Post by 50yardfan on Aug 5, 2011 11:07:37 GMT -5
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110805/A_SPORTS/108050323
Andy Collins was remembered by friends and teammates with the Stockton Lightning as a strong, capable and charismatic individual on and off the field.
Collins died on Tuesday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He was 27.
Collins played quarterback for the Lightning arenafootball2 team during its final two seasons in 2008 and 2009 before the team ceased operations. His sudden passing was met with shock and sadness by those who knew him during his time in Stockton.
"This hurts. It's so sad," said Dan Chapman, who was president of the Lightning during its four seasons. "He was the consummate leader on the field. When he spoke his teammates listened. Off the field, he was as polite and friendly as you could want. We were proud of the way he represented the team and Stockton, and our hearts go out to his family."
Collins was pronounced dead at Imperial Point Medical Center from an apparent heart attack, according to the Los Angeles Times. He reportedly was running on a treadmill when he collapsed. The official cause of death is pending an autopsy.
A native of Zillah, Wash., Collins married Brooke Olzendam, a college football reporter for CBS, on July 23 in Seattle. The couple moved to Florida a few days later.
Chad Cavendar, a former Lightning quarterback and one of Collins' roommates in Stockton, said he last saw his friend at the wedding.
"It's really hard for me to get a grip on this," Cavendar said. "I can't imagine what his wife and family are feeling. Andy is just one of those dudes you want to be around. After knowing him for five minutes, you were like, 'This is someone I want to be friends with.' "
Collins transferred from the University of Oregon after his freshman year to Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he led the Division III Tigers to a 27-0 record in three seasons (2004-06). He made several stops during his arenafootball career, playing last season with the Tri-Cities Fever of Kennewick, Wash., in the Indoor Football League.
Chad Carlson, the Lightning's last head coach, had seen Collins play at Occidental and wanted to bring him to Stockton in 2008.
"He was the first guy I thought of, I was so impressed by him," Carlson said. "I got to be great friends with him, and we had an amazing time in Stockton. Andy had grace and integrity and was a very special human being.
"I feel really blessed to have known him."
Collins was sidelined four games into the 2009 season with a knee injury, and Cavendar took over as the starter. Kevin Anderson, who was the athletic trainer for the Lightning, said Collins proved his character while recovering from the injury.
"Some injured athletes start screaming and cursing and throwing their equipment. Andy immediately took a step forward, wondering what kind of injury it was, what was the average rehab and what he had to do to recover," said Anderson, the trainer for the Stockton Thunder hockey team. "He was never upset. He showed up for the rehab early, always working with us and the coaches.
"It's kind of cliché when something like this happens to say he was a great guy. Andy was actually one of the great guys you could know."
Funeral arrangements are pending and are expected to take place in Zillah, Wash.
Andy Collins was remembered by friends and teammates with the Stockton Lightning as a strong, capable and charismatic individual on and off the field.
Collins died on Tuesday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He was 27.
Collins played quarterback for the Lightning arenafootball2 team during its final two seasons in 2008 and 2009 before the team ceased operations. His sudden passing was met with shock and sadness by those who knew him during his time in Stockton.
"This hurts. It's so sad," said Dan Chapman, who was president of the Lightning during its four seasons. "He was the consummate leader on the field. When he spoke his teammates listened. Off the field, he was as polite and friendly as you could want. We were proud of the way he represented the team and Stockton, and our hearts go out to his family."
Collins was pronounced dead at Imperial Point Medical Center from an apparent heart attack, according to the Los Angeles Times. He reportedly was running on a treadmill when he collapsed. The official cause of death is pending an autopsy.
A native of Zillah, Wash., Collins married Brooke Olzendam, a college football reporter for CBS, on July 23 in Seattle. The couple moved to Florida a few days later.
Chad Cavendar, a former Lightning quarterback and one of Collins' roommates in Stockton, said he last saw his friend at the wedding.
"It's really hard for me to get a grip on this," Cavendar said. "I can't imagine what his wife and family are feeling. Andy is just one of those dudes you want to be around. After knowing him for five minutes, you were like, 'This is someone I want to be friends with.' "
Collins transferred from the University of Oregon after his freshman year to Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he led the Division III Tigers to a 27-0 record in three seasons (2004-06). He made several stops during his arenafootball career, playing last season with the Tri-Cities Fever of Kennewick, Wash., in the Indoor Football League.
Chad Carlson, the Lightning's last head coach, had seen Collins play at Occidental and wanted to bring him to Stockton in 2008.
"He was the first guy I thought of, I was so impressed by him," Carlson said. "I got to be great friends with him, and we had an amazing time in Stockton. Andy had grace and integrity and was a very special human being.
"I feel really blessed to have known him."
Collins was sidelined four games into the 2009 season with a knee injury, and Cavendar took over as the starter. Kevin Anderson, who was the athletic trainer for the Lightning, said Collins proved his character while recovering from the injury.
"Some injured athletes start screaming and cursing and throwing their equipment. Andy immediately took a step forward, wondering what kind of injury it was, what was the average rehab and what he had to do to recover," said Anderson, the trainer for the Stockton Thunder hockey team. "He was never upset. He showed up for the rehab early, always working with us and the coaches.
"It's kind of cliché when something like this happens to say he was a great guy. Andy was actually one of the great guys you could know."
Funeral arrangements are pending and are expected to take place in Zillah, Wash.