EVANSTON, Ill. -- Rashidi Wheeler was remembered Tuesday as
a young man who brightened the lives of everyone he met, and his
family promised to find out exactly how that life ended last week
on a practice football field.
Several hundred people crowded into a church on Northwestern
University's campus to listen as Wheeler's teammates, coaches,
family and the Rev. Jesse Jackson paid tribute to the 22-year-old
who died last Friday after having an asthma attack during a
conditioning drill.
"I've lost one of my heroes," Wildcats coach Randy Walker
said. "There's a hole in our lives -- a void that will be there
forever."
At the same time, Wheeler's family vowed to find out what
happened in the last moments of his life so other families wouldn't
suffer as they have.
"We feel this could have been prevented," George Wheeler,
Rashidi's father, said during brief comments after the service.
Wheeler's death came just 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.
The service did not include much talk about the circumstances
surrounding Wheeler's death, but Jackson said there are questions
about it "that perplex us."
Jackson also said later that Wheeler's parents have asked him to
be their spokesman as the death is investigated further. Bronchial
asthma was the preliminary cause of death: a final report could
take more than two months.
"There are many eye witnesses to the last hour of his life who
have raised questions about the way this was handled," Jackson
said. "There are real questions that at the appropriate time they
want pursued."
Neither Jackson nor the family specified who they want to
conduct the investigation.
"The university remains cooperative and open and fair and
honest," Jackson said. "And I hope there will be no lines drawn
that will alter that."
Northwestern has already said it plans a full evaluation of
Wheeler's death as well as the team's conditioning policies.
Earlier, Wheeler's mother, Linda Will, voiced her support for
the school, although she, too, said she had questions about how it
was handled.
The service at Alice Millar Chapel illustrated the tragedy of a
man who died long before anyone could possibly expect. There was
his No. 30 jersey on display at the front of the church, a reminder
of an athlete in the prime of his life. There were his teammates,
who despite some beards and goatees, could not disguise the fact
that they are not far removed from high school.
And there were the stories of parties, the funny demonstration
of a dance Wheeler made up -- further reminders that the man being
laid to rest hadn't been given the time to raise a family or start
a career.
There were even jokes about his dancing ability and poetry, with
teammate Chasda Martin, calling Wheeler the only person "I know
who could rhyme and stutter at the same time."
"He made sure you always had fun," said running back Kevin
Lawrence.
"He made sure everyone got home safe from dancing, hanging
out," said Kevin Bentley, the linebacker who will wear his close
friend's No. 30 jersey this season.
"We weren't able to bring him home safe this time."
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