Wheeler’s Parents Seek Safety Measures

Rashidi Wheeler’s parents don’t want another family to feel their heartache and pain.

Three days after the Northwestern safety died following an asthma attack during preseason conditioning drills, Wheeler’s parents said Monday they will work with the university to see if additional safety measures should be implemented.

“If we can develop any procedures to prevent this from happening, we will,” George Wheeler, Rashidi’s father, said in Evanston, Ill. “We will work together with Northwestern and try to come up with whatever procedures that we can to prevent this situation from happening to any other family in America.”

Northwestern Athletic Director Rick Taylor and university President Henry Bienen said the situation will be reevaluated in coming weeks. Taylor said the evaluation will be performed by people outside the athletic department.

Linda Will, Rashidi Wheeler’s mother, had several suggestions, including having oxygen available when players are on the field. Trainers also should carry walkie-talkies and binoculars, she said.

“The Northwestern family is going to remain a family,” Will said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “They have assured us that a tragedy of this magnitude will never happen again.”

Taylor said most of the measures Will suggested are in place.

Wheeler, an alumnus of La Verne Damien High, was a chronic asthmatic, but he had played with the condition since at least high school and had passed a physical last month. Two weeks ago he completed a conditioning drill that called for a series of 24 sprints and was performing the same drill Friday when he collapsed with four sprints to go.

Northwestern offered to retire Wheeler’s No. 30, but his parents asked that Kevin Bentley, a linebacker from North Hills, wear it instead. The two California natives were close friends and roommates.

A funeral service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 600 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. A viewing is scheduled Thursday from 5-9 p.m. at Forest Lawn in Covina.