Tragedy strikes Hughes family: Robert excused from team

GoshenGipper

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Today during his press conference CW mentioned that Robert Hughes has been excused from the team for as long as he needs after the sudden death of his brother. His uncle will be picking him up from campus today. Our prayers go out to him and his family.
 
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Sureal

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Mercy...

God Bless Him and the rest of his family...
 
M

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My thoughts and prayers go out to Robert and the Hughes family....a terrible thing to have to go through for anyone at anytime.
 
johnnd05

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Here's the quote from Weis:

Well, before we get going on Navy, earlier today we received some bad news, that the brother of Robert Hughes, Tony Hughes, official name “Earl,” he died unexpectedly. We don’t have all the details at this point, but Robert, I excused him a little while ago, his uncle came and got him to bring him home, to go be with his family. He’s obviously upset, and I just want Robert and his family to know that the whole Notre Dame family has their family in our thoughts and in our prayers. I really don’t have any more details, so I really am not at liberty to talk about it, but I know his mom called me, and she was shook up, and obviously when I told the - when I told Robert this morning he was shook up, so you know, he’ll be gone for a little while. I told him as much time as he needs, I don’t know how long that’ll be, but when he gets back he gets back. Obviously there’s more important things, and that’s right now to be with his family. Not to start on a solemn note, but because I don’t talk to you guys again until after practice tomorrow, I felt it was important to address it on the front end right here and then move on to Navy.
Click to expand...

(Via the Roundup.)
 
IrishAlum1997

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Wow. I met Robert after the USC game, and he was more than a class act after a bad defeat. You hate to see bad things happen to good people.

Our family's prayers are with you and yours, Robert.
 
Newc

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I can't imagine what he must be going through but my prayers and condolances go out to Robert and the whole Hughes family. God Bless.
 
NDFan4Life

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My thoughts and prayers go out to Robert and the entire Hughes family. God bless and keep you all safe.
 
johnnd05

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(Via the Roundup.)

In case you hadn’t heard, it turns out that Hughes’s brother was shot and killed on Chicago’s West Side (link):
Earl Hughes had worked until about 10 p.m. Monday at EFT Sports Performance in Highland Park, where he was a trainer for teenage athletes.

He returned home about 11 p.m. and left about 12:30 a.m. He was killed soon afterward, said his uncle EJ Jones.

A witness said she heard an argument and shots fired, police spokeswoman Monique Bond said.

“It’s horrible,” Jones said. “We are 100 percent confident this was not drug- or gang-related. He was never in an altercation. . . . We think this has to do with some kind of triangle relationship.”

Earl Hughes’ only arrest was for disorderly conduct in 2000, police said.
He was the father of a 1-year-old daughter and one of eight siblings.

Earl Hughes was a role model for his younger brother, Robert. They last saw each other Sunday when Robert came home to visit.

“Robert wanted to be like his brother,” said Jones, who was a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1984-85 season.

“His brother was big in sports and probably had more natural talent than Robert, but did not take advantage of his opportunities,” Jones said. “His brother worked out with Robert and pushed him. He did not want Robert to make the mistakes he did. He wanted Robert to make the big time.”

Still, Earl Hughes was a proud big brother who attended all of Notre Dame’s home games.

Robert Hughes has a touchdown and has rushed for 42 yards on 16 carries so far this year. The 5-foot-11, 238-pounder rushed for 5,734 yards in his four-year career at Hubbard High and was considered a top running back recruit.

Earl Hughes had attended Joliet Junior College, where he was an outstanding basketball player, his uncle said.

Recently, Elias Karras hired Earl to work for him at EFT Sports Performance. He knew Earl and Robert Hughes because they both worked out at the facility last year.
Earl Hughes had made the first cut of an Arena Football League tryout last year, but did not wind up playing, Karras said.

“I hired him to do maintenance and entry-level work, but immediately realized he should be helping us train our junior high, freshmen and sophomore kids,” Karras said. “He became an assistant trainer in a month. I was going to sign him up to take him for his personal-training certification class.”

Karras said he wasn’t able to tell Earl Hughes’ students about his murder.

“The kids loved him,” he said. “We just said he was not here today. I didn’t know what to say.”
​
Again, please keep everyone involved in close prayer.
 
Epitome

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Hughes family update

Hughes family update

The funeral was today and every member of the football team was in attendance. I'm glad to see the support that the coaches and players have shown a member of the family.
 
Epitome

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I just did a quick scan through Google for a charity or donations and came up with nothing.

Here is the support I was talking about. CW is such a class act.



Hughes Returns to Practice Day After Brother is Fatally Shot

Authorities in Chicago are investigating the shooting death of the brother of Notre Dame running back Robert Hughes. (Tribune photo)
By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Oct 31, 2007 at 12:21 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 31, 2007 at 9:35 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame tailback Robert Hughes was back at practice Wednesday, a day after his older brother was fatally shot in his hometown of Chicago.
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Police said Earl "Tony" Hughes was shot early Tuesday on Chicago's West Side. Weis broke the news that his brother had died to Hughes, but let Hughes' uncle inform him of how he died.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond says a witness told investigators that she heard arguing and then shots fired before the 24-year-old athletic trainer was found on a sidewalk with a gunshot wound.

Hughes, a freshman, returned to Notre Dame so quickly because he didn't want to fall behind academically and because he thought being back at school would help him, Weis said after practice Wednesday night.

"He thinks the best way to get things off his mind was to be here at school," Weis said.

Hughes was not available for comment.

Weis plans to drive Hughes home to Chicago after practice on Thursday and meet with his family. Weis didn't want Hughes, who was driven home by his uncle on Tuesday, driving home by himself after practice Thursday in such an emotional state.

"It's just a precautionary measure, plus it gives me an opportunity to spend a little one-one time with the family," he said.

Hughes, who has rushed for 42 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown this season, plans to try to play against Navy on Saturday, Weis said.

"He's going to try because he thinks it would be the best distraction for him," Weis said. "I'm not encouraging him one way or the other."

Weis received permission from the university faculty board and the NCAA for Notre Dame team members to attend the funeral service Friday. At least one bus and possibly two will make the trip, depending on how many players can attend. Weis said he won't attend the funeral service on Friday, but running backs coach Mike Haywood, wide receivers coach Rob Ianello, who recruited Hughes, and defensive coordinator Corwin Brown, who is from Chicago, will attend.

"Everyone wants to be part of this," Weis said.
 
Junkhead

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ND=NC said:
The funeral was today and every member of the football team was in attendance. I'm glad to see the support that the coaches and players have shown a member of the family.
Click to expand...

It's great to see the team support in horrible situation like this. That defintely puts things in perspective.
 
johnnd05

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So I don't know if people saw this in that article, but it says he was back practicing with the team today, and that he plans to play against Navy on Saturday ...
 
The Polish Irishman

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Give him the ball...I think we all have seen the talent this kid has..I do believe he will perform in tribute to his family..Give him the ball
 
GoshenGipper

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Here's an updated on Robert. I can't imagine how hard it would be to focus for a game and school work right after going through that.

“I think he’s going to try (to play on Saturday vs. Navy) because he feels that’ll be the best distraction for him,” head coach Charlie Weis said on Wednesday. “I’m not encouraging him one way or another. I’m leaving that with him. He came back because he doesn’t want to fall too far behind academically and secondly he feels the best way to get things off his mind is to be here at school.”
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