OT: Former ND QB Blair Kiel, RIP

Submitted by UMgradMSUdad on

For those of us getting a bit long in the tooth, the name Blair Kiel needs no explanation.  To you young whipper snappers, he's Gunner Kiel's uncle.  He was only 50 years old, and he seems to have died of natural causes, possibly a heart attack. RIP Blair Kiel.

 

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-08/sports/chi-blair-kiel-former-notre-dame-qb-dead-at-50-20120408_1_irish-all-american-blair-kiel-toxicology

 

M-Wolverine

April 9th, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^

Missed the thread.

 

I guess on topic, I wonder if this would have been any news if his nephew wasn't famous? Sad story, and really young to die...but I wonder how many would have picked up on an ex-athlete's death if not for the recruiting of a relative.

More a comment on the media than the man, I guess.

In reply to by M-Wolverine

UMgradMSUdad

April 9th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^

I guess it just goes to show what a difference age and new media can make. Blair was a four year starter at QB for ND (and one of the top high school prospects before that).  But now, a kid who hasn't played a single down of college football is better known among many college football fans than he is.

Michigasling

April 9th, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^

"Natural Causes" is usually the phrase for non-accident/gunshot/medical-malpractice/misc-horrible-event until the specific medical cause is determined.  A sudden death absent empty pill bottle or syringe is often assumed to be heart attack; "after a long illness" is usually added/substituted when said known illness has taken its expected natural course.

Gentlemen, take your statins, get on the bike, and limit your buffalo wings at gametime.

UMgradMSUdad

April 9th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^

There is a MIke Wallace thread that was created Sat or Sun.  I wouldn't normally post something this obscure, but it is the off season, and it's already 10:30 and there hasn't been a new post yet today.  Things seem kind of slow right now.

readyourguard

April 9th, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^

This is sad and scary. I remember watching this guy play. He had popeye-sized forearms. He's only a few years older than me.

Wow. It sucks watching guys at or near your age that you watched play, or worse, played [i]with[/i] passing away.

RIP

aaamichfan

April 9th, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^

To hell with Notre Dame.

Seriously though, 50 is far too young to die, especially for someone with an athletic background. RIP.

Don

April 9th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^

Yes, for those of us who were around in the early 80s. Kiel had a 1-1 record against us, and had the misfortune of having Gerry Faust as his HC for the final three years. Faust, like Charlie Weis, came in with a huge amount of fanfare despite the fact he'd never been a head coach in college.

Princetonwolverine

April 9th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

I am sure that most people outside of college recruiting have not heard of Gunnar. Blair was famous all on his own.

Roachgoblue

April 9th, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^

Someone from Iowa that was 1-1 against us passed as well. Please create a post. RIP Mr. Kiel.

markusr2007

April 9th, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^

23-17 in South Bend.

It was a game played at prime time and was actually the first night game of the series (not 2011).

I remember Kiel to have been quite small for QB. He could have been only 6'0.

DTWNwa

April 9th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^

This is not a sad story. This also not a scary story. This also is not a story about a poor man who died of natural causes. On an unrelated note: " To hell with Notre Dame."