COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTV) - A football coach at the University of South Carolina was hurt in a deadly crash last week, per reports.
The coach, Travian Robertson, is an assistant on head coach Shane Beamer's staff. According to a statement from Beamer, the crash involving Robertson happened the morning of Friday, Aug. 22.
"We expect him to make a full recovery and be back out on the field soon," Beamer's statement read in part. "Please keep the families of those involved in the accident in your prayers and respect the Robertson family's privacy during this time."
ESPN confirmed through the South Carolina Highway Patrol that Friday's crash was deadly, and that it happened after the other driver crossed a median and hit Robertson's vehicle head-on.
247 Sports reported that Robertson was taken to the hospital and had "immediate" ankle surgery following the crash. Beamer's statement later in the day said that his assistant coach was in stable condition.
Robertson's crash came just days before the Gamecocks were set to open their 2025 season against Virginia Tech. The season-opening matchup will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, Aug. 31.
It is unclear if Robertson will travel with the team to Atlanta.
Before joining the Gamecocks' coaching staff, Robertson made a few prior coaching stops -- but not until after he played collegiately at South Carolina and followed that with a four-year NFL career.
A former defensive tackle, the Gamecocks' current defensive line coach played at the school from 2007-2011 and was named a team captain in his final season.
Robertson was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and spent time with them, the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins.
The now 36-year-old first got into coaching with Georgia State before he moved on to Albany State and Tulane. He returned to South Carolina ahead of the 2023 campaign, and is now entering his third season on the Gamecocks' staff.
Robertson's ties to the Carolinas run deeper than just college and now his coaching career. He is a native of Laurinburg, N.C. and went to Scotland High School. His older brothers Adrian and Tony played football at Wingate and App State, respectively.