Arizona sophomore right tackle Eben Britton was taken by paramedics to University Medical Center from the Cherry Avenue Parking Garage at around 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Britton became dehydrated after football practice and fainted in the parking structure next to McKale Center, sources have confirmed.
Britton was given IVs at the hospital and later released, sports information director Matt Rector said. He added that neither the team nor the athletic department would release a statement.
Britton took off practice yesterday to rest at home but will be back for today’s practice.
Barbour snubs UA, will attend ASU
Despite verbally committing to the Arizona football program August 12, Jarrell Barbour decided ASU would be a better fit.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound standout wide receiver and safety out of Peoria’s Centennial High School withdrew his commitment from Arizona on Wednesday after attending an ASU practice and submitted a new verbal commitment to first-year Sun Devil head coach Dennis Erickson.
“”This kind of thing is becoming more and more common all the time,”” said Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor for recruiting Web site www.scout.com and publisher of SuperPrep magazine. “”It’s kind of like pledging for a fraternity in their minds. … They do it as a way to give themselves more insurance.””
“”It is a little more uncommon that a player would change their mind and sign with rivals that are in state,”” he added.
Barbour was rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 2 player in the state, behind UA verbal commitment Gerell Robinson, according to recruiting Web site www.rivals.com. As a junior, Barbour caught 24 passes for 505 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 418 yards and five touchdowns en route to the Class 5A-II state championship.
Barbour told the Arizona Daily Star he was not comfortable with Arizona’s academic plan and was unsure with how he would stack up scholastically.
“”For this youngster to switch and go to the one school that Arizona wouldn’t want him to go to, that is a little more surprising,”” Wallace said. “”Sometimes the reasons a player would switch is hard to quantify.””
Attempts to contact Barbour were unsuccessful yesterday.
– Ari Wasserman