KSU football player dies
KSU football player dies
I don't have the story here, but early this morning, Kent State starting center died in his sleep. Just 21 years old. Started all 12 games last year for them
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FalconTurf
- Peregrine
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Re: KSU football player dies
I proudly chose to be a Falcon and a Falcon I will remain until the end.
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Falconfreak90
- Rubber City Falcon
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Re: KSU football player dies
Sounded like a great kid. Named to Phil Steele's All MAC (3rd team) at Center and was a popular player with the team. Right now authorities are saying it was an undetermined medical condition. Very sad indeed. Reminded me of when Aaron Richardson passed during BG camp a while back.
Michael W.
BGSU-12 TIME MAC CHAMPION
FALCON FOOTBALL ROCKS!
BGSU-12 TIME MAC CHAMPION
FALCON FOOTBALL ROCKS!
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Falcon Fanatic
- Peregrine
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Re: KSU football player dies
Found this on the Facebook page of the Chief of Police who was first on the scene. Very nice tribute. I decided to copy/paste it since some are not on Facebook. Here's the link, too:
https://www.facebook.com/BrimfieldPolic ... 6973940680" target="_blank
Chief’s Babble….on losing a good man.
Before yesterday, I had not heard of Jason Bitsko. It is a shame I never met him. He was my kind of guy. He was polite, didn’t use drugs or drink and treated everyone like family. I would have been better if I knew him.
Yesterday morning our department received a call to assist our fire department paramedics for an “unresponsive 21 year-old male.” My first thought, as was the thought of many who heard the call go out…drug overdose. My other officers were tied up on another call so I responded from my office. I arrived there right behind the ambulance. The call was at a duplex, known to house college students. There was no doubt that the person had passed away. We did normal medic and police procedures, officers began documenting the scene and I summoned the coroner. I then began talking to some very distraught roommates.
I learned the young man’s name was Jason. He was the starting center for the Kent State Golden Flashes football team. I spoke with his friends and teammates. Down to the last one…they all praised his faith, work ethic and character. He did not use drugs or alcohol. And, just to add…the environment in the apartment backed that information up. Not one beer can, drug bong or inappropriate item. Now, I am not saying anything negative; however, in 20 years of police work, with the death of such a young person, I expect to see remnants of the party life. Not in the case of Jason Bitsko. Early signs point to some type of medical issue as a cause of death. He died in his sleep. An autopsy is pending.
I spent the rest of the morning with some class gentlemen. The Kent State football coaches love these men. This is not an exaggeration. They really care for these football players. They are a family. I drove one of the coaches back to the stadium so the team could be notified. The coach asked me to come into the athletic facility and stay for a while. I was honored to do so. In my entire career, I have never seen the large-scale, pure grief I saw yesterday. Players were openly distraught. I have never felt such sadness for a group of young men. Jason was a large part of this team and again, I heard about his faith, his character and his kind spirit.
I am writing this for one main reason. Often, when we hear of this type of incident, we think the worst. We think steroids, street drugs or another trap fallen into by young student athletes. Many even form a “well what do you expect?” attitude. With Jason, nothing could be further from the truth. I have been around a lot of death in my career. I have learned to compartmentalize most of the emotions and just work the scene. Yesterday, I felt sadness. I felt sadness for the Kent State football team and community. My heart was broken for Jason’s family and friends. When I was in the large meeting room with the whole team and then a smaller room with Jason’s fellow offensive linemen…I felt grief. I have never been in a room with such large men…who were all crying.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Kent State team and coaches, Jason’s family and friends and anyone he impacted during his time on earth.
If you knew him, you are better because of it….Chief Oliver.
Thoughts and Prayers with the Kent Football Team, his family and friends. So tragic to lose someone so young.
https://www.facebook.com/BrimfieldPolic ... 6973940680" target="_blank
Chief’s Babble….on losing a good man.
Before yesterday, I had not heard of Jason Bitsko. It is a shame I never met him. He was my kind of guy. He was polite, didn’t use drugs or drink and treated everyone like family. I would have been better if I knew him.
Yesterday morning our department received a call to assist our fire department paramedics for an “unresponsive 21 year-old male.” My first thought, as was the thought of many who heard the call go out…drug overdose. My other officers were tied up on another call so I responded from my office. I arrived there right behind the ambulance. The call was at a duplex, known to house college students. There was no doubt that the person had passed away. We did normal medic and police procedures, officers began documenting the scene and I summoned the coroner. I then began talking to some very distraught roommates.
I learned the young man’s name was Jason. He was the starting center for the Kent State Golden Flashes football team. I spoke with his friends and teammates. Down to the last one…they all praised his faith, work ethic and character. He did not use drugs or alcohol. And, just to add…the environment in the apartment backed that information up. Not one beer can, drug bong or inappropriate item. Now, I am not saying anything negative; however, in 20 years of police work, with the death of such a young person, I expect to see remnants of the party life. Not in the case of Jason Bitsko. Early signs point to some type of medical issue as a cause of death. He died in his sleep. An autopsy is pending.
I spent the rest of the morning with some class gentlemen. The Kent State football coaches love these men. This is not an exaggeration. They really care for these football players. They are a family. I drove one of the coaches back to the stadium so the team could be notified. The coach asked me to come into the athletic facility and stay for a while. I was honored to do so. In my entire career, I have never seen the large-scale, pure grief I saw yesterday. Players were openly distraught. I have never felt such sadness for a group of young men. Jason was a large part of this team and again, I heard about his faith, his character and his kind spirit.
I am writing this for one main reason. Often, when we hear of this type of incident, we think the worst. We think steroids, street drugs or another trap fallen into by young student athletes. Many even form a “well what do you expect?” attitude. With Jason, nothing could be further from the truth. I have been around a lot of death in my career. I have learned to compartmentalize most of the emotions and just work the scene. Yesterday, I felt sadness. I felt sadness for the Kent State football team and community. My heart was broken for Jason’s family and friends. When I was in the large meeting room with the whole team and then a smaller room with Jason’s fellow offensive linemen…I felt grief. I have never been in a room with such large men…who were all crying.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Kent State team and coaches, Jason’s family and friends and anyone he impacted during his time on earth.
If you knew him, you are better because of it….Chief Oliver.
Thoughts and Prayers with the Kent Football Team, his family and friends. So tragic to lose someone so young.
"Regarding BGSU, I would think their biggest strength is that they never give up, They never slow down and they battle hard even after the other team scores. We have to be on our game and never, ever take the foot off the gas for a second."
~~USCHO Poster
"BG was relentless. It's like they know that a good first pass on the breakout from a defenseman will almost always result in an odd-man rush against them - but they go in anyway and dare you to make that pass. All three of their goals were just grit and effort. That's a team any fan can be proud to support...they give all they've got."
~~USCHO Poster, AFTER Tech beat us
#NeverGiveUp
#NeverSurrender
#Relentless
#Resiliant
~~USCHO Poster
"BG was relentless. It's like they know that a good first pass on the breakout from a defenseman will almost always result in an odd-man rush against them - but they go in anyway and dare you to make that pass. All three of their goals were just grit and effort. That's a team any fan can be proud to support...they give all they've got."
~~USCHO Poster, AFTER Tech beat us
#NeverGiveUp
#NeverSurrender
#Relentless
#Resiliant
