News Article: Kevin Turner Diagnosed with ALS

[kc4bama]

This is my first post so I hope I am doing this right:

I attended the Fund Raiser Last Night in Prattville AL where Coach Stallings Spoke....I could see that there was something wrong with KT...but I had no idea it was Lou Gehrig's Disease. There were a ton of ex-players there...it was a very special night and I will never forget it. I will also never forget KT on the field and the hits he delivered and rarely recieved...he almost always brought the contact to the defender. Kevin Turner is a special player and person, if anyone can beat this I know he can.

Former Alabama, NFL star diagnosed with ALS | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser

 

[stlimprov]

Particularly interesting, given this:

Report: Scientists find connection between head injuries, Lou Gehrig's disease - ESPN

 

[rizolltizide]

Man, that's awful. Turner was one of my favorites when I was on campus. That dude brought it and gave it all.

 

[BornCRIMSON]

I wish Kevin Turner the best, he was one of my favorites, loved watching him give it his all. He has always been a stand up guy.

Best of luck Kevin, Our prayers are with you.

ROLL TIDE !! :BigA:

 

[37bamagreats55]

Prayers and Blessings to the former Crimson Tide great.
Such sad news, but let's hope Kevin can fight his way through this horrible disease -- I know a way we all can help and that's find your local ALS Walks and make a donation -- I'm attending one in Birmingham in September....
Roll Tide and God Bless, Mr. Turner!!!

 

[JT4UA]

This is a VERY bad disease. I work here at Vanderbilt Medical Center in the Neurology area and once a month we have an ALS clinic and you don't really see how bad the disease is until you see people with it. I have seen people deteriorate within a year and go from having full function and walking with a cane to basically being paralyzed from the neck down.

Kevin Turner was always one of my favorite Alabama football players!

 

[Zorak]

Sad to hear. Everyone in Prattville when I was growing up looked up to him. A favorite son going pro. Somewhere around, I have two of his rookie cards (still in Bama uniform in both of them). I displayed them proudly even before my family saw the light and came over from the dark side (Auburn).

 

[rickvox79]

I really hate hearing this. He was one of my favorite players in the early 90's. Hard nosed and gave it his all every down. I remember some big plays he had especially against AU in 1991. My prayers go out to him and his family.

 

[TIDE24]

I really hate to hear this. He is one of my favorite BAMA players of all time.

 

[Relayer]

Wow, I hate to hear this. KT always seemed like such a good kid and nobody gave greater effort than he did.

 

[uaintn]

Outstanding player. One of those Coach Bryant would have loved. Wasn't really big enough or strong enough or fast enough to play at a major college or in the NFL, but he didn't know it. ALS is a terrible disease. I will pray for KT and his family, because I really can't think of anything else to do.

 

[Alanbama27]

DEVISTATION! That's what I'm feeling today for Kevin and his family! What horrific news! I want to say that if we can stop one disease that is ABSOLUTELY a death sentence such as ALS or Pancreatic Cancer...we need to do it. Interestingly enough almost all other diseases today are not necessarily a death sentence. Those two however, have never been beaten and God willing Kevin will be the first!

God Bless Kevin and his family...they will remain in my thoughts and prayers!

 

[TIDEnGA]

I feel like someone just kicked me in the gut. That kind of news is heartbreaking. It seems like that group of guys has endured a lot. Godspeed to Kevin and his family. I pray he'll have many more years in crimson.

 

[TiderJack]

My first cousin was diagnosed with ALS about 13 years ago and passed 10 years ago. Horrific syndrome that starts out a little slow and really comes on hard at the end. I hate to hear anyone get ALS but it really hurts when it is such a great person and Bama player like KT. My thoughts and prayers are with the Turner family.

 

[Kevin4Bama]

I've always had a special place in my heart for KT, we share a name (first and last) and are about the same age. Prayers go out to him and his family.

 

[exiledNms]

Wow! Agree w/ everyone else's sentiments & fond memories of KT. A HS classmate--*superb* athlete--died of ALS rather quickly not long after we graduated (11-12 years or so). VERY unpleasant to watch. So sorry to hear this.

exiled

 

[EscaTider]

Prayers will be going up for Kevin and his family from our household. He was a great player, but more importantly, he is a great person. This is one of those things that go beyond our understanding.

Hang in there #24

 

[BamaFossil]

Geez, I hate to hear this. My prayers go out to him and his family.

 

[TommyMac]

This is horrible. Kevin Turner is one of those guys that should be a hero to every Bama fan. Pound for pound, he was about as good of a football player as you'll ever find, but even more importantly, he is evidently about as good of a human being as you'll ever find too.

I loved him when he was a Tider for his grit, hustle and heart, but frankly, I didn't give him much of a chance in the NFL. He sure showed me, he played 8 years which is above average for a RB and he didn't do it with God given gifts, he just outworked a lot of folks who were more physically blessed.

My prayers for KT and his family.

 

[edwd58]

I attended the dinner last night as well and what a wonderful evening it was. It was a surprise tribute to KT thanking him for sponsoring a charity golf tournament for the Y over the past 12-13 years, he had no idea. Craig Sanderson spoke on behalf of the players and you could tell how close they all are.

The highlight was Coach Stallings as he delivered a powerful message. He talked eloquently about Johnny, I wish you all could have heard it. You would have left there a changed person. If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, do not miss it. What a gracious and classy man he is.