Watch CBS News

Torii Hunter's Son Suffers Scary Concussion Against Texas

Former Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter was in Texas Sunday night to watch his son, Torii Hunter Jr. play for Notre Dame against Texas in the season opener for both teams.

The Fighting Irish eventually lost to Texas 50-47 in double overtime, but Hunter's son was on the receiving end of a scary hit in the loss to the Longhorns. Hunter Jr. had already caught a touchdown pass in the game and potentially had another in the third quarter. As he came down with the ball, he was hit hard by a Texas defensive back in the middle of the end zone.

Hunter Jr. dropped the ball, but more important, lay on the field in the end zone for several minutes. Torii Hunter and his family watched concerned from the stands before heading down to the locker room.

He posted on Twitter after the game that Hunter Jr. suffered a concussion but is otherwise OK. As vicious as the hit looked, game referees had several minutes to review the play for targeting but decided the hit was within the rules of the game.

Players who get flagged for targeting are ejected from the game and if it happens in the second half, they are subject to miss the first half of the following game. Three Gophers defenders were ejected from their season-opening game, a 30-23 win over Oregon State, for targeting penalties.

Linebacker Cody Poock was flagged early in the first quarter, while Tai-yon Devers and Jonathan Celestin both got flagged in the second half. Devers and Celestin are likely to miss the first half of this Saturday's game against Indiana State.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.