“UNITED IN FAITH: Auburn Community Comes Together in Powerful Prayer and Support for Collin Long After Devastating Traumatic Brain Injury Shakes the Tiger Family”
The Auburn community, known for its unshakable bond and unwavering loyalty, now finds itself united under the most heart-wrenching of circumstances. When news broke that Auburn’s Collin Long had suffered a traumatic brain injury, everything seemed to stop for a moment. From local churches to campus classrooms, from athletics facilities to small-town diners, the talk has centered around one thing: Collin Long’s fight for recovery. It’s a fight that’s deeply personal for many, because Collin isn’t just a player — he’s a brother, a friend, a student, and a symbol of Auburn’s spirit. The injury shook the entire Tiger family, but it also lit a flame of unity, faith, and fierce support that refuses to be extinguished.
For those who know Collin Long, the first word that comes to mind is “relentless.” Not just on the field, where he’s built a reputation as a competitor willing to give everything on every play, but off the field too — where his heart, humility, and dedication shine even brighter. Coaches often say you can’t teach heart, and in Collin’s case, his was always evident. Whether encouraging a struggling teammate or helping a new student find their way around campus, he brought light wherever he went. And now, that same light is being reflected back at him tenfold as prayers, messages, and support pour in from every corner of the Auburn family.
The details of the incident have been difficult to process. Collin reportedly sustained the traumatic brain injury during an off-field incident that sent shockwaves through the program. One moment he was walking among his peers, full of life and promise, and the next he was fighting for that very life in a hospital bed. The gravity of such an injury is something no family, team, or community can ever be fully prepared for. Yet what followed — the groundswell of spiritual, emotional, and even financial support — has served as a powerful reminder that no one fights alone in Auburn.
Candlelight vigils have been held across campus and beyond, with teammates, classmates, coaches, and residents coming together in emotional scenes that have turned parking lots, churches, and fields into places of worship and hope. Social media, often a place of division, has become a rallying point of positivity. Hashtags like #PrayForCollin and #AuburnStrong have trended locally, with fans and rivals alike setting aside allegiances to lift up a young man who represents something greater than football. Dozens of Auburn athletes have posted heartfelt messages and photos with Collin, recounting memories, sharing tears, and clinging to hope.
Perhaps most moving of all is the response from Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze and the rest of the football staff, who have emphasized that Collin’s value to the team has never been about stats or starting spots, but about heart. In a powerful statement, Freeze said, “This is about a son, a teammate, and a fighter. Collin embodies everything we believe in — grit, love, and faith. We’re walking this road with him every step of the way.” Freeze’s words, combined with the team’s visible emotional response, have further galvanized a community looking for strength and direction.
The Long family, devastated yet gracious, has opened a window into their world of anguish, gratitude, and belief. In updates posted through a family friend, they’ve described Collin’s condition as “serious but showing signs of fight.” They’ve also repeatedly thanked the Auburn community, calling the support “an indescribable blessing” in the midst of unimaginable pain. The updates have included moving anecdotes: Collin squeezing a hand, responding faintly to a familiar voice, or reacting to music that he once loved. Every flicker of progress is treated like a miracle, and in some ways, it is.
Financial support has also poured in. A GoFundMe page set up to assist with medical bills and ongoing care surpassed its initial goal in less than 24 hours, bolstered by donations from former players, alumni, and complete strangers who were simply moved by Collin’s story. Local businesses have contributed a portion of their proceeds to the cause, and youth sports teams across Alabama have worn armbands or painted signs bearing Collin’s name. It’s more than charity — it’s a show of solidarity that echoes the best of human nature in its rawest form.
Amid all the support, there is also a quiet, constant grief that weaves through every prayer and gesture. For Collin’s teammates, who once shared dreams of championships and lifelong bonds, this injury has forced a brutal reckoning with life’s unpredictability. Several players have spoken openly about how this has changed their perspective, with one senior lineman saying, “It made me realize we’re not promised anything — not a play, not a day, not a breath. Every rep now is for Collin.” Another teammate added, “It’s not just football anymore. It’s family. It’s life.”
The university itself has stepped in with resources and emotional support for students and staff affected by the incident. Counseling centers have expanded hours, and faculty have shown extraordinary flexibility for students struggling to focus under the weight of such emotional strain. Professors have shared stories about Collin’s academic curiosity and positive demeanor, with one describing him as “the kind of student you pray walks into your classroom.” His reach clearly goes far beyond the field.
Faith has taken center stage in this fight — and not just in organized services. Spontaneous moments of prayer have broken out in dorm hallways, locker rooms, cafeterias, and training rooms. Auburn’s rich faith tradition has always been part of its culture, but in Collin’s absence, it has become a lifeline. Pastors, chaplains, and student faith leaders have stepped up, offering spaces for collective grieving and expressions of hope. It’s become common to see students wearing “Faith Over Fear” wristbands or taping Collin’s number on their notebooks and water bottles.
This moment is also forcing a broader conversation about traumatic brain injuries and the importance of both immediate medical care and long-term rehabilitation. Experts have weighed in, urging vigilance and education, while also praising the quick response that Collin received. His road to recovery will be long, and in many ways, unknown. But the outpouring of support has created a safety net of love and resources that few are fortunate enough to experience.
One thing is certain: Collin Long’s name will never be forgotten at Auburn, no matter what comes next. If there’s one thing this community does better than most, it’s wrapping its arms around those in need. There are reminders of that everywhere: in the child who asked his Sunday school class to pray for “the football guy who needs a miracle,” in the elderly couple who made a special trip to campus just to leave flowers near the stadium, in the middle school team who signed a football and sent it to the hospital. Each gesture, no matter how small, is part of a tapestry of love being woven for Collin.
As the days turn into weeks, and the medical journey continues with its highs and lows, the Auburn community remains steadfast. There will be no forgetting. No letting up. Whether it’s on a field under the lights or in a hospital room filled with quiet determination, the spirit of Auburn lives on through its people — and right now, that spirit is laser-focused on one of its own.
The story of Collin Long is not just about tragedy. It’s about resilience. It’s about faith that refuses to waver. It’s about a community’s capacity to hurt together, to hope together, and to heal together. No matter what happens, Collin’s fight has already united thousands. In that unity lies strength. In that strength lies something even more powerful than medicine — it lies a reminder of what it truly means to be part of the Auburn family. And that family, heartbroken yet unbowed, continues to pray. For Collin. For healing. For a miracle.
