OSU safety Vernon Grant killed in car wreck

[lepfan]

OSU defensive back Grant dies in car wreck

By The Associated Press
STILLWATER - Oklahoma State safety Vernon Grant has been killed in a car accident in Texas, coach Mike Gundy confirmed today.
Grant, a three-year starter at safety, died Monday night in the accident in Dallas. Details were not immediately available.

"This is a terrible loss for everyone associated with Oklahoma State University and the football family," Gundy said. "Vernon Grant was a terrific young man who had an infectious smile and a positive approach to everything he did. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and teammates."

Grant, 22, started all 12 of the Cowboys' games last season and had 67 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He led Oklahoma State with nine tackles in the Alamo Bowl.

“OSU has lost one of its finest student ambassadors,” said Harry Birdwell, OSU Director of Athletics. “Vernon Grant’s smile could light up a room and his enthusiasm made him a great and dependable teammate. The irony of this is that it was Vernon Grant who taught us all the importance of inner strength and faith in time of personal tragedy.”

[KTJ]

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by KTJ

Ditto

[Bandera YaYa]

How very very sad...God Bless his loved ones.

[injuredinmelee]

was he a Texas kid? Prayers to the family.

[Phil C]

Originally posted by LH Panther Mom
Ditto

Me too.

[sicem74]

prayers to the family for a very sad accident

[AggieJohn]

here

[Holmes_Fans]

Originally posted by injuredinmelee
was he a Texas kid? Prayers to the family.

He was from Duncanville

[JettJenkins04]

My god rest his soul.

[kepdawg]

OSU player from Duncanville dies in wreck

08:20 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2005

By DAVE LANCE / The Dallas Morning News

The sad irony of his son's death did not escape Vernon George Grant Sr.


Vernon George Grant Jr., a Duncanville High graduate and three-year starter for Oklahoma State University's football team, died Monday in a car accident near Interstate 45 in southeast Oak Cliff. Mr. Grant Jr.'s mother, Vanessa Chavis Grant, died 11 months ago of a brain aneurysm.

"Vernon was so strong," Mr. Grant said of his 21-year-old son. "He prepared the obituary, the funeral arrangements, everything. He did it on his own. Eleven months later, we're doing the same thing for him."

The younger Mr. Grant was on his way to the grocery store to pick up a few things for a spaghetti dinner his father was cooking for them.

According to Dallas police, Mr. Grant was driving west in his car on Simpson Stuart Road when he was struck by an eastbound car. Mr. Grant was making a left turn to go south on I-45, Senior Cpl. Donna Hernandez said. Both vehicles had one occupant. The other driver suffered minor injuries.

Both were taken to Baylor University Medical Center, where Mr. Grant died at 10:47 p.m. Cpl. Hernandez said he failed to yield the right of way and was not wearing a seat belt.

Mr. Grant is survived by a 9-month-old son, Vernon George Grant III. Mr. Grant's wake will be Friday at Cornerstone Community Church in Dallas. His funeral will be Saturday at Inspiration Body of Christ in Dallas. His uncle, the Rev. Kim Grant, will give the eulogy.

The pastor may speak of Mr. Grant's prowess in the classroom and on the football field: He was an OSU defensive leader. A safety, Mr. Grant had 67 tackles last season, with two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He recorded a team-high nine tackles in the Alamo Bowl.

But he also excelled in the classroom, where his 3.2 grade-point average in electrical engineering earned him OSU's academic achievement award, the highest award for an OSU student-athlete.

Mr. Grant, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was first-team District VI Academic All-American and was due to graduate in December.


An OSU spokesman said the school was discussing whether to award Mr. Grant his degree posthumously.

"All the things people are going to dwell on are not what made him special," said Duncanville football coach Dan Schreiber, who was Duncanville's defensive coordinator when Mr. Grant attended the school. "He's a great athlete, a great football player, but he had a 3.85 GPA here. And he always gave back."

Mr. Schreiber said Mr. Grant gave a speech to Duncanville football players two weeks ago, telling the seniors what their responsibilities were on and off the field.

"The one thing he said that hit home was, 'I play because I love it. That's how you've got to do everything in your world,' " Mr. Schreiber said. "He's one of those kids the media people don't write about – he's not in trouble, he's the best part of any organization he's part of. You never doubted his effort or sincerity."

OSU head coach Mike Gundy left a Big 12 spring meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., early to return to Stillwater, Okla., to be with the OSU coaches and players after hearing the news of Mr. Grant's death. He spoke to Mr. Grant's family Tuesday, as did his predecessor at OSU, Louisiana State University head coach Les Miles, who recruited Mr. Grant.

"Here is a young man who was the heart and soul of our football team," Mr. Gundy said. "He has been a great ambassador for Oklahoma State University."

That's what the Grants were doing, as many of Mr. Grant's relatives and friends gathered at the Oak Cliff home of Betty and Vernon Lee Grant, Mr. Grant's grandparents.

Wearing his son's No. 20 OSU jersey, Mr. Grant Sr. greeted everyone at the front door. One of the visitors was Daniel McLemore, a Duncanville and OSU teammate of Mr. Grant. The two have been friends since elementary school.

"He was always uplifting," Mr. McLemore said. "Whenever he'd see you down, he'd uplift you. He wouldn't show you his feelings if he was down. He was a great person."

Staff writer Tanya Eiserer contributed to this report.

E-mail dlance@dallasnews.com