time." Many former Irish teammates ex- pressed their sorrow on Twitter. "Pray you look over me and give me the strength to finish what we started," senior quarterback Malik Zaire posted. "Beautiful thing to see how many hearts GB touched," tight end Alizé Jones added. "He's with God now, away from this filthy world we live in. Rest easy brotha." "My heartfelt prayers to Greg Bry- ant's family on his passing. Although he transferred he was still a part of the ND Football family #RIP," former Irish All-America running back Reggie Brooks tweeted. On the afternoon news of the shooting broke, there was confusion over whether Bryant had in fact per- ished or not. Former Notre Dame running backs coach Tony Alford tweeted, "Rest In Peace Gregory!! You will be missed!! Love you man!! #God'sHands." The UAB football program also re- leased a statement expressing their condolences, but it was premature. A high school assistant coach close to the family posted on social media from the hospital that Bryant was "still fighting." Twenty-four hours later, he was ruled brain dead. — Andrew Owens