We can never forget Korey Stringer, who collapsed on a Minnesota practice field on a sweltering July afternoon in 2001, died of heat stroke early the next morning and reminded the world that football players are not indestructible.
Stringer died 14 years ago, a victim of oppressive heat and national misunderstanding of—and indifference about—a dangerous-but-preventable ailment that still claims the lives of too many young athletes each year. Stringer's death opened eyes and minds about the dangers of dehydration and heat stroke. It prompted immediate changes in how the NFL and NCAA treat their athletes during steamy summer practices, changes that trickled down to prep and youth levels.