Billy Turner hospitalized; will miss first game ever

Legendary Chamberlain coach Billy Turner checked into a local hospital this afternoon with apparent heart problems and will miss the first game in 37 years, his son Brian Turner confirmed.

Turner, 69, who has been undergoing tests the past couple days, had trouble breathing and "felt it was serious enough to get it checked out," Brian Turner said.

Turner will be medicated intraveneously at the Pepin Heart Institute - where he will remain over the weekend- and is scheduled on Monday to undergo a catheterization, a procedure he had last year.

Chamberlain (1-2) travels to face Blake tonight. Brian Turner will serve as head coach, with help from the other Chiefs assistants.

"It's his heart," Brian Turner said. "I don't know what all it is - he could barely even talk to me. But he had to be pretty scared for him to go in. He wouldn't miss a game for anything in the world."

Turner said doctors told his father Thursday that he had fluid on his lungs, which could be caused by something with his heart.

Turner addressed the Chiefs at their pre-game meal via speakerphone, and will likely get play-by-play updates from an assistant via cell phone tonight.

"He'll be on the phone," Brian said. "He'll be coaching from the hospital."

"We're gonna go out there and play hard for him."

Stay tuned for further updates....

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Mike]

I've never met this man, but I wish him the best. I know how closely I care for my high school football coach - John Benedetto - and I would be crushed if anything were to happen to him. People don't realize what these coaches mean to a young man when he's 16, 17, and 18 years old. They mean the world. Good luck Coach.