Memorial Service Honors Student-Athlete

Teammates, coaches and friends of Tulane student-athlete Sule Osagiede, who died recently in a car accident, gathered in McAlister Auditorium on the uptown campus on Tuesday (Jan. 26) for a memorial service.

Osagiede, 20, died on Jan. 21 in a car accident in Beaumont, Texas, while traveling home to Houston. The sophomore, a linebacker on the Tulane football team, played in nine games during the 2008 season but had missed the 2009 season due to a neck injury.

"The death of Sule Osagiede is a tragedy, and as a parent I cannot imagine the grief and heartache being experienced by his family," Tulane President Scott Cowen said. "My thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with them. I know his teammates, coaches and friends are as devastated by the news as I am. We will make sure that we provide them with the resources to help them cope with this terribly sad situation."

Head football coach Bob Toledo recalled Osagiede as a "vibrant and personable young man." He added, "It's a sad day for the Tulane community and for the Osagiede family."