University Of Maine Football Player Dies During Practice [UPDATE]
University of Maine officials have released the name of a football player who collapsed and died on the field Tuesday afternoon.
A release on the UMaine Athletics webpage says that 18-year-old Darius Minor of Locust Grove, Virginia collapsed on the Orono field just after 1 p.m. The team was involved in a preseason workout when the teen collapsed and died. Campus athletic staff and first responders tried, but were unable to resuscitate him.
Officials say that Minor was a first-year political science major and had been taking a summer University course, while working out with the team. It was during the third week of workouts for the first-year students when Minor passed away. Temperatures were in the 80s and the humidity was high but, so far, there's no indication that weather conditions contributed to his death.
UMaine's regular training camp doesn't start until next week, but it's customary to bring in first-year players to get them acquainted with the campus and the field. The new team members work out together before the rest of the team arrives. 32 freshman were set to start with the team this season.
Athletic Director James Settele said on the release, "UMaine Athletics is devastated by this terrible incident. We extend our deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time and ask that their privacy be respected."