Nonstopdrivel
15 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
15 years ago
Like i have said in the past.......it's ONLY football. LIFE is what really matters.
UserPostedImage
Formo
15 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
dfosterf (13h) : How long until Jeff Sperbeck's family sues John Elway ?
Zero2Cool (15h) : Packers are exercising the fifth-year option on DT Devonte Wyatt, locking in a guaranteed $12.9M for the 2026 season.
beast (20h) : Sounds like P Luke Elzinga has a rookie try out opportunity from the Titans
dfosterf (22h) : Luke Elzinga Punter Oklahoma stil unsigned. Green Bay has been mentioned as good fit
beast (30-Apr) : The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents WR Melton, P Whelan and RB Wilson.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
3h / Around The NFL / beast

3h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

6h / Around The NFL / beast

11h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

19h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

29-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

29-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

29-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / Mucky Tundra

29-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

27-Apr / Packers Draft Threads / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

27-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

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