Police find missing student; remembering an athlete

When I read the story, my heart just went out to the family. I kind of figured he'd be found dead after being gone that long, it was just a matter of when and where police would find his body. I had kind of secretly hoped he had just run off to some tropical island to get away from the cold winter and would show up again in the spring. Or maybe he just needed a break from school..... know how stressing it can be a college student and how senioritis really sets in the moment you become a senior.

When I read the story it reminded me of another death of a former ISU student and athlete (and roommate to a good friend of mine) - Stevie Hicks who died in Dec. 2008. None of the articles I read stated exactly how he died. They mentioned possible suicide or a possible health condition.

Since then I've read other articles - one that basically stated it was suicide. I had kinda wondered if it was suicide. When I knew Stevie seemed like a pretty happy guy and I didn't want to believe he could kill himself. I tried to convince myself that some evil person had come up to Stevie and pushed him off the bridge.

But I remember one year in particular when he played his heart out and at times seemed like he carried the whole football program. Then he got hurt and couldn't play much (if at all) his senior year. The reporter detailed 'the mental descent of an athlete who couldn't adjust to life without football.' - Anyone who knew him, knew how much he loved the game. I believe he was majoring in sociology but he wasn't there for the major, he was there because he loved the game.

" At 7:35 a.m., Omaha police officers were dispatched to the dark green, one-story house on Decatur Street. Hicks was in the driveway, an arm around his grandmother, according to the records.

"Please take him," she said.

Police interviewed Hicks, asking if he planned to hurt himself or others.

"No," he replied.

After about a half hour, the officers left.

At 8:34 a.m., motorists began to report that a man had landed on Interstate 480 north of Dodge Street. "I just saw somebody jump off a bridge," one 911 caller said. At 9:14 a.m., Hicks was pronounced dead at the University of Nebraska Medical Center of head injuries suffered in the 57-foot fall."

I can still remember one of the last times I saw Stevie. It was Veishea weekend of my senior year and I was hanging out with his roomie, Jimmy, at their apartment. We talked about pancakes - there was a pancake feed later that evening. Stevie loved pancakes.

When I had heard about his death the only thing I could think to do was call Jimmy.