HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We’ve seen former Tompkins and current University of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe make amazing plays on the field. Off the field, he is raising awareness for sudden cardiac arrest.

“It’s a sudden killer, it’s a silent killer, it happens in some cases without warning”, Ruqayya Gibson, Executive Director of Damani Gibson Foundation, said.

Milroe is the lead ambassador for the Damani Gibson Foundation. For every touchdown he throws or runs for, the foundation will donate an AED to a school or community to help save lives.

SEE ALSO:2 teens hailed as heroes after performing lifesaving CPR for wrestler in cardiac arrest

“Studies have shown that out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has a 10% average survival rate, but if someone gets an AED connected to them within the first minute, their survival chances go up to 90%. And that’s huge,” Gibson said.

Ruqayya Gibson is the former head track coach at Cy-Springs. Her son, 17-year-old son Damani, died from sudden cardiac arrest in 2019.

“When I think back to anything out of the ordinary, I would say leading up to the sudden cardiac arrest, he did seem tired. That was his warning sign that he was tired, but he had enough energy to go to practice. You know, he went to practice. He had a great practice. He ran around off at practice that day and won the run-off”, Gibson said.

Gibson stepped away as an assistant track coach at the University of Alabama to pour all her time and energy into the foundation. “It just warms my heart to have such good people involved in his campaign who I get to see live out their dreams, even though I didn’t get to see Damani live out his dreams,” she said. “That’s why I call them the dream favors: because we’re trying to save other athletes, kids, youth, and other people, all in general, from losing their dreams to something that is a silent killer but is also preventable.”

Other Damani Gibson Foundation ambassadors include former Kinkaid running back Josh Williams, current LSU RB Shadrach Banks, Jr., and former North Shore WR and LB Shadrach Banks.

Why every minute matters when someone goes into sudden cardiac arrest

(It) can’t be stressed enough about awareness and prevention for SCA. ” It’s very important to get your regular checkups, but also ask for heart screenings,” Gibson said.

“The EKG is good across the board for anyone to get at least every year or every two years because the heart does change over time. So if you’ve gotten it once, don’t just say, okay, they’ve gotten their heart screened. I don’t have to do it anymore.”

Saturday afternoon, one of the SEC’s most storied rivalries will be renewed. Auburn will take on Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and the Thursday injury report has been revealed.

Both teams are dealing with notable injuries. On the Crimson Tide side, linebacker Deontae Lawson went down against Oklahoma and will be out for the matchup after undergoing surgery, teammate Malachi Moore confirmed Tuesday. For the Tigers, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather showed up on the injury report Wednesday as a Game Time Decision.

Alabama is looking to bounce back from a loss to Oklahoma last time out. It marked the Crimson Tide’s third loss of the season, leading to questions about their College Football Playoff hopes. Alabama came in at No. 13 in the latest rankings, just outside the 12-team bracket based on projected seedings.

Auburn will look to get revenge after last year’s loss in the final minutes at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but brings momentum into the matchup. The Tigers held on to defeat Texas A&M last week – another one of the upsets around the SEC – and will look to continue playing spoiler in Saturday’s matchup against Alabama.

Auburn and Alabama will square off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Here are the Thursday injury reports for both teams.

Full Alabama at Auburn Thursday injury report

Alabama Crimson Tide

Auburn Tigers

Alabama and Auburn engaged in a thriller a season ago at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and it came down to a 4th-and-Goal play from the 31-yard line. That’s when Jalen Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond in the back of the end zone, giving the Crimson Tide what would be the game-winning touchdown in the 27-24 victory.

This time around, the Tigers are going to Tuscaloosa. Cam Coleman had the perfect way to sum up their mentality, as well.

“Really a revenge tour,” Coleman said, via Jacob Waters of Opelika-Auburn News. “We’re going in their place and we’re really just going to go into their crib and just take over and have fun while we’re doing it.

“This is going to be some of the last memories we make with each other so let’s go make it a memorable game.”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WHNT) — Former Director of Athletics and student-athlete at the University of Alabama has passed away, according to the university.

William “Bill” Raines Battle III was the former director of athletics at Alabama, a former student-athlete at the university, a collegiate football coach and founder of Collegiate Licensing Company.

According to the University of Alabama Athletics on Thursday, Battle passed away at the age of 82.

Battle attended the University of Alabama on a football scholarship and was a three-year starter from 1960 to 1962. Battle played under the legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

In 1961, Battle was part of Coach Bryant’s first national championship team and was named UA’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s as a first-team tight end and second-team defensive end.

The university said Battle earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and minored in psychology in 1963 and earned his master’s degree in education at the University of Oklahoma in 1964.

Battle didn’t just earn his degrees, but he served as a graduate assistant at OU under Bud Wilkinson. He was an assistant coach at the United States Military Academy while also serving a two-year military tour in 1964-65.

Following his service, Battle transitioned to be an assistant coach for four years at the University of Tennessee starting in 1966. Battle was named head coach at Tennessee in 1970 and during his seven-year tenure, his teams went 59-22-2 and won four out of five bowl games.

Battle founded the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) in 1981 and served as president and CEO until 2002.

The athletic department said in 2013, Battle made his return to Tuscaloosa where he was the athletic director for four years where he oversaw several winning titles.

“During his [Battle’s] tenure, Alabama produced three NCAA team national championships, 10 SEC team championships in five different sports,15 NCAA individual champions, 43 Academic All-Americans, including six Academic All-Americans of the Year and 16 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship awardees,” the university said.

Once he finished his time as athletic director, Battle continued his time at UA as special assistant to the University of Alabama president where he helped Dr. Stuart R. Bell with initiatives to benefit the athletic department.

His accolades include;

• Battle is a member of several halls of fame including the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (1981)
• The National Collegiate Licensing Association Hall of Fame (2000)
• The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association Hall of Fame (2008)
• The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators Hall of Fame (2010)
• The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2011)
• The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame (2016)
• The Alabama Business Hall of Fame (2017)

In addition to this, Battle was awarded by the National Football Foundation, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the 2005 Paul W. Bryant Alumni Athlete Award.

Several big names from the university as well as the SEC Commissioner, former head coach Nick Saban and son of Paul “Bear” Bryant provided quotes about Battle.

“Bill Battle’s legacy at The University of Alabama is profound and enduring. His generosity and visionary leadership elevated our institution and enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues. His dedication to excellence and steadfast devotion to UA will inspire generations to come. We are forever grateful for his friendship and his lasting impact on our community.”

Stuart R. Bell, UA President

“Coach Battle was a great player and top prospect in the South when he came to Alabama at a time when the program was down. He started for Papa for three years including a national championship. He created the licensing industry that The University and schools nationwide still benefit from today. He was a major donor to The University. When we needed him again, he left retirement to help us as Athletic Director.”

Paul Bryant Jr., Lifelong friend of Coach Battle and son of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant

“It’s difficult to put into words just how much Coach Battle means to The University of Alabama and college athletics, as a whole. He excelled in so many areas and was a true visionary. Beyond his accomplishments, he was an incredible man, and I am forever grateful for the friendship we built over the years. We will miss him tremendously and are praying for Mary, Pat, Mike, Shannon, Kayla and the entire Battle family.”

Greg Byrne, Alabama Director of Athletics

“Bill Battle was first class in every way. He represented The University of Alabama with tremendous character and integrity. He was an outstanding football player at Alabama, a successful collegiate head coach and visionary who revolutionized the business of college athletics. I got to know him best when he returned to direct the Alabama athletics department where his vision and leadership were driving factors in the Crimson Tide’s success that resulted in our 2015 national championship. Terry and I are saddened by his passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Mary and their entire family. He will be deeply missed.”

Nick Saban, Former Alabama head football coach

“I am grateful for the privilege to have known and worked with Bill Battle. Bill was an innovative leader who had a distinguished career as a coach, businessman, and athletics director, who loved his family and was committed to the special opportunities presented through intercollegiate athletics. In the SEC, we share in the sorrow of Bill’s passing but are thankful for his impact and friendship.”

Greg, Sankey, Southeastern Conference Commissioner

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