Brad Hastings, 44; All-American LB from Texas Tech
Bill Schenley
of school's most decorated players
FROM: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram ~
By Dwain Price
Brad Hastings, one of the most decorated football
players in Texas Tech history, died Monday at his
mother's home in Arlington of heart failure,
according to his mother. He was 44.
A three-time all-Southwest Conference linebacker,
Hastings played for Tech from 1983-86 and was first
on the school's all-time tackle list with 480 when he
finished his career.
The hard-hitting linebacker was honorable mention
All-American in 1985 and third-team All-American in
'86.
However, multiple knee surgeries prevented Hastings
from making it to the NFL.
"The Kansas Chiefs had him in training camp [in '86]
and he had another knee injury," Hastings' father, Fred
Hastings, said. "That did it."
A memorial service will be held for Hastings on April 19
at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Collins
in Arlington.
In addition to his father, mother Connie and stepmother
Sylvia, Hastings is survived by his 11-year-old son
Bradley; 9-year-old daughter Ava; their mother, Angela
Kell Hastings; brothers James and Brett; stepbrother
Jason Rohlf; and grandfather Paul Hastings.
Spike Dykes, Tech's linebacker coach during Hastings'
playing days with the Red Raiders, believes those
unfortunate knee injuries prevented Hastings from being
a star in the NFL.
"He reminded me of [Baltimore Ravens linebacker]
Ray Lewis and those kind of guys," Dykes said.
"He was a can't-miss [NFL] guy. He played
sideline-to-sideline, and there wasn't anything he
couldn't do. His wheels just wouldn't let him turn."
Dykes said Hastings, 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds during his
playing days, was a fierce competitor who re-defined the
linebacker position at Tech.
"We had a good defensive football team and he was the
catalyst," Dykes said. "He had a very unique frame of
mind. He took no prisoners, he looked forward to big
games and big venues, and he really had some outstanding
performances in his career.
"He was a real, real joy to coach. And as a coach, when
you have a chance to coach a player like him you've got
to feel like you're the luckiest guy in the whole world."
A 1983 Arlington Bowie graduate, Hastings was a Parade
Magazine High School All-American recruited by several
notable schools, including Notre Dame. But he surprised
everyone by going to Tech, coached at the time by Jerry
Moore.
At Tech, Hastings still ranks in the top 10 for the most
tackles in a season in three separate years. He ranks
second with 171 tackles in 1985, fifth with 153 tackles in
1986 and ninth with 141 tackles in 1984.
Hastings also played in the annual Blue-Gray college
all-star game in 1986.
"Brad was such a dominating force and he really, really
was an exceptional football player and he was a great
team player," Dykes said. "He was a rare breed, and he
was just a dang good football player and a great leader.
"When he played, he was hands-down the best linebacker
in the Southwest Conference. And we had some good
linebackers in the Southwest Conference at the time."