NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Nashville community is mourning beloved Tennessee State University football player Chazan Page, who died Sunday morning while trying to cross Gallatin Pike.
Before the offensive lineman took the field as a TSU Tiger, he was a star athlete at Lipscomb Academy. Head football coach Jamie Graham told News 2 that he has known Page's father, Rico, since they were growing up in Nashville, and that he never imagined he would be coaching his son decades later. He said that he had not done so.
“Even if we met for two seconds, even if we've known each other for 20 years, whatever it was, we were able to understand what kind of person Chazan is. That's a good thing, because his accomplishments… Because it's much bigger than football. It has nothing to do with football,” Graham said.
Tragically, the life of a 20-year-old college senior was cut short when he was struck by a car traveling at high speed on Gallatin Pike around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 16, Metro Police say. It was discontinued after it was announced.
Police are searching for a red sedan or SUV with front-end damage.
As if the timing was perfect, Graham recently returned to the Lipscomb Academy football staff and a few weeks ago was in conversation with other coaches considering designing a mural featuring some of Lipscomb's most influential alumni. I remembered the conversation we had.
“I thought, 'Hey, there are some guys who are really important to this program.'” So the first thing I did was call Patrick Carpenter. I thought, 'Patrick, I have to have Chazan in one of these pictures,''' Graham said.
Since last week, photos of Chayama have been posted at the training facility. Graham was eager to show him in person.
“It means even more now,” Graham explained. “I called him not because I wanted to surprise him directly, but because I knew he was working out here downstairs with King Dunlap. I was like, “I'm going to catch you.'' I'm going to show him his picture and show him what's on the wall,' but it actually hurts so much because I can't show him that. ”
But Chazan's photo is a reminder of his legacy, which Graham will pass by every day.
“Chazan was the ultimate competitor,” Graham recalled. “He was working towards something positive, something that would make his life better. I think he had a chance to go to the NFL. He had a chance to be a pro in whatever he did. So to lose him this early, to lose him this early, to know that he won't be able to achieve his dreams is very sad, but he touched so many people. I think we can allow his legacy to live on no matter how long.”
Mr Graham is urging anyone with information about Sunday's hit-and-run crash to do the right thing and share it with police. Tipsters can remain anonymous by reporting information to Crime Stoppers. 615-742-7463.
