A video of a deaf Colts fan communicating with a cheerleader in sign language recently went viral, capturing widespread attention.
“We were engaged in pass coverage drills,” Williams explained. “While I was on offense, catching the ball, the coach got upset and said, ‘Let me demonstrate how to prevent someone from catching the ball.'”
Maria Williams, Patreon’s mother, shared with local news station WOOD that she was observing from the parking lot when she witnessed something that made her uncomfortable.
Patreon says after the hit, he lost consciousness briefly.
“I could hear, but I couldn’t wake up, see nothing, or talk,” he recalled.
Maria Williams said she didn’t realize it was the coach who had tackled her son until after her son told her.
“I’m asking him, ‘Why did that kid hit you that hard?’ and he told me, ‘No, it wasn’t a kid. It was the coach,’” she said. “My heart dropped. … Those men … the men that were out there, they were huge compared to him.”
She said her son appeared disoriented and was slurring his words, prompting her to take him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a concussion.
“I thought that I would probably be out for a week or something like that,” Patreon said. “But the doctor told me I’ll probably be out for two weeks to a month.”
Maria WIlliams said she contacted the school the following day. About a week later, she was told the coach had been fired. The school sent News 8 a statement.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff is a top priority, and appropriate steps have been taken in response to the situation,” the school wrote.
But Mara said the situation hasn’t fully settled. Since the incident, some parents in the district have taken to social media to voice their opinions, calling for the coach to be reinstated.
“I knew then that I had to take action because I didn’t want him to do that to somebody else’s son,” Maria Williams said.
Patreon said he’s been facing backlash from some of his peers who blame him for the coach’s firing.
“They’re telling me it’s my fault the coach got fired,” he said. “But it’s really not my fault it’s his fault, because he’s the one that tackled me.”
Three weeks later, Patreon is still dealing with headaches and dizziness. With basketball season his favorite sport approaching, he says he’s unsure when he’ll be back on the court.
“When I shoot, I’m off,” he said. “When I take free throws, any type of shot or dribble, I’m off. After I do it for a while and I get comfortable, I just get dizzy and I’m not the same.”
Maria Williams said watching him struggle has been difficult. After transferring Patreon from another district last year, she feels like she let him down.
“He’s been at Holland Public for all of his life and he’s never had that experience, and so for me to transfer him over here and this happens, I feel like I failed him.”
Maria Williams said she’s frustrated with how the situation was handled and believes accountability is still lacking.
“I’m mad at the coach because I feel like his actions were reckless, and I just don’t understand why he thought it was OK to tackle him like that,” she said. “No one ever reported it, so I feel like they should be held accountable for trying to quiet this and hush hush this.”
Maria told News 8 she has filed a police report and is waiting for further action.
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