RIP Jake Ehlinger

[mchammer]

I'm am saddened by his passing but when a young person dies in the prime of his life, seemingly very healthy, we the living need to know why this happened in order to take steps to avoid the same fate. That's just common sense.
If a homeless dude dies of malnutrition we need to know that so that a greater effort can be made to help the homeless. If a celebrity dies, like Jake, in the prime of his life, we need to know why. If its an embarrassing situation, too bad, we need to know the truth to avoid making the same mistake. If his death is from natural causes then its not embarrassing but lessons may be learned anyway. But we should know why.

Seems to me since we personally can’t affect these things in terms of a societal response, then one of us asking is merely done out of curiosity. Our curiosity doesn’t trump the family’s privacy. I believe this is what Sabre intended to say, however bluntly.

 

[mchammer]

SabreHorn, you should know that I have massive respect for you, but I think you are off base here.

For the reasons Pompoms eloquently stated above, I personally would like to know. That desire shouldn’t be interpreted as being disrespectful toward the family. I also have no issue with the matter being kept secret, although again I would like to know.

Perhaps none of us “deserve to know,” but we aren’t bad people for “wanting to know.”

As I stated above, my take is that our personal curiosity does not trump the family’s desire for privacy.

 

[dukesteer]

As I stated above, my take is that our personal curiosity does not trump the family’s desire for privacy.

Don’t disagree, but I’m still curious.

 

[Creek]

How he died shouldnt really matter. The family will eventually come and talk about it, when they have healed.
tt obviously wasn’t a heroic death or from sickness or the Wuhan flu. And not foul play. So that pretty much leaves it to 2 reasons.

 

[Pomspoms]

As I stated above, my take is that our personal curiosity does not trump the family’s desire for privacy.

This is more than curiosity. The village, not just the personal family, lost a son and we want to know what took him from us.
I guess I've said my piece on this.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

At this point if it hasn't been made known after this much time it's clear that his passing was due to something the family finds to be extremely sensitive, which makes his death even more tragic. There have been plenty of student deaths over the years around UT where it was pretty quickly known how they died, but because of the Ehlingers stature and how beloved those guys are to the community, there's definitely more to this story and that just makes me even more sad for the family. We may never know but frankly we may not want to know at this point.

/end

 

[huisache]

The village lost a son? No, his family lost a son.
This village is too busy burning itself down to indulge in death voyeurism

 

[2003TexasGrad]

death voyeurism

So you don't care about the personal stories or journeys of our athletes? They are just jersey numbers who wear burnt orange? I went to Cedric Benson's viewing and said a prayer for him standing before his casket even though the closest I ever came to him in real life was making eye contact and sharing a raised hook 'em at a bar one night. I never knew him but I cared about him and I shed tears when I learned of his passing. How can you reduce this down to "death voyeurism"...

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

Oh no, here comes the "I love the players more than you" argument again. I THINK what Hui was trying to say is we can pretend to be family and love the players all we want, but we aren't actual family. We don't "deserve to know" because "we care".

We'll find out if and when the actual family want's us to find out because they don't owe us anything. I personally respect that they've kept it quiet and didn't let the media and social media drag them around the interwebs.

 

[TEXnSEATTLE]

Knowing the family and the horrific tragedy they have gone through, I have only been hoping that the cause of death was not something to compound their pain. I know it doesn't matter at this point what took this young man out. I think the family has the right to keep the information as private as they want to protect themselves and the young man. Being in a world that everyone thinks they have a right to everyone's information is crazy. Whatever brings his Mom and siblings the most peace and healing is what I think we should all be hoping for....not fodder for a crazed society. ...just my take...

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Oh no, here comes the "I love the players more than you" argument again.

Don't put words in my mouth. I'm not the one referring to this as "death voyeurism." That's incredibly insulting.

 

[Pomspoms]

So I guess it comes down to (A) respecting the feelings of the immediate family (assuming that his death was embarrassing in some way- [there may be a better way to say that but I am not a writer]) vs (B) the lesson that could be learned for the longhorn family and the whole world for that matter.

I don't know how long an autopsy generally takes.

When a seemingly healthy young man all of a sudden dies with no obvious reason we the public need to know why. Was he poisoned? Did he have a heart condition? Did the vaccine have an adverse effect? Did brain trauma from playing football cause him to commit suicide? Or maybe brain trauma caused a stroke. An accidental drug overdose.
Sorry, but he didn't live on this earth by himself.
Ok you might think that I am callous and too pragmatic. But you don't know me.

 

[LAGA4]

There are a lot of people that know what he died from.
The cause will come out eventually. Someone will tell what they know.

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

Don't put words in my mouth. I'm not the one referring to this as "death voyeurism." That's incredibly insulting.

You said it all.

So you don't care about the personal stories or journeys of our athletes?

You called him out suggesting that he doesn't care and then...

I went to Cedric Benson's viewing and said a prayer...I cared about him...I shed tears .

...you posted example after example of how much you care proving he must be less than you. We've had this happen here many times before. I get you may have been sad about a player's passing.

Everyone has a different level of caring for the players personally and that's ok. I don't get tied up emotionally with players because they come here for four years or less then are gone. I don't know them and they have no idea who I am. No one should be called out for how much or little they think about the players and that was my point.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

(A) respecting the feelings of the immediate family

That's it for me. And I do not assume the manner of passing is in any way embarrassing.

I have absolutely zero right to know about something like this. Am I curious? Yes. Do I think that curiosity deserves to be satisfied? Not only no, but HELL NO.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

...you posted example after example of how much you care proving he must be less than you.

Grossly incorrect assumption. I never indicated anything of the sort.

Also calling those of us who want to know of engaging in "death voyeurism" is incredibly antagonistic and insulting.

By saying that those of us who care about our student athletes are trading in death voyeurism does make me wonder if he just sees the athletes as an avatar wearing a number. You don't just throw around terms like death voyeurism. This isnt some sick joke.

 

[dukesteer]

To me this is an odd argument.

Fans — like those on this thread — are the reason programs like Texas exist.

Fans are the reason that stadiums like DKR can be expanded.

Fans are the reason that networks broadcast games and as a result, massive revenues go to the teams & the conferences, supporting sports that otherwise would cease to exist.

Fans are the reason that Texas makes well over $100 million a year in revenue from the program.

But now, because some of us (fans) would like to know the cause of death — note that I said “would like to know,” not that we “deserve to know” — apparently we are out of line and perhaps bad people…?

I refuse to feel bad about myself because I would like to know.

 

[mchammer]

At what point does too many fans “wanting to know” add to the suffering of the family?

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

But now, because some of us (fans) would like to know the cause of death — note that I said “would like to know,” not that we “deserve to know” — apparently we are out of line and perhaps bad people…?

And there is a HUGE difference between "would like to know" and "deserve to know". Thank you for using precise language.

 

[Driver 8]

This village is too busy burning itself down to indulge in death voyeurism

Explain

 

[NRHorn]

Guys and gals-
If you read my only opinion here, is was that I -like every person here- is deeply saddened by the loss of this young man.
We all agree wholeheartedly, 100%, down to our souls on that.
Personally I am good with giving space to his family. I know we all agree with that.
The rest of the banter here seems to vary on what I see as concerned curiosity.
Now I am seeing long term, great people who I value opposing opinions venture into personal attacks.
This is about the most emotional topic we can have on this board. Screw wins/losses or who the coordinator is. This is emotional. This clarifies what’s important in life.

Can we all focus on the monumental sudden loss, pray that peace finds the family and leave it there?

 

[NRHorn]

Don't be. Jena will let us know what we need to know. If it is anything sinister, you know Kirk Bohls and the super **** sniffers at the Spaceman would have long since run with the story

I tell you this, if any reporter decides to disrespect this family by doing so- they will join my Chip Brown list of reporters I ignore . And that list currently has one name on it.
Geez guys, if my sons passed- it would not be anyone’s business as to why if my family was hurting.
I’d bet these reporters know and decided to honor the family.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

At what point does too many fans “wanting to know” add to the suffering of the family?

We don't live in a vacuum. Cause of death is almost always released, especially when celebrities are involved and I've never seen vitriolic opposition to it under the supposition that it will increase family suffering. The Ehlingers are beloved by millions and like it or not they are celebrities. I think the family is suffering due to losing their son, period. Clearly they are embarrassed about Jake's death, and that's tragic in and of itself.

They don't want it released, so be it. It's their right, but there's nothing wrong with many of us sharing some grief and wanting to know. Shaming fans who have been invested in this family for years isn't right either.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

I'm a big fan of Sabrehorn on this site, but this thread would be a lot shorter if in response to my question he would have simply said "at this time there is no cause of death that has been released and we don't know when it will."

 

[Horn6721]

Isn't that kinda what he said.?

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Isn't that kinda what he said.?

Are you replying to my post? If so, that's not quite what he said.

 

[moondog_LFZ]

Clearly they are embarrassed about Jake's death, and that's tragic in and of itself.

Clearly this is just your opinion.
I have no reason to believe they are embarrassed about anything.
As somewhat of a "public figure" I am sure the cause of death will come out at some point.
The family has no obligation to publish it.
And you have absolutely no idea as to why they haven't.
I think your statement denigrates the family and is embarrassing and tragic in and of itself.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Clearly this is just your opinion.
I have no reason to believe they are embarrassed about anything.
As somewhat of a "public figure" I am sure the cause of death will come out at some point.
The family has no obligation to publish it.
And you have absolutely no idea as to why they haven't.
I think your statement denigrates the family and is embarrassing and tragic in and of itself.

As someone whose lived on this planet for over 4 decades there's more to the story they aren't comfortable sharing. I don't think that's a stretch. It is an opinion but it's probably a correct opinion, as others have already noted in this thread.

 

[Horn6721]

03
I think you said it best when you said we may not want to know.
We don't need to know and we don't have a "right" to know
so you are right.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

03
I think you said it best when you said we may not want to know.
We don't need to know and we don't have a "right" to know
so you are right.

And that's fair. Its the personal attacks I'm not ok with. We all have feelings and it's not fair to denegrate anyone for having a genuine concern or desire to know what befell someone they care about. Others shouldn't tell you or me or anyone else that their level of concern or care is invalid.