Nonstopdrivel
16 years ago
I remember the game in which Reggie Brown was paralyzed like it was yesterday. Such a sobering moment for a teenager like myself. Good to read that apparently he's living an active life and not confined to a wheelchair.

Add loss of Corey Smith to list of Lions' tragedies 

by Brian VanOchten | The Grand Rapids Press

Sunday March 08, 2009, 12:30 AM

All families squabble.

It's a part of life, simple as that, but families pull together in the toughest of times, under the harshest of circumstances, facing tragedies like the heartbreaking loss of former Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith and a pair of his fishing buddies off the Gulf Coast of Florida last weekend.


The support is unconditional.

In the past week, I've been reminded through endless Internet searches while reading blog posts, chat boards and numerous reports about the celebration of Smith's life that no one rallies around their favorite NFL team quite like the people who consider themselves part of the Lions family.

The resentment of 0-16 faded.

The hurtful comments stopped.

The sniping from the media about questionable front-office leadership and the signing of middling free agents, which I'd been trumpeting, came to a respectful halt once reports of Smith's disappearance broke.

It reminded us that life is so fragile.

It also stirred up a chilling reminder of the heartbreaking tragedies that have plagued the Lions franchise for almost four decades.

You remember Chuck Hughes?

He suffered a fatal heart attack on the field on Oct. 24, 1971, during the final minutes of a matchup against the Chicago Bears at Tiger Stadium. He'd run a pass route but wasn't part of the play -- an incompletion intended for Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders. He pitched forward despite there being no contact on the play.

The game finished in near silence.

The Lions, who retired No. 85 in Hughes' honor, have presented an annual award in his name to the most improved player on their roster since 1997. Hughes is the only player in NFL history to die on the field in a game.

You remember Mike Utley?

The starting right guard for the Lions was paralyzed in a Nov. 17, 1991, game against the Los Angeles Rams. He suffered a severe spinal injury, but became a source of great inspiration after flashing the "thumbs up" signal to his teammates upon being strapped to a stretcher and removed from the field.

His gesture helped inspire the Lions to win their next seven games and reach the NFC championship contest. The team presents the Mike Utley Spirit Award in his honor.

You remember Eric Andolsek?

The 1991 NFC title game turned out to be his last.

In the offseason, Andolsek, the team's starting left guard, was working in the yard of his Thibodaux, La., home on June 23, 1992, when he was struck and killed by a semi-trailer truck ran off the highway. He was 25.

Two days later, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jerome Brown was died in a car accident. Two years later, linebacker Toby Caston, a teammate of Andolsek's both in Detroit and at Louisiana State, died in a car accident.

You remember Reggie Brown?

He was the 17th overall pick, a promising linebacker from Texas A&M, who suffered a spinal cord contusion while assisting on a tackle in a matchup against the New York Jets on Dec. 21, 1997, in the regular-season finale.

He nearly died on the field.

Brown lay motionless on the turf for 17 minutes. He lost consciousness briefly. CPR saved his life. He had emergency surgery after being transported to the hospital, which likely spared him from spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

And the tragedies weren't limited to players.

You remember Don McCafferty?

He replaced Don Shula as coach of the Baltimore Colts when Shula left to lead the Miami Dolphins in 1970. He led the Colts to Super Bowl V in Miami, where they prevailed in a mistake-filled game to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 16-13.

Two years later, the Lions hired him.

McCafferty, who'd gone 6-7-1 in his first season, suffered a fatal heart attack on July 28, 1974, while cutting the grass at his West Bloomfield home.

He died just prior to the beginning of training camp.

I got respectful e-mails reminding me of all of these men.

It took a terrible event like losing Smith to snap all of us out of bickering about the fate of a franchise that hasn't had much to celebrate on the field in a long time.

So, for a change, let's celebrate life.

Isn't football just a game? Is it really that important?

If nothing else, we should honor the memories of Hughes, McCafferty, Andolsek, Caston and Smith, and keep Utley and Brown in our thoughts and prayers.

E-mail Brian VanOchten: bvanocthen@grpress.com


UserPostedImage
Cheesey
16 years ago
Like i have said in the past.......it's ONLY football. LIFE is what really matters.
UserPostedImage
Formo
16 years ago
I too, remember Reggie Brown. I was watching the game.. And the stoppage seemed to last FOREVER.

I didn't know about all the tragedies the Lions organization went through. That's way too bad.
UserPostedImage
Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!
Fan Shout
packerfanoutwest (5h) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (10h) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (10h) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (10h) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (11h) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (11h) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (12h) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (14h) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (14h) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (15h) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (15h) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (15h) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (15h) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (15h) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (15h) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (15h) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (15h) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Other times, it's turtle ass
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
beast (23-Jul) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
beast (23-Jul) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
wpr (23-Jul) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : SSL might be settled now.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Same deal with the songs/videos thread, says you replied last but when I go there it's what I posted earlier is last
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
3h / Around The NFL / wpr

9h / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

23h / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

18-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.