Northridge Player Dies of Apparent Heart Attack

Tom Gray, a starting nose tackle on the Cal State Northridge football team, died of an apparent heart attack Friday night, according to school officials. He was 21.

Gray, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior, collapsed shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday while visiting with friends by the pool at the University Park Apartments in Northridge. He was taken by paramedics to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, but efforts to revive him failed.

An autopsy will be performed within the next few days, a school spokesman said. Funeral arrangements have not been made.

Gray’s family has a history of heart disease. His father reportedly died of a heart attack at age 27. Friends said that Gray had experienced chest pains recently but refused to see a doctor.

“Tommie was a very popular, charismatic and fine individual,” Northridge football Coach Bob Burt said in a prepared statement. “The tragedy of his loss is, and will continue to be, felt by all of us.”

The team’s football awards banquet will be held today as scheduled.

Gray, whose hometown is Redwood City, Calif., transferred to Northridge from College of San Mateo. He started the first five games of 1989 for the Matadors before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.