2008 Woodie Awards
Super-'Trione
Antrione Archer played in a game Sept. 29 for the first time in four years after escaping death
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports
In a hospital room in Augusta, Ga., an 18-year-old football player stricken with a viral infection lies in bed. An infection that started in his lungs has begun its ascent to his heart. On the field he sees himself as untouchable. But here, he looks into the eyes of his mother and has a feeling of cold water rush through his veins. "Mom," he says, "I can't stop shaking." Nurses hurry to his side. He now feels for the first time a shot of terror run straight through him. Blackness sets in.
The band is off the field and the fans are filing in. It's time for Antrione Archer to take the field with the Chippewas.
Two long years have passed since he stepped on a football field expecting to help his team win.
The cannon fires and the fog machine purrs.
Archer's back in the game - and each step he takes is surreal.
Sickness
In May 2005, the redshirt freshman Archer had just won a starting spot on the CMU football team.
After spring practice, he made the trip home to Tennille, Ga. for the summer.
Little did he know, his world was about to be turned upside down.
"I was sick, I had a fever and it just went ballistic," Archer said. "The doctors said they didn't know where it came from, all they said was that they knew it was infected by something."
Four days later, Archer was transferred to Atlanta's St. Joseph's Hospital Intensive Care Unit, fighting for his life. He awoke after a week, not remembering anything from the time he passed out until the time he woke up.
If he could recall what happened, he would see doctors using a defibrillator to bring him back to life - twice that first day in Augusta. He would see the numerous family members staying by his bedside, day and night.
When he finally regained consciousness, he had lost 30 pounds.
"All I remember is when I woke up, the doctor was pulling the feeding tube out of me," Archer said. "And I remember looking at him, and he said, 'Son, you're lucky to be alive.' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?'"
The band is off the field and the fans are filing in. It's time for Antrione Archer to take the field with the Chippewas.
Two long years have passed since he stepped on a football field expecting to help his team win.
The cannon fires and the fog machine purrs.
Archer's back in the game - and each step he takes is surreal.
Sickness
In May 2005, the redshirt freshman Archer had just won a starting spot on the CMU football team.
After spring practice, he made the trip home to Tennille, Ga. for the summer.
Little did he know, his world was about to be turned upside down.
"I was sick, I had a fever and it just went ballistic," Archer said. "The doctors said they didn't know where it came from, all they said was that they knew it was infected by something."
Four days later, Archer was transferred to Atlanta's St. Joseph's Hospital Intensive Care Unit, fighting for his life. He awoke after a week, not remembering anything from the time he passed out until the time he woke up.
If he could recall what happened, he would see doctors using a defibrillator to bring him back to life - twice that first day in Augusta. He would see the numerous family members staying by his bedside, day and night.
When he finally regained consciousness, he had lost 30 pounds.
"All I remember is when I woke up, the doctor was pulling the feeding tube out of me," Archer said. "And I remember looking at him, and he said, 'Son, you're lucky to be alive.' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?'"
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Kyle Warber
posted 10/26/07 @ 2:38 AM EST
Good story. I wouldn't know what to do if I faced death and then lost my father a few weeks down the road.
Latangie
posted 2/18/08 @ 1:08 PM EST
Antrione, you've been through a lot and all i want to say is stay stong and keep God first in everything you do. A lot of us lose sight of the important things in life going through tragedies but you didn't and i'm proud to say that i still have feeling for you and wish you all the best in you future. (Continued…)
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