Alabama fan who attended NCAA Tournament dies from COVID-19: reports
An Alabama basketball fan who attended the NCAA Tournament died from COVID-19 on Friday, according to multiple reports.
Luke Ratliff, 23, was a Crimson Tide superfan who attended the men’s team’s Sweet 16 game against UCLA on March 28, the Tuscaloosa News reported. He returned home to Tuscaloosa after Alabama lost.
His father, Bryan Ratliff, said he was hospitalized earlier this week and died after a brief illness, according to the Tuscaloosa News. Multiple sources “with direct knowledge of the situation” told the paper Luke died from COVID-19 complications.
The University of Alabama school newspaper, the Crimson White, also reported Ratliff died from COVID-19.
It’s unknown when Ratliff would have contracted the virus, and authorities in Indianapolis began contact tracing procedures Friday after the initial report was published, according to the Indianapolis Star. The men’s Final Four continued Saturday night with no interruption.
The younger Ratliff was a fixture at Alabama basketball games, even during the pandemic, appearing at 44 of the team’s past 45 conference and postseason games.
After his death was announced, current and former Alabama basketball players and coaches remembered him.
“Rest In Peace Luke,” wrote Collin Sexton, now a star with the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Thank You for being one of Alabama’s number one supporters! You will be missed.”
