Lions dedicate 1st win of season to Oxford community after shooting
The Detroit Lions' first win of the season came with some extra emotion.
Following their long-awaited victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Lions head coach Dan Campbell dedicated the game ball to the community of Oxford, Michigan, where four students were killed and several others were wounded in a school shooting four days prior.
Campbell proceeded to read off the names of all the victims and expressed support for all affected by the tragedy:
"This game ball goes to the whole Oxford community, all those who were affected. That being said, man, I just want us to not forget these names: Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Tate Myre, Phoebe Arthur, John Asciutto, Riley Franz, Elijah Mueller, Kylie Ossege, Aiden Watson and Molly Darnell, who's a teacher.
"Those names will never be forgotten. They're in our hearts and our prayers and all the families, not to mention all those that were affected by all of this. The classmates, the brothers and sisters, the cousins, the teachers. Everybody."
Tributes to the Oxford victims and community have poured in since the shooting on Wednesday, including before the Lions game. Oxford shirts, hats and decals were visible all around the sideline, while Lions safety Jalen Elliott entered the stadium wearing a jersey reading the name of Myre, who reportedly approached the shooter rather than running away as the chaos unfolded.
The Michigan football team also paid tribute to Myre during their win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday, wearing his initials and number in a block O-shaped patch on their uniforms and inviting his family onto the field as honorary captains.
The Detroit Red Wings have also held a moment of silence, while both their coach Jeff Blashill and Detroit Pistons coach Dwane Casey have spoken out.
