How fans, media processed traumatic incident amid UTSA’s Saturday night comeback

The Alamodome is known for a lot of things, being quiet isn’t one of them.

But as paramedics tended to a service member who plummeted during a rappelling demonstration before UTSA’s primetime matchup against Navy, fans could only watch in horror. Later that night, a spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, confirmed to Task & Purpose that the victim died from injuries sustained in the fall.

The tragedy sapped the energy out of the entire building — and Jeff Traylor and the Roadrunners could feel it. 

“There was something,” Traylor said. “You could just tell the energy was gone. I’ve never had to deal with anything like that before. So it just puts things in perspective. It really does.”

Before the first snap, the game was already an afterthought. But Traylor and the players weren’t aware of the exact details of the situation, so they could only press on. 

The Roadrunners fell into an early 14-0 hole, which didn’t do much to settle the already uneasy crowd. Navy quarterback Jackson Gutierrez, a San Antonio native and John Jay high school product, gashed UTSA’s defense for 80 yards and two touchdowns through three drives. 

UTSA eventually erased its deficit and beat Navy 38-34, but their comeback felt secondary to the painstaking perseverance that was taking place in the stands, and all throughout the Alamodome following the accident.

Gabriela Ramirez, a UTSA fan who was familiar with the Salute to Service pregame demonstrations, described the scene in the stands as the incident unfolded to Alamo Audible. 

“Everybody stood up,” Ramirez said. “There were people that were praying. You could see them praying over what was happening. Some people had their eyes closed. They didn’t want to see what was happening. There were a lot of mixed emotions from everybody.” 

After the victim was carted off, UTSA’s band, the Spirit of San Antonio, played the national anthem. The performance served as a moment for attendees to try to reflect and process what had happened, while also signaling that the game would still be played. 

Ramirez still wanted to leave. 

“I told my husband, ‘I want to go home. The vibes are off. I don’t feel good about this,’” she said. “Having that happen, having witnessed that and then trying to go back into having fun, it was not an easy task for anybody. I really did want to leave. We ultimately ended up staying. 

“I think that we had optimism that he was going to make it, and everything was going to be fine because we saw the level of response, him getting carted off. I think that comes from going to these games, it’s a heavy contact sport. You see injuries and you see things like that in football, but not to this degree. It was shocking.” 

On Sunday, the American Conference put out a statement saying that “During the game, representatives of both participating member institutions, Alamodome management and local authorities met with American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti and a working group to review the information available and discuss next steps. At the time of those discussions, Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs had not publicly confirmed the service member’s condition.

“Air Force casualty notification and information-release procedures establish safeguards for notifying families and publicly releasing casualty information. In accordance with conference bylaws and with the support of both participating member institutions, the conference made the decision to continue the game.”

A media member working on the sideline nearest the incident, speaking on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the event, gave Alamo Audible their perspective on what it was like to keep working afterward. 

“You could see the energy across the board was different, from everybody – teams, coaches, media,” they said. “You’re not really focused on the game as much anymore; more so focused on the traumatic event. Trying to go back and refocus on making sure we cover the game the best way that we can is a lot easier said than done.” 

Later in the game, as fans began settling in, a fire alarm sounded and emergency lights in the Alamodome suite came on. According to the National Fire Protection Association, all voice systems or amplified music/audio must be shut down when the alarm goes off.

In the minutes between the initial sounding of the siren and the announcement that there was no real threat, fans were left confused and feeling uneasy as the sounds of the crowd and the game were all that remained. 

“It was like one thing after another. ‘Are we even supposed to be playing this game right now?,’” Ramirez recalls asking herself. “I did have questions about that. ‘Is that what we should be doing?’”

Despite the chaos and heartbreak, most fans stayed for the rest of the game. Both Ramirez and the media member agree that fans staying for the game will do more good for the community as they grapple with the traumatic experience. 

“I think most people’s minds were still wrapped around what they had saw, but they were finding football to be a way to cope,” the media member said. 

“The sense of community is super important to us as fans,” Ramirez said. “Especially for UTSA fans, it’s always been that way. In the sense of community, when something terrible like that happens, [the community] can make you feel better.” 

On Sunday, UT San Antonio president Taylor Eighmy put out a statement:

“What was intended to be a day of camaraderie, tradition and celebration has been marked by profound sadness. I want to extend my deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the service member’s family, his fellow airmen, squadron and all those whose lives have been touched by this heartbreaking tragedy. I am very grateful for all the City of San Antonio Fire Department medical staff, our own team medical staff and trainers, Alamodome staff, and all our colleagues that supported efforts on the field and afterwards.

“We come together to support our teams, to celebrate shared traditions and to experience the bonds of community. But above all, we come together for one another. In moments of profound sadness, those bonds take on an even deeper meaning. We are reminded that our greatest responsibility is to treat one another with compassion, dignity and the highest degree of respect, and to offer care and support when it is needed most.

“The impact of this tragedy extends far beyond those who were present at the Alamodome. It touches families, friends, fellow service members and so many throughout our community. My hope is that all those affected feel the strength of a community that stands beside them, shares in their sorrow and surrounds them with genuine care.

“In moments like these, words can offer only so much comfort. But I hope the service member’s family, his fellow airmen and all those grieving know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. We stand together in sadness, united by our compassion for one another and our heartfelt support for all those whose lives have been touched by this tragedy.”