Brian Ottney

Brian Ottney (July 4, 1980 – September 1, 2003) was a Michigan State Spartans football captain.

Biography

Ottney grew up in Troy, Michigan where he played football for Troy High School. He was featured on several All-America teams and was ranked among the nation's top 20 offensive lineman. He was ranked number 3 in the state by the Lansing State Journal and number 12 by the Detroit News. [ cite web |title =Michigan State Football Website|work =Player Bio: Brian Ottney|url=http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ottney_brian00.html|accessdate=2007-08-07 ]

At Michigan State he started 33 games and was named captain, along with Jeff Smoker and Thomas Wright, in his final season. He recorded 156 career pancakes, including five double-figure games.

He left the team in 2003, with a final year left of eligibility due to a medical redshirt his freshman season. The reason he cited for leaving the team was wear and tear on his knees. [ cite web |title =SI.com|work =Coroner rules Ottney's death a suicide|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/football/ncaa/12/16/bc.fbc.michiganst.ottne.ap/|accessdate=2007-08-07 ]

Ottney graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor's degree in building construction management in 2003.

Death

On September 1, 2003 Ottney died in Long Beach, California, where he had moved to be in a construction job. His death was originally believed to have been caused by a seizure, but a report released by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroners ruled that he committed suicide after ingesting a combination of medication and alcohol. The report also noted that Ottney had a history of depression. [ cite web |title =SI.com|work =Coroner rules Ottney's death a suicide|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/football/ncaa/12/16/bc.fbc.michiganst.ottne.ap/|accessdate=2007-08-07 ]

He was engaged to marry a former Michigan State softball player later in the year.

References