RIP Görkem Yazıcı – 1994-2016

Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Görkem Yazıcı and to the Koç Rams football team in Turkey. Görkem played for the Rams, 2016 Turkish champions. He died in the bombing attack Saturday at Vodafone Arena Stadium in Beşiktaş, Istanbul.

He was a senior management student attending Koç University in Istanbul.

The attack, which killed 38 and injured another 160, was allegedly carried out by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), an offshoot of the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

His teammates and the Turkish and international American football community were deeply shaken. As the quarterback of the 2016 Rams, Palmer Wilsie wrote on his Facebook page:

“In true disbelief at the loss of one of our own.. My deepest condolences go out to one of the most kindhearted, welcoming, friend/brother/teammate, one could ask for. Taken from us in a senseless act of terrorism during last night’s Besiktas bombing in Istanbul. Remembering the fun times on a day like today, until next time “kanka”.

To learn more about the blasts that killed dozens near Istanbul’s Besiktas stadium and Turkey’s declaration of a day of mourning click here.