Travian Robertson injury updates: South Carolina assistant shares latest after hospitalization, five surgeries

South Carolina assistant coach Travian Robertson was injured in a car accident on August 22, an accident that left him hospitalized. The full extent of his injuries is only just beginning to come to light.

On Wednesday, Robertson released a statement through his attorneys. He has reportedly undergone five surgeries for internal and external damage after being struck head-on by a driver who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol, the statement said.

“Kettiany, our three boys, and I sincerely appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support we have received from the community in the weeks since my accident,” Travian Robertson said. “It has been and will continue to be a journey, but I am grateful to God my life was spared.

“My current focus is on recovery and rehabilitation so I can get back to being the husband, father and coach I am called to be.”

According to Travian Robertson’s statement, the assistant coach was released from the hospital on Sept. 5 following a 14-day stay. He spent 10 days in the Intensive Care Unit.

Robertson and his family have asked for privacy as the coach focuses on healing, but the family did extend its “sincere gratitude” to the firefighters, medical personnel and bystanders at the scene, as well as to the medical personnel at Prisma Health Richland Hospital.

On Tuesday, South Carolina coach Shane Beamer provided his own update on Travian Robertson. Everyone around the team facilities is eager to see him back soon.

“As far as Travian goes, he’s making progress,” Beamer explained. “He wasn’t in the building last Thursday, but he was over here in the parking lot after practice. Players got to see him, coaches got to see him. His wife drove him over and he wanted to see everybody. We’re in communication with him and talking regularly and he’s getting better every day.”

Robertson, a former defensive lineman himself for the Gamecocks from 2007-2011, has been the defensive line coach at South Carolina since the 2023 season. The accident occurred on the morning of Aug. 22 — roughly a week before the season opener — and resulted in a two-week hospital stay for Robertson.

Beamer explained in comments a week after the accident that he felt Robertson was “very lucky to be alive.” The defensive line coach was released from the hospital earlier this month but has still not been cleared to return to the team.

It’s still unclear when Travian Robertson might be back, and Jordan Dove has been filling in during his absence. Beamer told reporters when the accident occurred that Robertson’s health remained the primary focus, and that is certainly still the case.

“Everyone knows what this place means to him and how much it hurts him not to be here with us right now, but his health is the primary thing and (he) had some pretty serious stuff happen to him in that wreck,” Beamer said. “So, would ask for continued thoughts and prayers for he and his family.

“He is going to be okay. It’s nothing long-term. It’s just, physically, he’s not able to be down on the sidelines at a game right now.”

On3’s Chandler Vessels also contributed to this report.