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Alabama student allegedly beaten by Crimson Tide football players still loves Alabama football

Samuel Jurgens is the Alabama student who was allegedly beaten and robbed by members of the Crimson Tide football team. He told The Crimson White, a student newspaper, about the ordeal which included him being knocked unconscious and being covered in blood.

And even after the report, which he says was unprovoked, the sophomore still plans to root for his school's football team in the fall.

"This was just a matter of chance. I’m still gonna love Alabama football. I just want to deal with this case, move on with my life,” Jurgens told The Crimson White. “I just want to get on with my education. I want to continue being happy here. I was happy here before, and I will continue being happy here."

That's remarkable considering the other details in the story.

When the arrests were made this week, the Tuscaloosa News said that according to depositions filed by UA police officers, defensive lineman D.J. Pettway, defensive back Eddie Williams and linebacker Tyler Hayes punched a student in the head and face, and kicked him in the ribs. Williams and Hayes admitted to the attack, according to the Tuscaloosa News. There were two attacks, and The Crimson White said arrest records indicated Williams was the one that knocked both victims unconscious. Those players, along with running back Brent Calloway, were charged, and all of the players were suspended indefinitely by coach Nick Saban.

Jurgens elaborated on what happened in an interview with The Crimson White. He was walking home early Monday morning when he was approached and asked if he had a lighter. He said he didn't, the man asked him again and he replied the same.

"That’s when I guess something happened," Jurgens said. "I woke up, my face was swollen, I had cuts, and I had a concussion. Police say that’s probably when they hit me; I just know right after that I lost consciousness and I regained consciousness on the sidewalk, staring at the sky.”

Jurgens said he was in and out of consciousness and called a friend to come help him. Another friend who came to help said she saw the shattered headphones and assumed he was hit by an object, but when they saw the men who were arrested she said, "It could have very well been their fists; they were huge."

His friends could plainly see he had been "badly beaten" given the amount of blood on his jacket, broken headphones and face. If Jurgens' account of the attack is true, Alabama shouldn't hesitate to boot the players involved off the team permanently.

Despite all of that, Jurgens sounds like he wants to live a normal student life, including continuing to root for the football team. That doesn't make the incident any easier for him.

“It’s almost like they were doing it for fun, because it seemed weird that they didn’t rob me of my wallet or phone or keys,” Jurgens told The Crimson White. “But, I just know they sure did an efficient job because I can’t recall parts of it even today.”

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