Posted on 12/08/2003 4:59:28 AM PST by Born Conservative
Ricky Lannetti, a senior football player from Lycoming College died unexpectedly Saturday night. There's still no word on the exact cause of his death, but his doctor says he had a strep bacteria that caused organ failure. Lannetti was supposed to play in an NCAA Division 3 playoff game Sunday. Members of the team voted to go ahead and play the game, but Lannetti's memory wasn't far from their minds or hearts.
Just before game time, Lycoming College football players and their fans remembered 21 year old Ricky Lanetti of Philadelphia in a moment of silence. To many people at the game, including Lanetti's mother Terry Drew, his death comes as a shock. Drew tells Newswatch 16, "It's just hard to believe. Last week he was playing football; this week he's gone." She says her son loved these football players, and that's why she says she came to the game.
Cheerleaders at the game were wearing Lannetti's number, number 19 to honor him. The cheerleading coach, Kathy Schick says, "We have so many seniors on this squad and many of them, well all of them knew Ricky well and were good friends."
Lanetti's number was on players' arms, wrists, and even etched in the snow. He was the Warriors' top receiver this season with 70 catches for 955 yards and five touchdowns. But Sunday his fellow teammates had to play without him.
Wide Receiver Tony Kopp says,"Basically I had to fill his shoes. Big shoes to walk in but we all try." Although the Warriors didn't win the game, Head Coach Frank Girardi is proud of his players. Girardi told Newswatch 16, "It was a tough, tough week for us here. Obviously we lost one of our family and it's tough, but these kids exhibited courage that you just can't explain. They gave it everything they had and just came up a little short."
An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.
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