MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

My thoughts and prayers are with Luke's family as well in this tragic time.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Condolences to the LaCrosse community.  I pray for strength and courage in this time of loss.

[Former Player/ Former Coach]

With all the trash talk that goes on in here, its good that people can come together in a difficult time to extend a heart felt shoulder for those that may need it.  Our best wishes and condolences to the LaCrosse community and family for your lost.

Chapman Basketball

[chmarx]

Roop, I'm not in La Crosse right now, so I can't comment directly on the mayor's comment.

One thing at work may be that Jared Dion's family initially sued the city and the university over his death.

[bulk19]

My condolences to the Homan family, friends, UWL Eagles, and former teammates, for the tremendous loss they are feeling right now...

A very wise friend told me earlier this year, when a 20-something soldier (and former high school athlete) died while serving our country, that the soldier would forever be kept alive through the wonderful stories his teammates will tell about all the games, road trips, etc. and such that goes into being a team.

I'm pretty sure Luke's teammates will eventually do the same about him, too, and in effect keep Luke "alive"...

[uww4ever]

It seems to me that there have been a lot of players lately, especially on the DI level (where their names are pasted on ESPN websites) are getting suspended for DWIs and such or there are unfortunate incidences due to alcohol abuse.  Just today there was another player suspended indefinitely (McBride from Illinois) and who got kicked off the team.  In these cases you can't blame anybody else who stupidly gets behind the wheel of a car.

I couldn't stop thinking on Monday about Homan and I don't know why.  I guess it was the tradgedy of it all, and I know that his family doesn't read the board but certainly I send my thoughts and prayers.  I hope that La Crosse certainly can have a great season, and come back from such a tragic loss.  I hope LC does something soon to cure the problem of that river and taking some young men (however drunk they are, it doesn't matter).

[Greek Tragedy]

HERE is an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talking about Luke Homan's death and how it relates to binge drinking. 

In a caption underneath one of the pictures, it says that some students were angry because police think alcohol played a major part in his death.  It amazes me how ignorant and arrogant some students are. 

With each death, there is talk of a serial killer and concerns for the city's youths....It's called binge drinking. 

An updated article says he had a 0.32 blood-alchol level.  Deaths from car accidents and situations like that are really tough to accept, but when it happens in a way that could've been prevented (obviously some car accidents can be), it makes it even worse, IMO.

[mythicalbird]

Amen Old School.....as a college student at EC I have walked to classes along the Chippewa while rescue personnel have done drags along the river looking for young adults that have disappeared.  It's a sickening feeling, but just like in LAX, all cases involve alcohol.  I get upset when people deny the fact that amounts of alcohol such as what was taken the other night aren't responsible for this.  In all honesty, the city of LAX doesn't have to do a whole lot.  Yes, maybe they should take away liquor ads, all you can drink specials, etc. (things that EC has done at the university and at water st.).  BUT....the brunt of the responsibility lies within each student at LAX.  If you don't want to end up in the river, don't binge drink to the point of disorientation.  It saddens me a great deal to see what happened here.  I don't even know Luke, but I did watch him play basketball, know he was a great guy, and I also know he had a full life ahead of him.  It's unfortunate and sad.

[chmarx]

The Task Force in La Crosse has been taking a comprehensive approach to the problem, including efforts to reduce binge drinking.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Task Force in La Crosse has been taking a comprehensive approach to the problem, including efforts to reduce binge drinking.

Sincere good wishes on your efforts.  Although the Huron River flows right by the EMU campus, I can't recall a death by drowning of a student in my 32 years.  We have had several student deaths by alcohol directly, or by walking in front of cars.  Still, yours sounds (if the media is correct) like a different animal.  If there is a problem with BEACHES and alcohol, I hope you find a solution to it.  Good luck, hopefully before anyone else dies!

[The Roop]

I knew this was not an isolated incident but was absolutely shocked yesterday when I learned that it was the 24th death in 30 years; and 8th in the last 9. I don't necessarily buy the serial killer theory but find it hard to believe that there is one single cause in every case. The Task Force may wish to consider  a series of infrared cameras along the river front.

[titan2000]

A river runs through the UW-Oshkosh and the Lawrence University campus--the Fox River.  I can't recall any of this at these institutions.  I am not an alarmist but those stats seem too hard to believe--unless LaX students drink to oblivion more than others, which I find hard to believe.

May he RIP.

[diehardfan]

Dion, the kid who died before Homon had a blood alcohol content of .4, which is five times the legal limit. Homon's .32 was 4 times the legal limit.

I hate doing this so soon after a tragety, but there are several things that need to happen, some of which may need to happen at other colleges, and others which may not.

1) students need to take some personal responsibility. I've never had more than one drink... ever. I didn't drink in college, not even once. I've never felt anything but a little flushed, and very slightly buzzed. I've still enjoyed my life a LOT, and I love the fact that I've never done anything I can't remember. Responsible drinking can be done, despite peer pressure which I get constantly these days when friends want to do shots or guys try to buy me drinks. The fact is, if you don't drink, you won't do anything that you regret (or live to regret) under the influence of alcohol.

2) These lessons of personal responsibility start in the home. they can enhance important life lessons by parents always doing the right thing themselves, and talking about things with their kids in a respectful manner like their kid has a brain and can understand the logic involved. Parents can't control their kids, but all parents everywhere need to work on this.

2) The administration should NOT encourage drinking, especially when most of the campus is underage. The ads in the school newspapers need to go. NOW. That's just sick and wrong.

3) The town should have organized a neighborhood watch type thing at least 5 deaths ago. Between that and the police that are already around, no one should be able to go into the river without SOMEONE hearing a splash.

4) Bars should be responsible in that they either don't sell that many drinks to people that plastered, or they look out for their patrons and call taxis and make sure they get home safely.

5) Friends need to look out for their friends better. What are the chances that he went out drinking alone? I never did anything that wild in college, but if I came home at 1-2 am cause I was out getting a late dinner in Chicago or something, my roommate would be up waiting for me, and worried. Is that a little excessive? Probably, but at the very least I was definitely never unsafe. Anyone who realized this guy was drunk should have kept an eye on him. Drunk people can't make logical choices.

When I was taking the class for my Wilderness First Responder certification (it's around halfway between a CPR cert and an EMT cert for those who have no idea what that is, as I didn't before I took the course!), I was told that people whose hearts have stopped due to drowning have been resuscitated hours after they initially drowned (and therefore not to stop CPR until be body becomes stiff after hours upon hours of trying). This is because their hearts should theoretically be healthy, since it was an outside force that made it stop, and could restart on its own later. The healthy heart thing would obviously especially be true of a college basketball player. If his friends that he went out drinking with, or his friends that noticed he wasn't back yet had done something sooner, the fact is that desipite everything wrong that had happened up to this point, he might have had a small chance of survival if he was found within a few hours of drowning.

The only way this is going to get better if EVERYONE looks at how they could make things better and stop passing blame. 

[laxeagles1]

the issue of the serial killer would not be an issue if the city of La Crosse would follow through PAST the autopsy reports.  I have talked to a DETECTIVE relative of mine and there are untraceable killer drugs that could be put into someone's body, as well as traceable ones. 

Why Kondracki or Johnsrud (sorry these guys don't deserve titles in front of their names) fail to rest everyone's fears aside is beyond me, but as stated on a message board "these two idiots couldn't help in finding out who robbed Krispy Kreme if they had the whole damn squad there"  That is the shadiness of the LAX council and Police officers in a nutshell........

now a THOROUGH investigation where the WHOLE PUBLIC is informed on what has happened to these kids in the drownings (most likely it is drowning but but away doubt already you city leading idiots!)  it isn't that complicated and would put to rest all doubt to the public

what's that smell?  that's a terrible odor.......you better use the Lax tribune to coverup

[titan2000]

If you are right, that is sad.