IU football player's father killed in Alaskan plane crash

Tragedy struck the IU football program Tuesday night when a freshman tight end learned his father was one of five people killed in an Alaskan air crash Monday night that also claimed the life of a former U.S. senator.

Bill Phillips Sr., the father of freshman Paul Phillips, died in the same small plane crash that killed former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, stated Jeff Keag, IU's associate director of media relations, in a media release Tuesday night. Paul Phillips's brother Willy was also injured in the crash, though the extent of his injuries are unclear.

According to the statement, Paul has "left Bloomington to be with his family".

"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Indiana University community are with Paul, his family and everyone touched by this tragedy," IU head coach Bill Lynch said in the statement. "Please be respectful of the family while they deal with this private matter."

Paul Phillips is a native of Darnestown, Md., and came to Bloomington from Georgetown Prep after earning first-team all-state honors during his senior of high school.

His father Bill Sr., a football player from 1972-76 at the University of Evansville, is survived by his wife Janet, Paul, Willy, and two other brothers. One brother, Andrew, is currently a senior offensive guard at Stanford University while the other, Colten, is a sophomore tight end at the University of Virginia.

Paul Phillips wears jersey No. 91 for the Hoosiers, according to the preseason media guide.