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SF Offensive Lineman collapses in lockerroom


DMD
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Tragic way to start the season and end a life...

 

DENVER -- San Francisco offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room and died Sunday morning, shortly after the 49ers played the Denver Broncos in a preseason game.

 

Herrion, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound guard, was on the field for San Francisco's 14-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a touchdown with 2 seconds left.

 

Players had finished listening to coach Mike Nolan address them in a postgame meeting when Herrion collapsed. Medics administered CPR on him and took him to an ambulance that rushed him to a nearby hospital.

 

About three hours later, 49ers spokesman Aaron Salkin confirmed that Herrion had died. The cause of death was not immediately known.

 

"This is a colossal tragedy for the 49ers and the entire NFL community," Salkin said. "We still do not know all the details. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Herrion family."

 

The death comes a little more than four years after offensive lineman Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings died of heatstroke during a training camp practice on a day during which the heat index soared to 110.

 

Since Stringer's death, NFL teams have increased their efforts to teach players about hydration and how to manage the heat. They have been experimenting with sensors to measure players' core body temperatures, although those by themselves wouldn't be able to prevent a heat-related death.

 

Temperatures were in the mid-60s with 50 percent humidity Saturday night in Denver, although experts say heatstroke can occur even in cool conditions.

 

After the game, Nolan said he had no comments about San Francisco's 26-21 loss to the Broncos.

 

"There are more important things on our mind than the game," he said. "Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with Thomas Herrion."

 

Shortly after that statement, the Niners got dressed and boarded buses that took them to the Denver airport for their flight back to California.

 

"We didn't see anything happen," Niners defensive lineman Marques Douglas said. "I sat by my locker and prayed for him."

 

Herrion, a first-year player with the 49ers, played college ball at Utah and spent part of last season on the San Francisco and Dallas practice squads. He also played this season with the Hamburg Sea Dogs of NFL Europe.

 

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Tragedy.  Prayers go out for his family.  The scary thing is that temps were moderate -- in the 60s -- the write up says heatstroke can occur even at cool temps ... wow.

 

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I was surprised by this as well. What a terrible story. Sounds like the kid had just been fighting to make a team for a few years. Too bad this happened.

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This is a bit tougher for me to stomach. My Niners source found out about his death while we were talking on the phone and he broke down. Absolutely nothing can prepare you for this type of news. Very sad indeed.

 

Tragedy.  Prayers go out for his family.  The scary thing is that temps were moderate -- in the 60s -- the write up says heatstroke can occur even at cool temps ... wow.

 

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Based on what I'm hearing heatstroke isn't believed to be the cause of death but we won't hear anything official until after the autopsy.

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Yesterday I ran a half marathon and 2 people collapsed late in the race and another 6 in the medical tent receiving treatment. I told the massuer that I was surprized there weren't more. It was brutal out there, 82 degrees, 95% humidity and the sun was blazing off the black top on us. Fortunately, most people took caution and adjusted their goals. I saw 3 of the elite runners walking because of the weather [saving their fitness for another race]. I finally stopped for a minute at the 12 mile marker just to down 3-4 cups of Gatorade before continuing.

 

I remember telling a few people yesterday that today wasn't a day to be a hero. At least he died chasing his dream.

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Tragedy.  Prayers go out for his family.  The scary thing is that temps were moderate -- in the 60s -- the write up says heatstroke can occur even at cool temps ... wow.

 

939947[/snapback]

 

 

 

 

Very sad. May he rest in peace.

 

Since he was playing in Denver, I wonder if the altitude played a factor in any way.

 

High Altitude and its Effects on Exercise Performance[

Edited by Hugh-mongus
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I read last week that the size of the average HS lineman is bigger than the average lineman of the 17-0 Miami Dolphins team.

 

The ESPN sports columnists are talking about this right now. Sounds like he weighed more like 350 last year and probably needed to get down to a lower weight this year.

 

What a tragedy. My sympathies to his family, friends, and teammates.

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I read last week that the size of the average HS lineman is bigger than the average lineman of the 17-0 Miami Dolphins team. 

 

The ESPN sports columnists are talking about this right now.  Sounds like he weighed more like 350 last year and probably needed to get down to a lower weight this year. 

 

What a tragedy.  My sympathies to his family, friends, and teammates.

 

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Very sad news. Whats also sad about this is that lineman need to be over 300 pounds now because that is where everyone else is at. This is not a healthy weight for these guys but thats what the coaches/GMs want. I don't know who this is ever going to change though.

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I read last week that the size of the average HS lineman is bigger than the average lineman of the 17-0 Miami Dolphins team. 

 

The ESPN sports columnists are talking about this right now.  Sounds like he weighed more like 350 last year and probably needed to get down to a lower weight this year. 

 

What a tragedy.  My sympathies to his family, friends, and teammates.

 

940080[/snapback]

 

 

 

 

 

I heard he was down to about 310 but they finished a 14 play drive and that could have done him in.

 

It's too early to tell the reason for this.

 

The Vikings have been using pills that monitor core body temps. Maybe more teams will use such things if it is heat stroke.

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