Lightning struck a tree at the Georgia Southern football practice field on Wednesday afternoon in Statesboro, sending one player to nearby East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Eagles coach Jeff Monken said.
Monken did not release the name of the player.
A spokesperson at the medical center said she could not comment.
Monken said later in the day the player returned to GSU’s practice, which was moved indoors at the school’s Recreation Athletic Center.
The player did not practice.
“I’ve never been close to a bomb going off, but I have to think (the lightning strike) was close to that,” Monken said. “It was scary, for sure.”
Earlier in the day, GSU had moved football practice up about an hour to 2:45 p.m. in hopes of beating threatening weather.
But with lightning in the area, the players were called off the field and waited at the pavilion at the edge of the practice field.
“We got them off the field as quickly as we could,” Monken said.
Monken said the player who was affected was standing close to the edge of the pavilion.
With violent rains and thunderstorms a daily occurrence, Monken said the incident showed why the Eagles could use an indoor practice facility.
GSU will practice indoors today at 5:30 a.m. at the athletic center.
The Eagles open the football season Aug. 31 against Savannah State.