Bradley cancels Saturday's scrimmage following player's death

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Aug 16, 2007

Bradley has canceled its annual preseason men's Red-White scrimmage, scheduled for Saturday, but will open the regular season as scheduled on Aug. 31 at home against Lipscomb after the death of Danny Dahlquist in a fire allegedly set by four young men, including three teammates, a botched fireworks prank on Sunday at their home in West Peoria, Ill.

The university also said in a statement Tuesday that it is still considering the status of Bradley players Nicholas Mentgen, Ryan Johnson and David Crady, who were charged, along with Daniel Cox of nearby Illinois Central, with two counts of aggravated arson and one count of possession of an explosive or incendiary device.

The 19-year-old Dahlquist, a sophomore, died Sunday of carbon monoxide poisoning after the four men allegedly set a fire in his bedroom by lighting a roman candle under his bedroom door that started a fire. The men tried unsuccessfully to save Dahlquist.
 
The following statement from the Dahlquist family was released at their request:
 
"We are deeply moved by the compassion that we have received from our family, neighbors, and the St. Mark, Notre Dame and Bradley communities.  We are truly blessed.  Danny was living his dream.  We are proud of the person he was.  All the wonderful comments have confirmed that others respected him in the same way. Though this unspeakable tragedy hurts us tremendously, please keep in mind that there are five families that need your prayers."