EVANSTON, Ill. -- The breathing problems that forced Rashidi
Wheeler out of a conditioning drill didn't seem to be any different
from the 30 other asthma attacks he'd had while playing football
the past three years.
|  | | Rashidi Wheeler started all 12 games last season at strong safety. |
But the Northwestern safety was never able to catch his breath
Friday afternoon and later died. Bronchial asthma was the
preliminary cause of death, the Cook County coroner's office ruled
Saturday.
"I didn't want to wake up this morning," said Northwestern
coach Randy Walker, still fighting back tears and trying to control
his emotions Saturday afternoon.
"I've not been here. I guess I've lived a very fortunate life
to not undergo a tragedy of this scope. It's new ground for me. I
think all of us are asking, `What's the deal?' ... There's no
apparent answer at this point."
Athletic director Rick Taylor said the school will re-evaluate
its conditioning policies and the entire incident "to find out if
there is any possible way we could have done something better."
The evaluation will be done by people outside the athletic
department, Taylor said.
"Anytime you go through something like this, we would be
terribly remiss if we did not re-evaluate everything that
happened," Taylor said.
Wheeler's death came two days after Minnesota Vikings tackle
Korey Stringer died of heatstroke following an intense practice in
stifling heat. A week earlier, University of Florida freshman
Eraste Autin died after collapsing of heatstroke.
But Wheeler's death wasn't caused by the heat. The 22-year-old
player was a chronic asthmatic -- head athletic trainer Tory Aggeler
said he'd seen Wheeler have more than 30 asthma attacks in his
three years at Northwestern -- and had dealt with the condition
since at least high school.
It didn't keep him from playing sports, though. The 6-foot-2,
212-pound strong safety started all 12 games last season as
Northwestern won a share of the Big Ten title. His 88 tackles were
third on the Wildcats, and he had a fumble recovery and three pass
breakups.
"I don't think there is anything unusual for a person with
asthma to compete in the upper class of athletics," Taylor said,
adding there are about 10 asthmatics on the football team.
Wheeler and 60 other Northwestern players were running a series
of "quick jogs" to test their recovery ability Friday as part of
preseason conditioning drills. Though NCAA rules prevent coaches
from attending the workouts, Aggeler and his training staff were
there.
Wheeler had already completed 10 sprints of 100 yards, eight of
80 yards, six of 60 yards, and had four 40-yarders to complete when
he collapsed, Aggeler said. The sprints, which have specific
recovery times in between, are common for summer football
practices, Walker said.
In fact, Walker himself did the same drill when he played
college football.
"I don't think it was a workout that was extraordinarily
difficult," Walker said. "It probably was the easiest day of
summer workouts. There was no other running or any other
conditioning."
But with only the four 40-yard sprints to go, Wheeler had
trouble breathing and dropped down on his hands and knees. He was
conscious and alert, even telling Aggeler he wanted to continue the
drill.
"I think that was more a verbal statement than a true desire to
do so," Aggeler said.
Though Wheeler had an inhaler with him, he couldn't catch his
breath. He eventually stopped breathing, and didn't respond to CPR
from the coaching staff or paramedics. He died about an hour later
at Evanston Hospital.
Walker met with his team Friday night, and counselors were
brought in to help the players. They will continue to be available.
"I don't know what words I can give you as far as how we
feel," Walker said, fighting back tears. "But I know most of us
are in a tremendous amount of grief."
Wheeler's family was en route to Chicago from the Los Angeles
area Saturday. Memorial plans are still being finalized.
Outside the Northwestern football stadium, university and U.S.
flags were flying at half-staff. Someone had placed a small bouquet
of flowers, tied with a purple ribbon, in an entrance gate outside
the stadium.
"He was a little taste of heaven on earth," said Anthony Will,
Wheeler's uncle, who drove to Evanston from Detroit on Friday
night.
"I just can't explain what a loss it is," Will said. "We as a
society need people like Rashidi. I don't know if anybody had a
greater capacity to show love."
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