Andy Geiger, Ohio State Director of Athletics, Addresses the Local Media – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 27, 2001
“We have some unhappy news. As you know a freshman member of our men’s soccer team passed away last evening in Akron. Lance C. Senn, known as Connor, from Granville, Ohio. He collapsed during the second half of the game last night at the University of Akron. He was attended to on the field by medical staffs from both schools. He was then transported to the Akron City Hospital. He was declared dead at about 11:50 p.m. It has been described as a cardiac event. We will not know any other details regarding that for some period of time until a determination has been made. His parents have requested an autopsy.”
“His parents have asked for some privacy. As you can imagine they have been called and contacted by several news outlets. They have asked please could we allow them space to deal with this. They drove home in the wee small hours of the morning. They are holding on as best they can.”
“We met with our soccer team this morning. They also did not get home until the middle of the night. They arrived home at around 3 a.m. They heard en route that Connor had passed away. The soccer team will not meet again today. They will probably get together at some point tomorrow afternoon. Their game at Wisconsin this weekend will be postponed or cancelled. We’re working with the University of Wisconsin on that.”
“This is a stunning and tragic event. To say the soccer community here is upset would be an understatement. They are an extremely close team with a wonderful sense of family. The leadership of that program is extraordinary. They’re hurting.”
“I wish I had more specific information as to the cause of this, but I don’t. (Connor’s) history never gave any indication that there would be this problem. He came out of the game on Friday versus Creighton complaining of some dizziness. He was withheld from that game. It was a situation where two players butted heads. He was cleared to play the game Sunday versus Southwest Missouri State University and he played virtually the entire game without any ill effects whatsoever. There is no indication it was related to that. It was not a head situation, it was a cardiac situation. We don’t know much more about it than that.”
“The last three weeks have been unusual. Just when you think you have a lot to cry about and be emotional about, something else comes along. For us, this has been a hard day.”
Andy Geiger fields questions from the media
Q-I assume at the soccer game, the home team had a physician and a trainer.
A-“That is correct.”
Q-Can you give us some indication of the medical process that occurs (prior to the season) for Ohio State athletes?
A-“(The student-athletes) go through a very rigorous preseason training program and are watched very carefully through that, their prior histories. Dr. Lombardo, who is our director of sports medicine, will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about that.”
Q-Can you fill in the details of what happened to Connor between game against Creighton and prior to the Southwest Missouri State game?
A-“I don’t know the specifics on that. They withheld him from the rest of the Creighton game and went through their normal re-check. He played most of the game against Southwest Missouri on Sunday with no ill-effects.”
Q-So it is safe to say he was examined by the Ohio State medical staff?
“Oh yes. Dr. Amy Meyers is the team physician for men’s soccer. She is with Ohio State Sports and Family Medicine practice.”
Q-Was there a collision involved in this incident?
A-“It is sketchy. The only tape that was made of the game was made by the Akron people. The conversation coach Bluem had with their coach indicated they did not see anything on the tape. We do not have a copy of the tape.”
Q-Did you know Connor personally?
A-“I did not know Connor other than meeting Connor and his parents at the “Meet the Team” barbeque that was held in coach Bluem’s home in the preseason. But I know he was a special guy and that he came here as a walk-on. He was a highly regarded, recruited walk-on and he made the starting line-up. His dad is a graduate of The Ohio State University, he played tennis here. His name is Lance D. Senn, I believe. His parents are Lance and Margaret Senn.
Q-To the best of your knowledge, is this the first Ohio State athlete who has died during competition?
A-“This is the first since I have been here. As far as we know, he is the first.”
