Mother Of Northwestern Football Player Files Suit Over Son's Recent Death

Jet, Sept 10, 2001

Linda A. Will, the mother of Northwestern University football player Rashidi Wheeler, who collapsed and died during an Aug. 3 conditioning drill (JET, Sept. 3), recently filed a lawsuit against the university and football coach Randy Walker.

The cause of death for Wheeler, 22, who was a chronic asthmatic, was reported as bronchial asthma.

Other defendants named in the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court were Northwestern athletic director Rick Taylor, head football athletic trainer Terrence "Tory" Aggeler, and four other members of the school's football staff.

Will's legal team includes Attys. Johnnie Cochran, James Montgomery and Randall Schwartz. During the news conference announcing the lawsuit, Schwartz said the action does not seek a specific amount in damages.

"Basically, it talks about the failure of Northwestern to have proper equipment and properly trained people, and various things happened that day," Schwartz said.

Will, of Ontario, CA, said at the news conference that it took as long as 40 minutes for paramedics to be called after her son collapsed. She also said there was no doctor present, no oxygen on the field and no ambulance standing by.

The core of her lawsuit was the alleged lack of medical attention.