The college sports community – from athletics directors to coaches, from teammates to competitors – have expressed concern and shown support for Tennessee State football player Christion Abercrombie, who was seriously injured in the Tigers’ game Saturday at Vanderbilt University.

In addition, his teammates' mothers have formed a network of football moms to be at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to make sure Abercrombie’s family has not been alone since the sophomore suffered a head injury.

Derrick and Staci Abercrombie, who are from Atlanta, have not left the hospital since their son was rushed there after the first half of the game.

Vanderbilt athletics director David Williams and deputy athletics director Candice Storey Lee left the game Saturday after the injury occurred and went directly to the hospital. They did not return to the game.

"David Williams and his staff were with us all night Saturday," Tennessee State athletics director Teresa Phillips said. "I've been at the hospital the whole time except to go home to sleep for a few hours and take a shower. When I went back Sunday morning the first person I saw off of the elevator was (Vanderbilt football coach) Derek Mason. He had been there and visited for a long while with the family."

Mason showed up at the hospital soon after the game, which Vanderbilt won 31-27, and stayed until 1:30 a.m. He returned later Sunday morning

"I'm a parent myself, and the important thing is we're here to support," Mason said. "We can't do much more. This is definitely not about Vanderbilt. It's not about Tennessee State. It's about the Abercrombie family needing to be serviced as best they can because right now they've got a son who's in critical condition."

Mason said he has been impressed by how the Abercrombies have held up under such trying circumstances.

Phillips also pointed to the TSU community and beyond.

"The mothers of our players have rallied. They stayed. They didn't go back home. They were in the hospital all night Saturday night," Phillips said. "If they did leave, they were back Sunday and have been there ever since."

Several members of the Vanderbilt soccer team and its coach, Darren Ambrose, visited the Abercrombies after their game against Georgia on Sunday.

"We will continue to support, love and pray for Christion, his family and the entire TSU community," Williams said.

The families of TSU's players provided meals and assisted with other needs for the Abercrombies. A GoFundMe page also was launched by TSU to help the family with expenses.

"The (Ohio Valley Conference) has been great. I've heard from so many of the administrators in the league offering assistance," Phillips said. "The NCAA groups that I am on have all reached out. I don't want to single anyone out because we've heard something from almost every single school and AD and trainers and families and fans."

Phillips said grief counselors have been made available for students to discuss Abercrombie's situation.

Mason said he wished he could do more than simply offer encouragement, but the reality is that is what the family needs most at this point.

"Mom, dad, brother (D'Shawn) know that the doctors have done all that they can do, and now it's all about putting it in somebody else's hands, somebody bigger than us," Mason said. "For me, that strikes home because I believe in something bigger than myself."

A prayer vigil is scheduled for 9 p.m. Tuesday on the TSU campus.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.