Sooners LB box dead; has been found unresponsive

NORMAN, Oklahoma - Police were investigating whether drugs played a role in the Thursday of the Austin box death Oklahoma linebacker, and a witness told authorities that he believed that his friend had an overdose.

The authorities did not release immediately an official cause of death, and body of the zone was sent to the Office of the State medical examiner. Box has 22.

"We are all shocked and heartbroken", football coach Oklahoma Bob Stoops said in a statement. "Austin was a great young man, a young big man coach and a great teammate."

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesAustin Box should be a middle linebacker the Sooners starting this fall as a senior.

An official in the Office of the medical examiner in Oklahoma City said ESPN.com that the cause of death would probably unknown to Friday at the earliest.

El Reno Police Ken Brown Chief said officers and nurses responded to a call to a house in the city about 30 miles west of Oklahoma City around 9: 25 p.m., about a male unresponsive "with unknown medical issues." Brown identified the man as box and said he first was transported to a hospital in El Reno, and transferred by air ambulance to the Hospital of mercy in Oklahoma City.

Coordinator defensive of the Oklahoma Brent Venables said linebacker Austin box "illustrated to everything you want in a player." Venables, the first officer of Oklahoma to answer publicly questions, made a brief statement before answering the questions for several minutes on Thursday night.

"Every parent worst nightmare is to get this appeal," he said. "We heart broken".

Venables said the team had received notice of the death of the area.

"It was one of the most unselfish guys, I've never been around, a great leader for us," Venables said. "His greatest fear was to drop the great coaches and great players...". "He wanted at the height of that sort."

According to the police report, dEl Reno Todd Ward police officer stated that in arriving at the House, he has made contact with John Cobble III, who himself had identified an as J.T. Pebble emergency dispatcher, who is the son of Tom cobblewho was coach of football of the Enid area high school.

Ward said in the report III of pebbles was performing CPR on the box and that "" pebble told me when I entered the room box in he believed he had an overdose. "" On the police report, in the category offence "controlled dangerous substance" is listed and checked the checkbox for "drugs" Ward under a category list possible or likely motivation.

Calls to a telephone listing for J.T. pebble in El Reno rang unanswered Thursday evening.

During his conversation with an emergency dispatcher, the man who is identified as J.T. Pebble said the Dispatcher that box was not breathing and that the box had been pain pills. The dispatcher was walking J.T. Pebble through the process of the CPR. At one point, J.T. pebbles said the dispatcher, "I am a little panicked".

"There is a guy who has remained with me last night and it does not respond to me," pebbles said when asked what was going on. "It is taking pain pills and it does not meet me."

A requested if the box was breathing, he said, "I do not think."

Stacy Phillips, a spokesman for the Hospital of mercy, said "out of respect for" the family, the hospital would not disclose the information about the dialog box. Later, the family issued a statement saying "Austin liked all about Oklahoma - people, his hometown of Enid and her many close friends." Above all, his family loved Austin, and we loved. We invite you to join us to celebrate his life. ?

ESPN Bruce Feldman of the Magazine, commented on the sudden death of the Austin LB Oklahoma area, proposal for allocation of the Big Ten, future of Jim Tressel with the Buckeyes and his play "Freaks of the fall" on ESPN.com.

"Podcasts more."

Box, a 6-foot-1, 228-pound senior, started the final five games the season last for the Sooners, his second interception of career of recording a victory on the State of Oklahoma and making eight tackles as Oklahoma beat Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl.

Sports Director of the Oklahoma Joe Castiglione said Stoops is in the country, but that Stoops and the Sooners assistant coaches have been in contact with the family of the area.

"It is a devastating day for family or", said Castiglione. "Austin was incredibly popular with his teammates, coaches, and classmates and we will miss many of us all.".

He said grief counseling will be available to the members of the team and friends of the area.

Some of his teammates responded quickly on Twitter after learning of the death of the area. Quarterback Blake Bell said "the sooner family will miss you brother! You are in a better place. "Defensive end Frank Alexander tweeted:" we went hold to u Homer. "

Former basketball player Oklahoma Robinson of Danielle tweeted, "wow." Totally in shock. RIP Austin. Praying for the family of box and all the earlier football staff and players. ?

Box played Enid High School, leading the game d'Occident title of class 6A, in 2006, playing the quarterback, running back, wide receiver and free safety at different times.

He redshirted with the Sooners in 2007 and played in ten games as a freshman in 2008, from four to middle linebacker. He suffered a knee injury towards the end of the season and missed the Big 12 Conference Championship game. He played ten games in 2009, from a game each at outside linebacker linebacker and the Interior.

"He played an integral part of our success over the past three years and look forward to a year senior big", said Stoops. "As wrenching as it is for us, we know that it is even more difficult for his family." Most of all, our thoughts and our prayers are with them. ?

Box missed the first five games of his junior season with a back injury suffered before the season started, but eventually be essential for a team that finished 12-2. He expected life for a starting spot as a senior.

"It stands for everything that is right on this program," said Venables. "He has done a ton of great parts and contributed to what we have done to finish the way we have," he said. "Without him, I don't know that we would have done the same way."