Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Football Mourns The Loss Of Brian Ottney
9/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 1, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Former Michigan State center and captain Brian Ottney died early Monday morning (Sept. 1) in Long Beach, Calif. Ottney's father Eric notified the Spartan football staff Monday morning.
"We extend our sympathy to Brian Ottney's family, his fianc?e's family and his friends," said MSU first-year coach John L. Smith. "The Spartan family has Brian in its thoughts and prayers.
"Brian loved the game of football. He was a student of the game and a tremendous competitor. It was extremely difficult for him to retire from football (announced May 16, 2003). We talked about there being so much more to life than football. Brian was a great young man, and I'm crushed by this tragedy."
Ottney, who had started 33 consecutive games at center, decided to forgo his fifth and final year of eligibility this fall, citing chronic knee problems. The 6-foot-6, 302-pound center graded out 90 percent or better in 10 of 12 games as a junior in 2002 while producing a team-high 65 pancakes. He posted his top grades of the season vs. Eastern Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa and Indiana, scoring 97 percent in each game. He was presented the Up Front Award as the team's outstanding interior offensive lineman in 2002, becoming only the second repeat recipient in the 28-year history of the trophy. Former All-America tackle Tony Mandarich won the award three straight years from 1986-88.
As a sophomore in 2001, Ottney played a key role in enabling tailback T.J. Duckett to rush for 1,420 yards - the fifth-best single-season total in Spartan history. He proved to be a model of consistency, grading out 90 percent or better in 11 of 12 games. Ottney also led the Spartans with a career-best 82 pancakes.
In 2000, Ottney earned second-team Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News, starting the last nine games of the season. He sat out the first two games of the 2000 season with a sprained left knee. He was granted a medical redshirt after missing the entire 1999 campaign with a shoulder injury.
A native of Troy, Mich., Ottney started all but one game during his three-year career (33 of 34 games). He graded out 90 percent or better in 30 of his 34 games. Ottney registered 221 career pancakes, including six double-figure games.
"Brian Ottney was the best center I ever coached, period," said MSU offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. "Brian was a tremendous competitor. I loved the way he approached the game. We got in each other's face from time to time, but there was always a mutual respect. Brian is the epitome of what a coach looks for in an offensive lineman. When the game clock was running, that's when Brian was at his best. He lived to play the game.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the Ottney family and his fianc?e's family."
Ottney, who received his bachelor's degree in building construction management on May 3, was engaged to Lacy Hauxhurst, a former member of the Spartan softball team. The 23-year-old Ottney was born July 14, 1980.
