Remember Rashidi Wheeler

Rashidi Wheeler died while playing football for Northwestern University. During a “voluntary” practice that may have violated NCAA rules, he was running rigorous sprints with a fellow player on a Northwestern practice field. A videotape caught the moment he collapsed. At the time, a Northwestern coach was seen on the tape timing other players. According to Linda Will, Wheeler’s mother, her son died because Northwestern did not having qualified trainers and medical staff on hand to treat his fatal asthma attack. Wheeler had a lifelong problem with asthma, a condition that Northwestern knew or should have known.

Wheeler’s mother sued the school for her son’s wrongful death. Northwestern stonewalled her attempts to find answers to her questions. Who scheduled the “voluntary” practice? Why was no medical help present if players were expected to practice? Why were Rashidi’s medical records destroyed? Years later, Northwestern offered Will $16 million to settle her lawsuit. She refused it. In an L.A. Times article, she said: “Everyone’s entitled to their day in court. Northwestern doesn’t want to go to court, because it doesn’t want all of the atrocities and pain and suffering it inflicted upon my Rashidi to be revealed. I’m not willing to devalue and diminish Rashidi by shutting up and taking the $16 million.”

Linda Will lost her case when, in an extraordinary ruling, a Cook County judge appointed a guardian for her other children and the guardian accepted the cash settlement. Will left the courthouse embittered: “I will fight until I obtain justice, and then I'll go away and shut up.” Ten years have passed since the court imposed the settlement. Northwestern has not answered any questions nor been held accountable. Soon, Illinois will play Northwestern in Chicago. As it should be, Illinois’ failure to shield football players from abusive coaching and medical practices will likely be part of the story-line for the game. Pat Fitzgerald was a defensive backs coach in 2001 for Northwestern, the year that Rashidi Wheeler, a strong safety, died. Was he the coach timing wind sprints on that videotape? Is the tape available? Hopefully, a brave reporter will ask Coach Fitzgerald, “What really happened to Rashidi Wheeler, and what can you do to provide answers?”