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Quarterback—One of Occidental College's Best—Dead At 27

Evidently in great physical shape, Andy Collins collapsed on a treadmill—10 days after his marriage.

A former football quarterback died of an apparent heart attack while running on a treadmill—just 10 days after his marriage at the age of 27.

Andy Collins died Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Imperial Point Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL, leaving the Oxy football family in deep shock and sadness.

“In my opinion, Andy was the most dominant player in my 30 years of coaching football in our [Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic] Conference,” Oxy head coach Dale Widolff said in an announcement Wednesday, a day after Collins died while running on a treadmill. “His 26-0 regular season record as our starting quarterback, as well as his selection three times as SCIAC's Most Valuable Offensive player, is unmatched.”

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A native of Zillah, WA, Collins played for Oxy from 2004 through 2007 and graduated from the college in 2007. He was chosen as the top quarterback in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III in 2006 by the American Football Coaches Association, according to Widolff.

“Much more importantly, he was a man who lived a life of great character and integrity in all that he did,” Widolff said, adding: “Those players and coaches fortunate enough to have toiled with him during his time at Occidental have been touched by a great young man.”

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Collins had married Brooke Olzendam, a college football reporter for CBS, last month. The precise cause of his death is under investigation. A funeral service is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 8, at Resurrection Parish in his hometown of Zillah, WA, A rosary service will be held the previous evening. More information will be available in the Yakima Daily Herald.


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