The recent shooting at Oxford High School that resulted in the deaths of four students has hit close to home for the Detroit Lions, and not just because of the team’s proximity to Oxford, Mich.
Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn told the media on Thursday that he stopped a meeting this morning to allow one of his coaches time to handle a family problem: following the shooting, one of the coach’s daughters was afraid to go to school.
Incredibly sad sign of where we are right now: Lions OC Anthony Lynn said he had to pause a meeting today because one of his coaches’ young teenage daughters was afraid to go to school.
The Oxford shooting has opened wounds all over. Hopefully they heal. And hopefully this stops
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) December 2, 2021
Lynn understands what this coach is feeling. He was playing for the Denver Broncos in April of 1999 when the Columbine shooting happened. He said on Thursday that the Broncos gave everyone in the organization a week off to be with their families. Lynn was shaken by the shooting and even considered home schooling his kids at the time.
Lynn: “I don’t think there’s any school that’s safe, to be honest with you. … It’s sad when as a parent, when you send your child to school and they may not come home. That’s sad..”
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) December 2, 2021
Lions players, coaches share feelings about shooting
Lions players and coaches discussed the shooting in Oxford on Wednesday, speaking candidly and emotionally about how it’s affecting them.
Defensive line coach Tim Wash thought talked about how it feels to send his son off to school. Via Lions.com:
“I’ve got a son that has to go to school every day,” Wash said, with a tremble in his voice. “So, it’s scary. Our thoughts and prayers are with (the community of Oxford). It hits just because we all have children, and when they go to school they should be safe, and that’s not the case, so that hits a little bit.”
The varsity football coach at Oxford High School, Zach Line, spent seven years in the NFL, and was even coached by head coach Dan Campbell when they were both with the New Orleans Saints. Linebacker Alex Anzalone, who played with Line on the Saints, sent him a text believes he’s got the foundation to help the community through this difficult time.
“I was thinking about that. I feel like there’s no better person in that position to really help the community get through a situation like this,” Anzalone said. “I think that as far as a person, he’s a god-fearing person and all the things that you’d want in a leader in a situation like this he has. He’s strong and he’s faith-filled, so he’ll be able to help the community get through this really bad time.”