Overheating Caused Death of Tennessee Tech Player

Total body overheating was responsible for the death of freshman defensive back Preston Birdsong of Tennessee Tech, who collapsed while running sprints Sunday, according to an autopsy report Monday.

“Basically, he got too hot and died,” forensic pathologist Charles Harlan said in Nashville.

The autopsy found that Birdsong, 18, suffered systemic hyperthermia while the team was running sprints.

According to the National Weather Service, highs Sunday in Cookeville, where the Division I-AA school is located, were around 80 degrees.

“We are completely baffled by the diagnosis,” school spokesman Monica Greppin said. “It was a much cooler day outside, and since it was their first day back it was a pretty light workout.”

Harlan said there are two groups of people at highest risk for this condition--severely overweight people and those with little or almost no fat.

“Defensive backs, free safeties, wide receivers--they’re very susceptible,” Harlan said.

Birdsong was 5 feet 11 and weighed 190 pounds. He was a two-way starter at Nashville’s Maplewood High.

*

Safety Shawn Mayer, who had figured heavily in Penn State’s plans this year, will miss the season because of a knee injury suffered in practice. Mayer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during practice Friday. Mayer played in every game last season.

*

Arkansas sophomore quarterback Gary Brashears has told Coach Houston Nutt that he is quitting the team. Brashears, who was competing with sophomore Robby Hampton to be the Razorback starter, skipped voluntary summer workouts and didn’t pass a conditioning test. He walked out of practice Saturday.