Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NFL biography
Korey Damont Stringer (May 8, 1974 – August 1, 2001) was an American professional football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. On August 1, 2001, Stringer died from complications brought on by heat stroke during the Vikings' training camp in Mankato, Minnesota.
Early lifeEdit
Stringer was born in Warren, Ohio.<ref name=nflprofile>National Football League, Historical Players, Korey Stringer. Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref> He attended Warren G. Harding High School in Warren,<ref name=dbfprofile>databaseFootball.com, Players, Template:Usurped. Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref> and was a member of the Harding Raiders high school football team. The Raiders won the football state championship in 1990.
College careerEdit
Stringer decided to attend Ohio State University, where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1992 to 1994. His Buckeyes teammates included offensive tackle Orlando Pace and running backs Eddie George and Robert Smith. As a junior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.<ref>2010 Division I Football Records Book, Award Winners and All-Americans, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 10 (2010). Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref>
Professional careerEdit
Template:NFL predraft The Minnesota Vikings drafted Stringer in the first round (24th pick overall) of the 1995 NFL draft.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played for the Vikings from Template:NFL Year to Template:NFL Year.<ref name=nflprofile/> He was a standout on the offensive line, earning Pro Bowl honors in what turned out to be his final season in 2000.<ref name=pfrprofile>Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Korey Stringer. Retrieved February 6, 2012.</ref> In six NFL seasons, he played in 93 regular season games and started 91 of them.<ref name=pfrprofile/> As a professional player, Stringer was well-liked inside the locker room and out; after a Vikings game, he stopped to help a fan change a flat tire, and he impulsively signed over his Pro Bowl appearance check to a youth football program in his hometown of Warren.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Death at training campEdit
Stringer suffered from heat stroke on the second day of the Vikings 2001 preseason training camp and died on August 1, 2001, as a result of complications.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was unable to complete the first practice session, held the morning of July 30, due to exhaustion, and did not participate in that day's afternoon session, but he vowed to return the next day to complete the morning session, which was conducted in full pads.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02>Template:Cite news</ref> Although he vomited three times, he did complete the morning practice session on July 31, which lasted 2Template:Frac hours, but walked to an air-conditioned shelter after the session, where he became weak and dizzy.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 /> Offensive line coach Mike Tice stated that he had not witnessed Stringer vomiting, and that Stringer did not exhibit any symptoms of heat-related illness.<ref name=LAT-2001-08-09 /> At 11:30 am, when practice ended, the heat index had reached 99 °F;<ref name=WaPo-2001-08-10 /> the heat index peaked later that day at Template:Convert with a high temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 />
When he was taken to Immanuel St. Joseph's–Mayo Health System hospital, his body temperature was Template:Convert upon arrival.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 /> Stringer was unconscious from the time he was admitted until his death at 1:50 am on August 1.<ref name=NYT-2001-08-02 /> An autopsy confirmed that Stringer died from organ failure resulting from heat stroke.<ref name=WaPo-2001-08-10>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) investigated Stringer's death<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and cleared the Vikings of responsibility on November 1, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Vice President of the Vikings, Mike Kelly, met with MNOSHA officials along with the team's athletic trainer and equipment manager.<ref name=LAT-2001-08-09>Template:Cite news</ref> However, under the governing labor laws, the Vikings would only be held liable if it was proven they were negligent or had inflicted intentional harm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although the autopsy confirmed that Stringer was not taking supplements,<ref name=WaPo-2001-08-10 /> the Vikings began preparing a defense to a planned lawsuit in November 2001 by announcing that Stringer's locker was full of dietary supplements, including some that contained ephedra.<ref name=LAT-2001-11-17>Template:Cite news</ref>
LegacyEdit
The Vikings retired his jersey number 77 on November 19, 2001, during the halftime of a Monday night game with the New York Giants in the Template:NFL Year season.<ref name=LAT-2001-11-17 />
Stringer's widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the team and trainers in February 2002. The athletic trainers were granted summary judgment for immunity, which was upheld on initial appeal<ref name=686-N.W.2d-545>Template:Cite court</ref> as well as a second appeal to the Supreme Court of Minnesota.<ref name=705-N.W.2d-746>Template:Cite court</ref> Parts of her lawsuit were later thrown out; another suit against the NFL was filed in July 2003 and settled in January 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite court</ref><ref>Template:Cite court</ref> The only disclosed term of the settlement is that the NFL will support efforts to create a heat illness prevention program.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His widow also brought a lawsuit against Riddell Inc., the manufacturer of Stringer's pads and helmet. In July 2009, a federal judge determined that Riddell had a duty to inform Stringer that their equipment could contribute to heat injuries. A district court judge then ordered a jury trial regarding the matter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Stringer's death brought about major changes regarding heat stroke prevention throughout the NFL. His death also addressed complications of pressuring players to "bulk up" to well over Template:Convert. Stringer, who at the time of his death was Template:Convert and weighed Template:Convert, was at the lowest weight he had ever been in his pro career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Many professional football teams now train in light color uniforms, water and shade are made readily available, and a team doctor is at practice sessions at all times.Template:Citation needed
Korey's wife Kelci worked to establish an exertional heat stroke prevention institute to honor her husband's legacy. On April 23, 2010, the NFL and Gatorade joined the University of Connecticut to announce the creation of the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a not-for-profit organization housed at the University of Connecticut dedicated to the prevention of sudden death in sports, with a focus on exertional heat stroke (EHS). KSI stems from the 2009 settlement, with Kelci Stringer teaming up with EHS expert, Dr. Douglas Casa, from the University of Connecticut, and the NFL. The mission of the Korey Stringer Institute is to provide research, education, advocacy and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete, warfighter and laborer.Template:Citation needed
On the 20th anniversary of his stroke, Korey's brother, Kevin, said "Any time there is a major change in how society does things, it's typically because somebody died or got hurt in some way, shape or form. I guess Korey's death was my family's turn to pay that cost. It bothers me sometimes if I hear of somebody having a heat-related injury, but I know even if that happens, there is more awareness of what to do. It took a while to get there, but we did."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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