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A football player from Missoula, Mont., has died of a head injury
suffered during Eastern Oregon's spring football game, school
officials said.
Dylan Steigers, 21, took a blow to the head late in
Saturday's scrimmage, and died Sunday at a Boise hospital,
spokesman Tim Seydel said.
"It's hard to describe the emotions we all feel about losing
Dylan,'' said Eastern Oregon president Bob Davis. "I sat with
Dylan's family during the scrimmage, had a chance to connect with
them. Dylan is an exceptional young man who loved to play football,
and he had a bright future ahead of him. This is a loss we will
feel for a very long time.''
Steigers walked off the field after the collision, but later
vomited on the sidelines, a sign of a concussion.
The trainer called 911 and Steigers was taken to Grand Ronde
Hospital and later flown to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
in Boise, school officials said. Doctors said he suffered an acute
subdural hematoma as a result of the head injury.
"It is a difficult time for our coaches and players,'' said
coach Tim Camp. "We will provide these fine young men with the
mentoring and help they need to get through this very difficult
situation.''
Steigers joined the Mountaineer's NAIA football program this
spring after transferring from the University of Montana. He was
listed as a freshman receiver on the EOU roster.
Steigers graduated from Sentinel High School in Missoula in
2006, where he played for coach Pete Joseph.
"We had a heart-to-heart right before he left a month or so
ago,'' Joseph said. "He was really excited about everything.''
"He was an exceptional football talent. He played the game
the way it should be played,'' Joseph said. "He had excellent
physical tools, he played the game hard, he played the game fast,
and he loved football. He played it the right way.''
Steigers is survived by his parents, Tom and Cindy of
Missoula; sister, Libby; girlfriend Liz Apostol and 2-year-old
daughter, London.
