It was supposed to be just another Saturday in Birmingham. The Magic City Classic. Alabama A&M versus Alabama State. A rivalry that defines HBCU football culture. But for Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old linebacker with a smile that could light up a stadium, October 26, 2024, became the day everything changed.
If you've been following the Medrick Burnett Jr GoFundMe, you know this isn't just a story about a football injury. It's a heavy, complicated narrative about a family’s grief, a university’s public relations nightmare, and a community that refused to look away.
Honestly, the way it all unfolded was chaotic. One minute we were hearing he was stable, the next the school was issuing a premature death announcement, then a retraction, and then, finally, the news no one wanted to hear. He passed away on Wednesday evening, November 27, 2024.
What Actually Happened on That Field?
Medrick—his friends called him "Meddy"—was a redshirt freshman who had just transferred from Grambling State. He was a California kid, originally from Lakewood, looking to make his mark in the SWAC. During a head-on collision in the game against Alabama State, something went terribly wrong.
He didn't just get a concussion. It was much worse.
The Medrick Burnett Jr GoFundMe page, set up by his sister Dominece James, detailed the terrifying medical reality: multiple brain bleeds and severe swelling. He spent his 20th birthday (October 27) in the ICU at UAB Hospital.
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Doctors eventually had to perform an emergency craniotomy. That’s a last-resort surgery where they literally remove a piece of the skull to give the brain room to swell without crushing itself. It's a "hail mary" in the medical world.
The Retraction That Confused Everyone
For a few days in late November, the internet was a mess of conflicting reports. On Tuesday, November 26, Alabama A&M’s athletic department released a statement saying Medrick had passed. They said they were acting on information from a family member.
But then, 24 hours later, they had to walk it back.
The school issued an apology, stating Medrick was actually still alive and in stable condition. You can only imagine the emotional whiplash for the fans, but especially for his parents, who had flown 2,000 miles from California to be by his side.
Sadly, the "stable" status didn't last. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed he died at 5:43 p.m. on November 27.
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Why the Medrick Burnett Jr GoFundMe Became a Lifeline
When a student-athlete is injured like this, people often assume the school or insurance covers everything. While there are certainly policies in place, they rarely account for the "human" costs of a tragedy.
The Medrick Burnett Jr GoFundMe wasn't just for medical bills. Think about the logistics. His parents live in Lakewood, California. They had to drop everything—jobs, home life, other responsibilities—to stay in Birmingham for over a month.
- Housing: Staying near UAB Hospital in Birmingham can cost $900 a week.
- Daily Costs: Parking at the hospital was around $100 a week.
- Loss of Income: His mother, Denise, was unable to work during the entire ordeal.
- Travel: Rental cars, gas, and last-minute cross-country flights.
By the time the fundraiser gained national traction, the goal was set at $100,000. People stepped up in a big way. Within weeks, the total surged past $50,000 as the football community realized the sheer scale of what this family was facing.
The Impact on HBCU Football
You could see the weight of this on Coach Connell Maynor. He actually wore Medrick’s No. 51 jersey on the sidelines during the games following the injury.
"At the end of the day, we play a game, but his life is on the line," Maynor told reporters. It was a sobering reminder that for all the pageantry of the Magic City Classic, these are still just young men out there.
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Alabama A&M eventually played Florida A&M in a makeup game on November 30 with "heavy hearts." It wasn't about the scoreboard at that point. It was about honoring a teammate who had been a "positive energy and leader" in the locker room.
How to Help and What’s Next
The Medrick Burnett Jr GoFundMe remains a primary way for people to support the family as they deal with the aftermath. Funerals aren't cheap, and the medical bills from a month-long ICU stay with multiple surgeries are astronomical.
If you are looking to support the Burnett family, here is what you can do:
- Check the Official Source: Always ensure you are donating to the fundraiser organized by Dominece James. There are often "copycat" accounts during high-profile tragedies.
- University Funds: Alabama A&M also established an emergency relief fund through the school's athletic department.
- Spread the Word: Awareness often dies down after the initial news cycle. Sharing the story helps keep the support coming for the long-term debt the family now carries.
Medrick’s story is a reminder of how quickly life changes. One Saturday you're a 19-year-old kid playing the game you love; the next, your family is fighting for your life 2,000 miles from home. The outpouring of support shows that while the game is tough, the community is tougher.
To help the family cover the ongoing costs of funeral arrangements and the massive medical debt from Medrick's month-long stay at UAB Hospital, you can visit the official Medrick Burnett Jr GoFundMe page directly or donate to the Alabama A&M emergency relief fund.