For most athletes, talking to opposing players is something that usually begins and ends on the field of play, but after a traumatic injury last Saturday sent one of Henderson State University’s best receivers to the hospital, a group of Harding football players were the first to bring encouragement.
With 11:43 left in the game, Robert Jordan had already caught for 79 yards and two touchdowns against the Harding defense as Henderson State held a tight 28-24 lead. Moments later, Jordan would reel in his third touchdown pass of the day, this one from 11 yards out, to break the game open, giving the Reddies a 35-24 lead. It was not until the cheering was over that players from both sides realized Jordan was still on the ground, then they noticed why he was still down.
While medics attended to Jordan, players and coaches from Harding and Henderson State walked onto the field together to pray over Jordan.
After making his third touchdown catch of the day, an awkward landing fractured his tibia and fibula severely enough to need a direct trip to White County Medical Center. Henderson State would go on to win the game, but after the game ended, the Reddies ceased to be opponents and became brothers.
“We knew he was staying at White County, and a friend of ours that works at the hospital told us he was alone,” senior defensive back Philip Mion said. “We walked in when he was awake and we introduced ourselves and he was cool with us and glad we came.”
Alex Finley, a senior wide receiver, was also one of the Bisons that went to visit Jordan and was there when several Henderson State players came to see Jordan. He said when they take the differing team jerseys off, they are all just a bunch of guys that are passionate about the game of football.
“We really enjoyed talking with him and some of his teammates,” Finley said. “They are athletes just like us, so we just sat around for an hour or so and talked about football with them and prayed for Rob.”
The Bison football players were not the only Bisons that came to show their support to Jordan. A number of Harding students also collaborated to form a get-well note for Jordan spelling out “Get Well #1” with their bodies outside Jordan’s hospital window. Jordan was wheeled over to the window by nurses and said to be very appreciative of the encouragement. Nearly 100 Harding students showed up to spell out their support for the injured receiver as he was confined to his hospital bed.
Coming into the game last weekend, Jordan was the all-time leading receiver in Henderson State history and was called “one of the best to ever wear a Reddie jersey,” by his coaches.
While the injury marks the end of Jordan’s college career, he has been scouted by a number of different NFL scouts as he could have a chance to get back on the field in the future.
