EDITORIAL

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District investigation into the death

of Costa Mesa High football player Matt Colby was a much-needed probe

considering the severity of the incident and potential danger to future

athletes.

Still, we are sorry to say, some questions remain unanswered.

The report released last week clears school officials of any fault

related to his Sept. 29 death that repeated blunt-force injuries

apparently caused.

His death came hours after a Sept. 28 football game against Ocean View

High School. An autopsy revealed that the repeated blunt-force trauma

caused his brain to swell.

About two weeks before, the senior apparently suffered a concussion in

a Sept. 15 game. However, he reportedly did not tell his trainer about

the headache, nausea and pressure behind the eyes and in the sinus cavity

until nearly a week later -- and after yet another game.

His doctor then told school officials that Colby should avoid contract

drills in practice and play only half the next game -- the Ocean View

matchup, the report stated.

Unfortunately, missing from the district’s report is input from the

Colby family’s physician, Dr. Nazli Ahmed, who examined Matt.

Further, Matt’s mother, Kelli Colby, decided not to talk to

investigators nor to hand over the doctor’s information. That is

unfortunate.

We urge the district to continue its search for changes in the

aftermath of Colby’s death. Supt. Robert Barbot stressed that he was open

to making changes to ensure the safety of his students and we have no

reason not to believe that.

We also urge Kelli Colby to share information with the district for

the benefit of all future participants in high school football and other

sports.

Anything she can do to shed light on her son’s death could prevent

such a tragic incident from happening again.