Referee Still Seriously Ill

A referee who had a heart attack during the East Carolina-Syracuse football game remained hospitalized in serious condition.

A nursing supervisor at University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y., on Sunday would not elaborate on Gerry Bram’s health.

The 49-year-old back judge for Conference USA collapsed near midfield in the fourth quarter Saturday.

Syracuse team physician Irving Raphael said Bram was unconscious and barely breathing on his own when rescue workers began shocking his heart. Each time the defibrillator was applied, the crowd of 36,347 groaned.

“He stopped breathing and had an abnormal heart rate,” Raphael said. “He required an external defibrillator several times and was given advanced cardiac life support.”

After Bram was stabilized, he was taken off the field in an ambulance to the hospital.

The players took several moments to regain their composure and finished the last 7 minutes 58 seconds of the game. Syracuse won, 44-30.

Brandon Skeen kicked a 26-yard field goal with 2:26 left Saturday night as Rice rallied from a 10-point, second-half deficit to post a 27-24 victory over Hawaii at Honolulu.

The Owls (3-1, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference) appeared to be headed for a loss with Hawaii (1-2, 0-2) ahead, 24-14, and driving for a close-out score late in the third quarter.

However, Dan Dawson intercepted a Timmy Chang pass and returned it 74 yards to make the score 24-21.

Another Hawaii turnover, Brandon Green’s interception of another Chang pass, set up the tying score, a 31-yard field goal by Skeen.

Hawaii’s Ashley Lelie had 11 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns.