FancyFootball44

Brother of Notre Dame running back Robert Hughes shot and killed
October 31, 2007 - Chicago police are looking for a suspect who shot and killed the older brother of Notre Dame running back Robert Hughes.

Earl "Tony" Hughes, 24, was found shot in the head on West Wabansia near Lockwood Tuesday morning. It happened a couple blocks away from his home.

Early this year, it was announced that Robert Hughes that he was going to Notre Dame. Irish coach Charlie Weis gave the news to Hughes and talked about it at his news conference.

"His mom called me and she was shook up. And when I told Robert this morning he was shook up, so he'll be gone for a while. Obviously there are more important things and it's right now to be with his family," said Charlie Weis, Notre Dame Head Coach.

Police do not have a motive for the crime.

------------------------------------------------

Weis at Tuesday's press conference:
Before we get going on Navy, earlier today we received some bad news. The brother of Robert Hughes, Tony Hughes, official name Earl, he died unexpectedly. I don’t have all the details at this point, but Robert, I excused him a little while ago. His uncle came and got him to bring him home to be with his family. He was obviously upset, and I just want Robert and his family to know that the whole Notre Dame family has their family in our thoughts and in our prayers.

I really don’t have any more details, so I’m really not at liberty to talk about it. But I know his mom called me and she was shook up, and obviously when I told Robert this morning, he was shook up. So he’ll be gone for a little while. I told him as much time as he needs. I don’t know how long that will be. But when he gets back, he gets back. Obviously there’s more important things, and that’s right now to be with his family.

----------------------------------------

Hughes Returns to Practice

Posted By Frankie V On November 1, 2007 @ 12:38 am In Notre Dame Football | No Comments

Robert Hughes returned to practice today after being excused from the team to return home and be with his family in the wake of the shooting death of his older brother.

Weis plans to drive Hughes home to Chicago after practice on Thursday and meet with his family. Weis didn’t want Hughes driving home by himself after practice Thursday in such an emotional state. A relative drove him back to Notre Dame Tuesday.

(Weis) He got back right before practice. He’ll go to class tomorrow and then he’ll practice and then I’m going to take him back tomorrow after practice to go spend some time with Robert and his family. Then on Friday morning, we’ve worked through compliance, and through our faculty board and the NCAA, we’re going to take at least one bus if not two buses up there for the service on Friday morning. We’re going to kind of split the staff. Some of the staff will be going up then and like I said, I’m going to be taking him home tomorrow after practice.

Weis also said that Robert intends on playing this weekend.

He’s gonna try because he thinks it will be the best distraction for him. I’m not encouraging him one way or another. I’m just kind of leaving that with him. One of the reasons why he came back is first of all is because he doesnt want to fall too far behind academically and secondly, he thinks that his best way to get things off his mind is to be here at school.

Weis also spoke about why he will be driving Hughes back home Thursday.

I just don’t think that, you know, a kid that right now is in an emotional state should be driving behind a car because you don’t know, we all have kids, you know all of a sudden they’re going back at 90 mph not paying attention or things like that. I think there’s a couple things precautionary that as any father slash dad would be concerned with that I think that’s just a precautionary measure. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to spend a little one on one time with the family.

Rick Astley

Jesus christ...best wishes to the Hughes family.

__________________
ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSS

LooseChange25

Thoughts and prayers are with the Hughes family.. Its good to see that Robert returned to practice and was intending to play, to help ease his mind of the pain for awhile. Its also nice to see Weis take time from his schedule and family, to be with the Hughes in their time of need.

__________________
All Day

FancyFootball44

He ran the first TD in that day too which was pretty cool. He was in tears on the sidelines after that. I'm sure that was extremely emotional for him.
Weis said he wished they could have won that game for him at least...

Irish

That was probably the best part of the year, win or no win. He got the first TD of the day, and you can guarentee it was dedicated to his brother.

condolences to the Hughes family.

__________________