'I’m on the Road to Recovery:' Collapse of NCAA Tourney Ref Bert Smith Caused by Blood Clot

Posted Apr 20, 2021
Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. There were 500 of them. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family. We’re praying for you. We’re rooting for you. Get better. They poured into Smith’s phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzaga’s eventual win over USC in a men's Elite Eight game. (Sports Illustrated)

Related: Other News

Candid Coaches: Should 2026 seniors be grandfathered into the NCAA's five-in-five eligibility rule?
In June, the NCAA ratified a new age-based eligibility structure. Moving forward, all Division I athletes will have five years to play as many as...
Wed Aug 19, 2026

TCU's football season hinges on the biggest gamble in the Big 12 conference
Grad transfer Jaden Craig will be one of college football’s most fascinating players to follow this fall: Can a Harvard QB succeed against the speed,...
Tue Aug 18, 2026

Why Tommy John's legacy will forever live on across baseball
When Tommy John died Saturday night at 83, the game didn't just mourn the loss of a 288-game winner who threw more innings than all...
Tue Aug 18, 2026

Duke basketball 2026-27 roster breakdown
Currently, Duke doesn't have a player on its roster who is a projected top-three pick in the NBA Draft like Flagg and Boozer were in...
Tue Aug 18, 2026