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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:58 a.m., Thursday, March 12, 2009

CFB: Missouri to pay $2M to fallen player's family

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri will pay $2 million to the family of a former reserve linebacker who collapsed on the field and then died during a 2005 preseason workout.

Boone County Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler approved the settlement in a brief hearing Thursday. The agreement ends a lawsuit over the death of Aaron O'Neal, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman from suburban St. Louis who collapsed on the Memorial Stadium field during a voluntary workout in July 2005. He died less than two hours later.

The settlement also requires the university to pay $250,000 toward a scholarship fund in O'Neal's name. A university attorney says the school wanted to permanently honor O'Neal with the gesture.