Mario Cristobal unable to attend Spencer Webb's celebration of life due to flight issues

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal’s ACC Media Days appearance was strategically slotted at 9:45 a.m. Thursday by the ACC to allow him to attend his former player and Oregon tight end Spencer Webb‘s celebration of life event Thursday evening in Eugene, Oregon.

Webb died July 13 after falling at a local lake in Oregon. The 22 year old was a beloved member of the football team and Eugene community.

According to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, however, his flight was cancelled due to “mechanical issues,” and the new Miami head coach won’t be able to make it in time. Both Webb and Cristobal arrived in Eugene together in 2018.

Oregon tight end Spencer Webb dies in ‘tragic accident’

Spencer Webb, a tight end at Oregon, died Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Oregon Live’s Aaron Fentress said Webb passed away in a “tragic accident.” That report was later confirmed by the Sacramento Bee, stating that Webb died during a cliff diving accident. 

Webb was getting ready for his redshirt junior season with the Ducks after starting three games last year. He had 13 receptions for 87 yards and a lone touchdown which came against Arizona. He joined the Ducks in 2018, but redshirted that season and then only played one game due to injury during the COVID-19-impacted 2020 campaign. Last season was his first full year since 2019 when he played in 12 games, totaling 18 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

Reactions poured in on social media after the news broke. One of them came in from Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland, who played at Oregon alongside Webb from 2018-20 before opting out of the 2020 season and entering the 2021 NFL Draft.

“RIP brotha,” Holland tweeted Wednesday night. “You will be missed.”

Alex Forsyth, a current Oregon offensive lineman, also paid tribute to Webb on Twitter by retweeting a video of a big touchdown against Auburn in 2019.