Well-wishers, including Pete Carroll, heap love upon Boron

When Boron football player Vinnie Rodriguez died September 16 due to a severe head injury incurred in a game four days earlier, Bobcats athletic director Jim Boghosian called it "the worst thing that's happened in my 42 years at the school."

There is nothing good about a 16-year-old losing his life in such a tragic manner. Rodriguez - a 135-pound sophomore running back/defensive back - was injured while making a tackle in a varsity game September 12 on a player from California School for the Deaf Riverside.

He was air-lifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center and operated on, but there was no saving him.

One silver lining to this horrible turn of events has been the outpouring of love and support that has been shown to Rodriguez's family and the Boron community.

Surrounding towns to this dusty outpost have heaped support and condolences upon Boron, coming from as far as the state of Washington. Even USC football coach Pete Carroll - as well known as any college coach in the land - took time out from his busy schedule to call Boron coach Todd Fink and offer his condolences.

That's a classy move by Carroll, considering that a tiny school like Boron (188 students) probably won't ever send a player on scholarship to a national powerhouse like USC.

"It's been unbelievable," said Boghosian, his voice cracking with emotion. "We've gotten a lot of consolences."

"We've been overwhelmed with love and support," said Kim Core, a friend of the Rodriguez family who is helping to take care of funeral arrangements. (Vinnie's grandmother) wants everyone to know how grateful she is."

ESPN has also contacted Boron High School.

Vinnie Rodriguez was born in Los Angeles, but has lived in Boron with his grandmother - Mary Silva Rodriguez - for eight years. At one time there were four grandsons living with Mary, but one moved away. She is still rearing two.

In the tight-knit community of Boron, Mary is known simply as "Grandma."

"He was a ball of fire," Boghosian said. "He was bubbly and full of life."

Boron held a spaghetti feed last Thursday to help defray medical and funeral costs. High school football teams from Rosamond, Desert (Edwards Air Force Base), Desert Christian, Mojave bused in, in support of Rodriguez. Youth teams from California City and the Antelope Valley College team made appearanced as well. .

Core said the memorial service is at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Boron gymnasium. There will also be a viewing from 1 to 2 p.m. that day at the First Baptist Church in Boron.

The Bobcat team is now wearing V2 decals on their helmet, as are reportedly members of CSDR, the deaf team that became unwitting partners in this sad story. Rodriguez wore the No. 2.

Core said a memorial scholarship in Rodriguez's name is also being contemplated.

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