In the Cyclones’ 24-19 loss against Arizona State, Iowa State junior tight end Benjamin Brahmer was carted off the field after collapsing in the fourth quarter.
“Obviously, as frustrating as Saturday was with the result, I think the greatest news ever was it was a major scare more than it was something that could’ve been really, really scary,” Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell said.
At the 8:55 minute of the fourth quarter, with the Cyclones trailing 24-19 and starting their drive, Brahmer went to catch a pass from redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht.
Arms open for the catch, Arizona State junior defensive back Keith Abney II took a hard hit to Brahmer to break up the pass, leaving the six-foot-seven player kneeling on the ground for a minute as the training staff ran out to help.
Looking good, Brahmer stood up and, after taking a couple of steps to his team’s huddle, he suddenly collapsed on the turf.
Lying on the field for minutes inside a quiet stadium, with fans holding their breath and players kneeling, Brahmer was then put on a stretcher and carted off the field, seen giving a thumbs up to the crowd before being transported to Mary Greeley Medical Center, where he was then evaluated, treated and later discharged from the hospital.
“I think how he’s handled it, and even how our kids handled it,” Campbell said. “I don’t know if I have ever been in that stadium and felt that during my 10 years here. How our kids responded, Ben [Brahmer] and his family responded, how our medical staff responded, I think all those things you’re just really grateful for.”
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Jim Bonifas led the Cyclone team in prayer on the field after Brahmer was carted off the field before resuming play.
“When you look at our team and how close we are as friends and as brothers, it wasn’t a rally together for football moment, it was really just a rally together, we got a prayer for Ben [Brahmer] in,” Bonifas said. “At the time we didn’t know what the situation was and I think that was great, football aside, to get that for our guys because we all obviously love Ben [Brahmer] and care for Ben [Brahmer].”
However, it was clear the Cyclones were still shaken up about the turn of events and fell out of synch the rest of the game, as in the next play, Arizona State senior linebacker Jordan Crook intercepted Becht’s pass, ending the Cyclones’ drive with two plays in 13 seconds for zero yards.
Following the Cyclone loss and after the post-game press conference, Campbell headed over to the hospital to be with Brahmer and his family. As Campbell headed over, Brahmer was already in the process of being discharged and was back with his teammates on the following Sunday.
“I think watching Jim Bonifas rally our football team in prayer on the sideline was powerful, watching Ben [Brahmer] react on Sunday with our football team was powerful,” Campbell said. “We all are concerned about winning and losing, and I get it. But buddy, that’s what makes football really special and that’s what I’m really grateful for.”
“He was my roommate last semester, so when he went down, I was a little worried about him,” junior defensive back Tre Bell said. “So just to see him get up and see him get out of the hospital. I went and saw him Saturday night after the game, he was in good spirits and I was happy to see that.”
Before being carted off the field, Brahmer contributed one touchdown and 48 receiving yards. Moving forward with the season, the availability of Brahmer is still unknown as Campbell wants to wait till he is capable of getting back on the field.
“We will just have to see,” Campbell said. “I think that’s going to be a process to kind of physically get him back to where he’s capable of getting back on the football field.”
