Texas A&M Football Player Dies
Nov 25, 2002 | Football
November 25, 2002
Texas A&M true freshman Brandon Fails, a defensive lineman from Colleyville Heritage High School, collapsed in his Cain Hall dorm room this morning and was taken to St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, Texas, and later passed away. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
"Brandon and his roommate, Patrick Fleming, awoke for breakfast this morning and Brandon said he was having a hard time breathing," Dr. Jesse Parr, a Texas A&M football team physician said. "Emergency personnel arrived quickly, and he was rushed to the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at 9:03 a.m."
Information was withheld pending notification of family members.
"Brandon was a bright-eyed young man with an engaging personality," Aggie Head Football Coach R.C. Slocum said. "You couldn't be around Brandon for very long without smiling. He was an outstanding football player, but an even better person. Words cannot describe the pain and sorrow felt by our football family regarding the loss of this fine young man. His family is in our thoughts and prayers."
Brandon, the son of Charles and Valarie Fails of Euless, Texas, was born May 7, 1984. He had played in four games this season as a true freshman. He recorded two assisted tackles and was credited with one quarterback hurry. He sustained a knee injury in practice and underwent knee surgery on Oct. 22.
Fails was a first-team All-State selection at Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas, where he played for Coach Chris Cunningham.
No further medical details are available at this time. Funeral arrangements are pending.
