US Sport story by Georgina Scane, Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:04:00 GMT


LUTZ, FLA. - The Indianapolis Colts' coach Tony Dungy's son James Dungy has died in what is being reported as a possible suicide. James' Dungy's girlfriend called 911 at about 1:30 am after finding him unresponsive.

A sheriff's deputy performed CPR before he was rushed to University Community Hospital where doctors confirmed his death. Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said that an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of the death, "Based on evidence at the scene, indications are that this death appears to be a suicide," she said. James Dungy was a student at Hillsborough Community College. Tony Dungy left Indianapolis by a team plane and team President Bill Polian said that he was not sure if and when he would return.

Meanwhile, assistant head coach Jim Caldwell will take over the team as long a Dungy is away. "The thoughts and prayers of everyone in this building are with Tony and (wife) Lauren, their children and their extended family, and for the repose of James' soul," Polian said at a news conference. "This is a tragedy for the Dungy family and by extension for his football family here with the Colts."

The players are naturally in shock and local Chaplains have been brought in to talk to the team. Colts' receiver Brandon Stokley spoke for the team when he said, “It breaks your heart to see something like that happen to such a great person. We're just going to pray for him and ask everybody else to pray for him,” he said.

The players were informed about the tragedy on Thursday morning and were also told that their coach was out indefinitely. “Players were surprised and upset emotionally about it. Everybody said a team prayer for coach Dungy and his family. It's laying on the hearts of all the players here today,” Peyton Manning said.

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