Dykstra’s Condition Changed to Serious

Doctors changed the condition of Rollie Dykstra from critical to serious Monday, nine days after the University of La Verne senior quarterback suffered a severe head injury in a football game against Redlands.

Frank Garcia, a spokesman for Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, cautioned that the difference in conditions for the comatose player was slight. Dykstra remains in intensive care.

Roland Dykstra Sr., the player’s father, said a weekend conference with his son’s doctors had been “discouraging” regarding hopes for a full recovery.

Rollie Dykstra, 24, was injured while being tackled on a second-quarter option run Oct. 19.

He collapsed on the sideline minutes after being assisted from the field, then experienced severe convulsions.

The elder Dykstra and Rollie’s girlfriend, Jennifer Ross, contend that he’d probably suffered a concussion last month when he was sacked eight times in a loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

After a 30-6 loss at Cal Lutheran on Oct. 5, he complained to Ross of a “throbbing headache.”

Ross said Rollie Dykstra told her he’d informed La Verne trainer Jim May of his headaches, but Ross said Dykstra had received no medical treatment before playing against Redlands.

May and La Verne spokeswoman Deborah Mandabach have refused to comment.

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-- Lance Pugmire