It should be noted first that Dennis Dodd is raising a good point, one we’ll get to in a minute. But apparently he’s become a coroner somewhere along the road and didn’t bother to tell anyone about it. And he’s been able to deduce the cause of death for the late Bennie Abram of Ole Miss.
Dennis Dodd, Medical Examiner
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↵[Lafayette County, Miss. coroner Rocky] Kennedy says call back in two weeks, the autopsy might be finished. But the scene painted by witnesses, medical personnel and news accounts that day makes it look suspiciously like Abram's death was caused by sickle cell trait. Abram collapsed early in the workout for no apparent reason after the beginning of an offseason workout. [Emphasis added]
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↵There are plenty of reasons to believe that Abram might have died of sickle-cell anemia, but the rules of polite company usually require one to wait until it’s become official to start declaring the cause of death and using it to argue your point.
↵That said, Dodd has a pretty good point to argue.
↵↵No matter how he died, college football and the NCAA have been slow to react and deal with sickle cell trait. That cannot be denied. Abram’s passing comes at a time when the NCAA is considering mandating all schools test for sickle cell trait. Legislation is being considering that would take effect in August.
↵↵Granted, Dodd also writes that Ole Miss already tests for sickle cell, meaning either that the test missed on Abram or the school being aware of Abram’s condition didn’t help. But it can’t hurt to test all players, and can likely prevent unnecessary deaths. There just has to be a way to say that without preempting the coroner while people are still mourning.
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