Zia Combs, the former Michigan football cornerback who suffered a career-ending neck injury on the field at Michigan Stadium in 2002, died Oct. 12.
He was 44 years old. The cause of death has not yet been made public.
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Combs’ funeral was held Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Abundant Life Church Ministries in Ypsilanti.
“Just wanted to thank everyone out there for their thoughts and prayers for Zia Combs,” Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy, who lived with Combs at Michigan, told reporters Wednesday in Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor. “Michigan man, roommate and teammate, one of my best friends passed away last week.
Michigan cornerback Zia Combs is carried off the field by teammates after Michigan defeated Wisconsin, 21-14, at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 16, 2002 in Ann Arbor. Combs suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury one month earlier.
“It was an honor to be at the service yesterday and just see the love and support he got in the Ann Arbor community, former teammates and former staff members at Michigan, it was a pretty special ceremony to honor him.”
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Combs, a 6-foot, 182-pound defender from Lexington, Kentucky (Henry Clay High School), lettered for the Wolverines in both 2001 and 2002. He played in 16 games, recorded 24 tackles (21 solo), including one for loss and had one fumble recovery.
Combs’ death came 23 years to the day of his final snap of competitive football.
Michigan cornerback Zia Combs is taken off the field on a stretcher stabilizing his head and neck during the game against Penn State on Oct. 12, 2002 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
In the first quarter of Michigan’s eventual 27-24 victory over Penn State on Oct. 12, 2002, Combs took a an incidental hit to the head from teammate Ernest Shazor while trying to down a punt. Combs was knocked unconscious as medical personnel from both teams rushed to the field before he was taken to U-M hospital overnight for observation.
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The injury ended Combs’ career. The entire Michigan community mourns his loss, but Bellamy’s perspective is unqiue.
“It was his sophomore year and it was tough,” Bellamy said. “Just watching him overcome adversity of the injury. I mean he was talented, he was passing guys up on the depth chart and we had a very talented defensive backfield … just watching the game (get) taken away from him.
“His mental fortitude, how he handled that. We play football from a young age, for the game to be abruptly taken away is pretty tough. Just to watch him grow to the man he grew into; the father, the husband, it was pretty special.”
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“As a football program and athletic department, we are saddened by the sudden passing of a great Michigan Man, Zia Combs,” Michigan football spokesman Dave Ablauf said. “Zia always had a smile on his face and did everything on this earth to inspire others with enthusiasm and passion for life. His wife, son, family friends and former teammates are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
“Zia left us too soon, but his impact on each of us will last forever. We know that Zia is smiling down upon us today from heaven.”
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Zia Combs death: Ex-Michigan football roommate Ron Bellamy reacts
