Photos courtesy of Bradley University
(Published in The Evening News and The Tribune, September 25, 2007)
If Bradley University's Division I men's soccer team had come out this fall and performed consistently below par, everyone connected would have understood why.
But the manner in which the Braves from Peoria, Ill., have lived up to their name on the field following a summer of tragedy is one that demands respect.
Looking forward to the new campaign and buoyed by genuine optimism following its third regular-season Missouri Valley Conference title, Bradley was rocked to its core when 19-year-old midfield sophomore Sheridan "Danny" Dahlquist passed away on Aug. 12 following a prank that went horribly wrong.
Prosecutors say he died in a fire that started when four friends set off Roman candles under his bedroom door. After they realized the room had caught fire, they tried frantically to save him but were driven away by intense heat.
David Crady, Ryan Johnson, Nick Mentgen and Daniel Cox were charged with two counts of aggravated arson, residential arson and possession of an explosive or incendiary device.
Three of them — Crady, Johnson and Mentgen — were not only housemates of Danny’s, but Bradley soccer teammates, too. None of the players has participated in practices since the fire: Johnson has resigned from the team, while Crady and Mentgen have been dismissed for the season.
If convicted of all charges, the defendants face up to 30 years in prison.
Meanwhile, reminders of Danny are everywhere at Shea Stadium, home of the Braves.
On the field, two large Celtic crosses are etched into each half. Added are the words, "Life a Brave; Death a Brave," with his nickname "DQ" and his number, 29, on the arms of the cross. A flag also flies in his memory, while memorial wristbands are sold inside the ground. A minute's silence is held before games.
A tragedy that could have ripped through the heart of teams with lesser camaraderie and spirit, Bradley has come out and posted a fine start to the season. Watching the Braves record a 1-0 victory against Cincinnati last week, you would never have known this was a group of players still trying to come to terms with the loss of a friend and a teammate.
Among them is Floyds Knobs native Brad Snook, now a redshirt junior and enjoying regular playing time in defense.
Snook, a Floyd Central sectional champion in 2003 and a winner of six Kentucky State Cup titles with Javanon (five) and Louisville Soccer Club (one), told The Tribune and The Evening News he believes the way Danny's family handled the situation — with class and dignity — lent strength to everyone else who didn't know how to react.
"We see them on a regular basis (Danny's dad Craig is the senior associate athletic director for compliance and finance at Bradley) and they are such great people," he said. "They definitely raised Danny in their likeness, and the number of people this family has had an impact on is amazing.
"He was truly a top-class individual. Everything about him showed that he was a quality guy. He would help anyone no matter what they needed. No one wanted to be a Bradley Brave more than Danny. He truly felt it was an honor every time he pulled on the jersey. It was easy to see how Danny's family raised him to be a selfless, valued person."
Snook admits the season — Bradley’s 21st in Division I — took a drastic turn with what happened with Danny, but he said heart and battling qualities have seen them chalk up some notable results despite a tough schedule.
The Braves, now 4-2-1, have already recorded wins against conference champions Western Illinois (Summit League) and Cincinnati (Big East Conference Red), as well as a 1-1 tie against powerhouse North Carolina.
Their two losses were no disgrace either. They held what is considered the best team in the country — Wake Forest — scoreless for 65 minutes before succumbing 3-0, while they kept it tied with No. 9 ranked Saint Louis on Saturday for 75 minutes before going down 2-0.
"Honestly, no one really expected us to start out the way we did, mainly because of the trip to UNC and Wake Forest," Snook said. "We were supposed to lose those games, but our team just battled and showed a great deal of heart to get a result against UNC.
"I came into this season very optimistic about our team, and my individual performance as well. And for the first actual time in my Bradley career, I have been given the opportunity to play significant minutes in big games for our team."
And the Braves will continue to play big in those games, encouraged by an immense outpouring from the community.
"It's good to know that they are supporting us," said Snook. "It means a lot personally, and I know the team appreciates it too. This ordeal has really shown me the true meaning of 'Once a Brave, Always a Brave.'"
You can catch Brad and the Braves live on Fox Soccer Channel when they travel to take on Missouri Valley Conference rival and nationally No. 7 ranked Creighton on Wednesday, Oct. 10 (7 p.m.).
Meanwhile, Bradley hosts an invitational tournament which will see it play IUPUI this Friday (7.30 p.m.). The game will also see Snook face former Floyd Central teammate Andy Orwick, a native of Georgetown, getting regular playing time this season in defense with the Jaguars (2-5-1).
