Tony Dungy's son commits suicide

[sodaseller]

GodBless. Such a wonderful man, in so much pain

 

[mallcat]

So sad. My Prayers go out for Dungy family. DH and I are huge Colts fans.

 

[Galahad]

James is to Tony's right in this picture.


More from the Indy Star:

The 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy died in Florida, authorities said today.






His girlfriend found James A. Dungy, 18, dead in a Tampa-area apartment. He was pronounced dead at University Community Hospital, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.
The cause of death remains under investigation and an autopsy is pending by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiners Office.

Antoinette Anderson, 18, found James Dungy in a unit of the Campus Lodge Apartments in Lutz, Fla. about 1:32 a.m., police said.

James Dungy is the second-oldest of the five children of Tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren. The oldest is Lauren, who last year was a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta; behind James is Eric, a middle schooler who in 2004 attended Park Tudor School, followed by son Jordan, who is about kindergarten age, and Jade, about a year younger than Jordan.

Tony Dungy's family life is guided by his faith, and he instilled discipline in his children and conveyed high expectations. James and Eric sometimes watched Colts games from the sidelines, but they had to earn that viewing vantage point.

Last year, when James was a senior at North Central High School and stood 6-foot-7 and weighed 235 pounds, he sometimes was mistaken for one of his father's players. The boys, who began watching their father's players at practice when they were just 3 or 4 years old, had to do well in school to get to travel with the team.

In a story published in The Star in December 2004, James Dungy said: "If you don't keep your grades up, you don't go to away games.''

Tony Dungy has left the Colts and is in Tampa. Indianapolis plays at Seattle this Saturday, ESPN.com reported.

 

[CajunDixie]

It's too bad the media finds it necessary to mention suicide when it has not been confirmed. They could at least give the family time to accept the death and wait for the cause to be confirmed.

 

[Patty3]

How very very sad. My heart goes out to this family.

 

[palmtreegirl]

It's too bad the media finds it necessary to mention suicide when it has not been confirmed. They could at least give the family time to accept the death and wait for the cause to be confirmed.

I agree, it's very disrespectful.

 

[RadioNate]

Is anyone else suspicous of this? It just seems so fishy to me. Why now? Why right before Christmas when dad's team is having a record breaking year.

I've been pretty open about my struggles with depression and other mental illness so people here know that I've had suicidal thoughts over the years and this doesn't make sense to me. While we really don't know any of the facts there didn't seem to be any trigger event.

Maybe I watch too many movies or something but people can get messed up in some pretty shady things.

It's like with Michael Jordan's dad. While that turned out to be random it also seemed odd.

It's probablly too many movies.

 

[tink2020]

How sad! I read this thread earlier and did not hear any news about it even 25 minutes later so....... NO disrespect to the original poster at all, I just very much hoped it was a rumor or a radio mistake. Those things happen.....



I wish I was right. My heart goes out to that whole family, and all the communities they have touched. Between the holidays, and the Colts fantastic season.... Not that the actual football outcome obviously means ANYTHING in times like this (so please nobody read into this and start flaming me) but it is also sad that he will have this weighing on his life during what could be / was such a proud time, and that - regardless of what happens - he won't have his whole family to share it with.... any memories of this season could also bring back this pain.

God bless that family and the whole Colts organization on such a tragic day..... surely so many are affected by this.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

This news has shocked and saddened me. I feel sick for the Dungy family. Tony Dungy is one of the classiest people in the NFL.

No one deserves this, and especially around the holidays. My thoughts and prayers to the Dungy family.

 

[Crankyshank]

The poor family

I don't find it suspicious at all. Just because the father is having a good year doesn't mean it translates to the rest of the family. and there doesn't have to be a trigger event. I know many people who have attempted or succeeded in suicide and there was only a couple occasions where there was a trigger. I know when I attempted suicide at 11 no one had any idea.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I haven't heard anything about suicide here. I found out accidently when my DD2 turned on the TV and it was on the NFL Network.

How sad. I wish the media hadn't commented on why until it was confirmed. My thoughts are with him and his family. He's a stand up, well respected man.


edited to say: I feel like my signature is in very bad taste for this thread. No disrespect is meant.

 

[Val]

My prayers go out for the family. In a way, I hope it wasn't suicide as suicide is such a desperate act. If it was, the timing does not necessarily surprise me. If he was 18, was he a freshman in college? We see, all too often, suicide on college campuses this time of year- just before and just after grades are posted. Kids, and in a way freshman still are kids, feel they can't face their parents after a bad first semester. Little do they know that parents will love them even if their grades are bad (parents might be mad, but only because they want what is best for their kids). Suicide is an act of absolute giving up, when the individual feels that continuing to live is no longer an option. It is an escape from the ugliness (perceived or real) of their life. It is hard to understand why the son of such a successful coach might feel that way- but depression hits across all socioeconomic levels. God bless the family during this time of incredible grief. I cannot imagine walking in their shoes at this time.

 

[Disney Doll]

Such a tragic occurrence for a parent to lose a child, no matter what the circumstances. Losing them at this time of year only makes it harder, as it will "color" their celebration of Christmas...probably forever. The holiday season will be a constant reminder every year.

Suicide is not an unusual occurrence at this time of year. Lots of pressure, too many people thinking they have to have the "Hallmark" holiday with everyone smiling and drinking hot cocoa around the Christmas tree. College kids are doing or just finished with Finals...they're scared that perhaps they failed, Mom & Dad will be mad. Lots of stress and pressure there, and many young folks today don't seem as able to "cope" with pressure or stress as well as previous generations. Maybe they've gotten mixed up in something bad at school, especially if it is their first time "away"...you never know. Also, kids that age seem to think they are invincible or immortal..."I'll attempt it to get attention, but I won't really die".

Regardless of what happened, my prayers for these folks at this extraordinarily difficult time.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

What a profoundly sad thing. As a sports fan I have always admired Tony Dungy. No matter who's family it is though, this is just a sad a desperate moment for them. May the Dungys find peace and strength in the Lord. I cannot imagine what grace and healing it may take to dress such a gaping wound.

 

[zalansky]

Sheriff says apparent suicide

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,179511,00.html

 

[2BigKIdz]

So horribly sad! (What a beautiful family he has btw) What an awful thing for his family, especially right here at the holidays.

 

[Hillbeans]

Wow, this story is so heartbreaking. As a parent, it's also something that terrifies me.

 

[cardaway]

Every report I have heard just said "son found dead", nothing about how or why.

Very sad, my thoughts have been with Tony since I first heard, and will be especially on Saturday.

 

[bsnyder]

I am still in shock and my heart goes out to the Dungy family. ANY death is difficult, the death of a child is tragic, but the suicide of a child is the most painful situation a family can face. The unanswered questions linger forever.

My prayers are with them.

 

[KrnB]

What a tragic story. The early reports I saw yesterday morning said that there was no apparent foul-play, so I guess when I saw later on during the day that the sheriff was reporting suicide, I wasn't that surprised.

From what I read, James had finished high school early and was starting college early. He seemed to have so much going right for him, including a strong family to support him. What a shame!

My heart really goes out to the Dungy family and the Colts organization. Tony is one of the classiest guys in the NFL, someone I've always liked and respected.

I know what you mean, tink2020 - this should have been a year for the Dungy family to celebrate given the love for football that they have. Tony and the Colts have accomplished so much already this year. The joy of the game will always have a hole in it for him now, as it will never be complete.