“Cops collar Trinity QB on Riverwalk”

“Cops collar Trinity QB on Riverwalk”, read the headline of the sports section of the San Antonio Express News the morning of December 16th, 2002. This particular headline represents tragedy and missed opportunity for many current and former Trinity students and Faculty.  The star quarterback of the 2002 Division III runner-up Trinity Tigers, Roy Hampton, was suspended for the last game of his senior season for an off-field incident. This proved to be a life-changing situation for Hampton and sent him into a downward spiral. When an elite athlete is forced to retire from a sport, a major socioemotional challenge for elite athletes is created. Hampton definitely experienced this challenge. 

At the time Hampton was suspended, he suffered a loss of his identity and social support that had been cultivated through blood, sweat, and tears on the football field. When he lost these bonds he not only lost a feeling of belongingness, but also the unique emotional support that a sports team can provide. Hampton developed symptoms of depression and unhappiness because of this which played a large part in his drug abuse that continued throughout his life. Sadly there is no redemption in this story, Hampton was never able to resolve his trauma and it consumed him. In 2013, he overdosed and passed away.