'Just pray for my son': Rockvale football coach Rick Rice's son in critical condition after car wreck

As Rockvale prepares for its Region 3-6A football contest at Coffee County Friday, Coach Rick Rice and his family are dealing with something much more important.

Rice's son, Austin, has been in and out of surgery at Nashville's Vanderbilt Medical Center since being involved in a serious automobile accident around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning in Lewis County.

Austin Rice, 25, was in critical condition with numerous injuries since being transported to Vanderbilt following the accident. He had surgery Thursday to remove pressure from his brain.

"The swelling on the brain is the main thing," Rick Rice said. "They need to get the swelling of the brain down so they can work on other parts of his body. He's still in critical condition.

"The best thing we can have is prayers from everybody. From Rutherford County to Wayne County, all across the state. Just pray for my son."

Rick Rice said another problem area was a damaged carotid artery, something surgeons can't work on until swelling of the brain subsided. 

"If it doesn't swell any more, then there's other other things they can (work on) that are damaged," the father said. "Doctors are very optimistic because he is strong and young, but there are no guarantees."

Austin Rice played for his father at Wayne County. The 2012 graduate set school records as a wide receiver for three seasons while his older brother, Tyler, was the Wildcats' quarterback.

After Tyler graduated, Austin took over behind center and led Wayne County to a 14-0 record and the Class 1A state title. It is the only state championship in school history.

Austin is one of three Rice children to play quarterback at Wayne County. His younger brother Preston passed for more than 7,000 career yards and led the Wildcats to the 2015 state quarterfinals and 2016 state semifinals.

Rick Rice said his intention was to coach his Rockets in Friday's game if there are no further setbacks with Austin.

"It might be pre-game or it might be at 7:00, but I'll try my best to be there unless something happens," he said. "I went to practice (Wednesday), and it was so good to see the kids. It kind of made me feel better. I love being around them."

Should Rice not be able to coach the Rockets on Friday, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator David Barger would likely take the reigns. 

"We plan on him being there ... that's how we're moving forward as a program," said Barger, a former head coach in Lake County and Chattanooga Central. "If not, we'll take care of it. We have a lot of experience on the staff."

Rick Rice is just more than a week removed from controversy surrounding him leading Rockvale's team in team prayers twice during the season. The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a complaint on Sept. 20 to education board attorney Sara Page about Rice's involvement with the prayer, calling it "a constitutional violation."

Rice apologized and said it wouldn't happen again. Support flooded the 25-year coaching veteran, including students leading a pre-game prayer before the Rockets' home contest against Oakland last week.

Rice was hired as Rockvale's first football coach in January after guiding Wayne County for 21 years.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

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