Aaron Douglas' death still pains parents, Alabama

#4
#4
It's terrible and I feel bad for the family. There are some points in the article that I completely disagree about, but I pray the family finds some peace. RIP AD.
 
#5
#5
At this point, Aaron Douglas the son and friend means much more than Aaron Douglas the Vol or Bammer. Lost too soon.
 
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#6
#6
Of course they are still in pain, they always will be. This shouldn't be news anymore. No slight to the family or Douglas himself. But the media should leave them alone and let them heal.
 
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#7
#7
I just wish he never left TN (I understand why he did though)...I feel like the VFL program could have helped turn his life around.

RIP AD
 
#9
#9
Aaron had lots of problems. Sometimes parents are the last to know & are in denial even if the signs are there. Hooking up with strangers on spring break & taking known illegal drugs are signs of real issues. Not giving Dooley even a chance to work with him was a mistake. All in all a very sad story. I know David & Karla personally, as well as Aaron's Uncle Steve, who also played for the Vols. I wish there wasn't so much animosity on the parents' part toward UT. Karla was a star for Pat & the Lady Vols. While I understand their grief, giving a scholarship to Alabama instead of Tennessee isn't the way I would've honored his memory. Perhaps warning others of the dangers of drugs & making sure interventions occur somehow would be more appropriate, since if excuses not been made for Aaron's behavior in the past, maybe he might still be with us. He was at the beach partying with people he didn't even know & not staying in touch with family or coaches while other Tide players stayed home & were helping Tuscaloosa tornado victims on their spring break. Drugs cause kids to do bad things & make poor choices.
 
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#10
#10
SmokyVol said:
Aaron had lots of problems. Sometimes parents are the last to know & are in denial even if the signs are there. Hooking up with strangers on spring break & taking known illegal drugs are signs of real issues. Not giving Dooley even a chance to work with him was a mistake. All in all a very sad story. I know David & Karla personally, as well as Aaron's Uncle Steve, who also played for the Vols. I wish there wasn't so much animosity on the parents' part toward UT. Karla was a star for Pat & the Lady Vols. While I understand their grief, giving a scholarship to Alabama instead of Tennessee isn't the way I would've honored his memory. Perhaps warning others of the dangers of drugs & making sure interventions occur somehow would be more appropriate, since if excuses not been made for Aaron's behavior in the past, maybe he might still be with us. He was at the beach partying with people he didn't even know & not staying in touch with family or coaches while other Tide players stayed home & were helping Tuscaloosa tornado victims on their spring break. Drugs cause kids to do bad things & make poor choices.
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You nailed it. Well said.
 
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#11
#11
It's tragic, but I wish the parents would stop taking digs at UT. Their son had a drug problem and a high-risk lifestyle. UT didn't cause it, and he continued to make bad choices years after he left. If he had OD'd a year later, would it have been Bama's fault? I hate that the kid died, but misdirecting blame is unnecessary and unfair.
 
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#14
#14
There is no worse thing than when a parent loses a child. This was so tragic. I hope the parents can find some healing and put things in perspective. It is a shame that there were no measures at UT at the time like there are now. If the Vols need to be the big bad wolf, then that is okay. Whatever helps them deal with their loss. No one should have to go through what they have been through. Fans need to understand and look over things said.
 
#15
#15
SmokyVol,

Your comment, "if excuses not been made for Aaron's behavior in the past, maybe he might still be with us".. that is extremely insensitive toward Aaron's parents and totally out of line. I'm sure they are heartbroken and feel somewhat responsible for how Aaron's life ended simply because they were his parents and he was their son. They don't need anyone coming on a message board and pointing fingers. I don't blame them one bit for defending their son in public, nobody should.
 
#16
#16
SmokyVol said:
Aaron had lots of problems. Sometimes parents are the last to know & are in denial even if the signs are there. Hooking up with strangers on spring break & taking known illegal drugs are signs of real issues. Not giving Dooley even a chance to work with him was a mistake. All in all a very sad story. I know David & Karla personally, as well as Aaron's Uncle Steve, who also played for the Vols. I wish there wasn't so much animosity on the parents' part toward UT. Karla was a star for Pat & the Lady Vols. While I understand their grief, giving a scholarship to Alabama instead of Tennessee isn't the way I would've honored his memory. Perhaps warning others of the dangers of drugs & making sure interventions occur somehow would be more appropriate, since if excuses not been made for Aaron's behavior in the past, maybe he might still be with us. He was at the beach partying with people he didn't even know & not staying in touch with family or coaches while other Tide players stayed home & were helping Tuscaloosa tornado victims on their spring break. Drugs cause kids to do bad things & make poor choices.
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Well said, Misdirecting blame is an early morning process, it will be years before they will understand the signs they missed. Truly understanding "why he took the drugs" will never find its way into the families heart only blame of not recognizing the signs, it will take a strong family to stay together. RIP AD….and may God Bless the family with comfort.
 
#17
#17
SmokyVol said:
Aaron had lots of problems. Sometimes parents are the last to know & are in denial even if the signs are there. Hooking up with strangers on spring break & taking known illegal drugs are signs of real issues. Not giving Dooley even a chance to work with him was a mistake. All in all a very sad story. I know David & Karla personally, as well as Aaron's Uncle Steve, who also played for the Vols. I wish there wasn't so much animosity on the parents' part toward UT. Karla was a star for Pat & the Lady Vols. While I understand their grief, giving a scholarship to Alabama instead of Tennessee isn't the way I would've honored his memory. Perhaps warning others of the dangers of drugs & making sure interventions occur somehow would be more appropriate, since if excuses not been made for Aaron's behavior in the past, maybe he might still be with us. He was at the beach partying with people he didn't even know & not staying in touch with family or coaches while other Tide players stayed home & were helping Tuscaloosa tornado victims on their spring break. Drugs cause kids to do bad things & make poor choices.
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I agree as others have. Also know them casually and they had to be in denial because the even kids in HS knew what was going on back then, much less when he got to UT. I hurt for them losing their son and wish they would not blame something external to their son's problems like UT's issues. Maybe time and perspective will help things.
 
#18
#18
I just feel terrible for his parents and family. Vol or Tide he's still a person. To lose anyone in your family is the toughest thing to go through, especially your son. I just feel for his parents and only hope all of the best for them.

RIP AD ... GBO
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#19
#19
volfan_28 said:
SmokyVol,

Your comment, "if excuses not been made for Aaron's behavior in the past, maybe he might still be with us".. that is extremely insensitive toward Aaron's parents and totally out of line. I'm sure they are heartbroken and feel somewhat responsible for how Aaron's life ended simply because they were his parents and he was their son. They don't need anyone coming on a message board and pointing fingers. I don't blame them one bit for defending their son in public, nobody should.
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It isn't out of line if its true. If they don't want people pointing fingers, then they shouldn't come out in the media and try to pass off the blame on upperclassmen for getting him hooked on drugs. It isn't their fault he was that stupid.

inb4 "insensitive b*****d"
 
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#20
#20
VolfanatETSU said:
It isn't out of line if its true. If they don't want people pointing fingers, then they shouldn't come out in the media and try to pass off the blame on upperclassmen for getting him hooked on drugs. It isn't their fault he was that stupid.

inb4 "insensitive b*****d"
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I'm not responding to this prick. I will say he needs his a$$ whipped though.

inb4 "you just did"
 
#22
#22
One thing in the article that was interesting: The comments about how Aaron thrived in Arizona Junior College. IIRC it was Derek Dooley who insisted he go far away if he wanted a release, so as to get him away from the bad influences in the area?

I hope the Douglas family recognizes the wisdom in Dooley's precondition on granting him his release.
 
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#23
#23
volfan_28 said:
I'm not responding to this prick. I will say he needs his a$$ whipped though.

inb4 "you just did"
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Why does he need his ass whipped?

AD's death was his fault and his fault alone. His parents blaming everyone else is dumb- blinded by grief, but dumb. Like he said, it's not pointing fingers when it's true.
 
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#24
#24
VolfanatETSU said:
It isn't out of line if its true. If they don't want people pointing fingers, then they shouldn't come out in the media and try to pass off the blame on upperclassmen for getting him hooked on drugs. It isn't their fault he was that stupid.

inb4 "insensitive b*****d"
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Boom goes the dynamite.

+1
 
#25
#25
A lot of the stuff in that article is not true, but such is the case in most people's obituaries. In the end you believe what you choose to believe.
 
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