NCAA, Rice Reach Settlement with Lloyd Family

The family for former Rice University football player Dale Lloyd II, who passed away in 2006, has settled its lawsuit with the school and with the NCAA.

As part of its settlement the NCAA has agreed for the first time to recommend to its member schools that all collegiate student-athletes be tested for sickle cell trait

"We're very excited to be able to announce we've settled the case against both the NCAA and Rice University," said Gene Egdorf, attorney for the Lloyd family, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

Egdorf also said the settlement covers several Rice employees and others affiliated with the school at the time named in the lawsuit including Tulsa head football coach Todd Graham, who was Rice's head coach when the tragedy occurred.

The Lloyds filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rice and the NCAA in Sept. of last year in Harris County state district court.

Lloyd, a 19-year old freshman defensive back at the time, collapsed while working out Sept. 24, 2006. He died the next day.

The Harris County Medical Examiner ruled Lloyd died from acute excertional rhabdomyolysis secondary to sickle cell trait.

At the time Rice did not test its athletes for sickle cell trait.

The Lloyd family stated after filing the lawuit their goal was not to gain financially, but to effect change. So that all African-American athletes participating within the NCAA would have the opportunity to find out if they have sickle cell trait.

The NCAA clearly has the same goals.

"We've reached a decision in resolving this lawsuit and the settlement that will lead to the NCAA recommending that our member institutions test its student-athletes for the sickle cell trait," said Erik Christianson, NCAA Director of Public and Media Relations.

"Many of our schools already are testing and while we can't mandate that test we can recommend that. That decision is important. It's consistent with our educational mission. An overall priority of ours is to ensure the health and well-being of our student-athletes."

Christianson points out the NCAA is a voluntary association. He said Its rules are made by its members and any action like mandating sickle cell testing would have to be suggested by one of the NCAA's member institutions or by a conference and then voted on by all of the schools under the NCAA umbrella.

As part of its settlement with the Lloyd family Rice University has agreed to lead those efforts.

"Dale died of complications related to sickle cell trait," said Egdorf. "Our big goal in this whole case has been to have testing for sickle cell trait become mandatory for NCAA athletes. Rice has agreed to step up as part of this settlement and go to the NCAA and propose legislation to make it mandatory that sickle cell trait testing take place from now on.

The bulk of Rice's settlement with the Lloyd family is confidential, but Egdorf said the school has agreed to honor Lloyd's memory in a number of ways that will be forthcoming.

"Both the Lloyd family and Rice University are very satisfied with this settlement," said Rusty Hardin, Rice University attorney. "It's very fair to both sides. Rice has always wanted to, and continues to intend to, to honor Dale in a number of ways, both the year when his class graduates and in future years. Anytime you have a case where both sides are happy, it's a pretty good day."

Hardin said testing for sickle cell trait is now mandatory at Rice for all of its athletes.

"When this tragedy happened Rice was tremendously distraught about it," said Hardin. "It instituted its own testing program that is now in effect, mandatory testing. The school does it now and has done it ever since his death for sickle cell and they have also said that they will be glad to encourage the NCAA to do that for all of its schools. Everybody wins in that situation."

The NCAA's settlement with the Lloyd family goes well beyond recommending to its membership that testing for sickle cell trait become mandatory.

The NCAA has also agreed to insert a "Point of Emphasis" regarding sickle cell testing in its Football Rulebook and will hold a news conference to that effect in August. Also, the NCAA will produce an educational video for coaches, athletic trainers and student-athletes about the dangers of sickle cell trait.

The NCAA will also donate $50,000 to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and $10,000 to the Dale R. Lloyd II scholarship fund.

"We would like to, on behalf of the NCAA, express our condolences to the Lloyd family during this tragedy," Christianson said. "One tragedy like this is too many of course. We are hopeful that this change will be of great importance and benefit to the health and well-being of our student-athletes in the future."

The Lloyd family will hold a fundraiser for the scholarship fund named after their late son.

It will be July 11 from 6 p.m. to midnight at Palace Bowling in Bellaire.

-- NCAA News Release Concerning Lloyd Case:
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/090629_ncaa_lloyd_sickle_cell