The Firecats 9th Man

May 24, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


Estero, FL- His number hangs from the rafters on a banner almost as big as his smile. When you ask his friends and teammates about him, it's his big toothy grin that always comes up. They'll tell you about a guy who was a great player but an even better friend.

This weekend marks the 1-year anniversary of the death of Firecats lineman Dunstan Anderson who died in a single-car accident on I-75 as he was heading to a team Barbecue to celebrate Memorial Day.

Anderson had more than his fair share of off the field issues, but had finally gotten things straightened out and was looking forward to resurrecting his career. "Dunstan went through all the problems he went through, and he was regrouping himself," said former Firecats coach John Fourcade. " He had some troubles off the field, but on the field you never had any trouble with him."

In college he spent his first year at the University of Tulsa as a quarterback, then spent the rest of his career chasing them making the move to defensive end in his junior year. He played with a number of NFL teams including the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and even won a Super Bowl Ring with the 1995 Dallas Cowboys. Dunstan was a member of the Rein Fire in the World League, the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL and the Grand Rapids Rampage & Carolina Cobras in the AFL.

Anderson originally signed with the Firecats on July 19, 2002, and was pivotal in the team's run to the 2002 American Conference Championship even playing with a broken leg in the playoffs. "He was just one of those guys you wanted on your team. You didn't want to be playing against him, you wanted him with you," said coach Kevin Bouis. "You'd never know he had asthma, it never affected him. We had to practically drag him off the field."

D.A. began his pro career as a student under some of the NFL's best, observing Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs', and Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert while with the Dallas Cowboys. "They told me to write down all their pass-rushing moves on a piece of paper. I tried to imitate them. My goal was to be one of the best defensive ends in the league." Anderson said in a 1997 article for CNN/SI.com. As he made the move from Greenhorn to well traveled veteran he passed what he had learned on to the younger players coming up. "I see myself as one of the guys. One that has more experience and knows what not to do. If I can help somebody else while I'm here, I'm gonna do it."

D.A.'s love for football was out matched only by his love for people. The gentle giant always made time for kids after games and volunteered to read to children in his spare time. He was starting over. If you gave him the opportunity he'd tell you about his past, good and bad, in the hopes that his story would help keep other from making some of the same mistakes he did.

"I had a great affection for him, outside of him being a great player," said team president Chris Vallozzi. "It was a terrible tragedy that affected all of us very deeply. He had a big heart and he's still sorely missed."

At 33 years of age Dunstan left us too soon, but a part of him is still with us in the friends, fans and teammates he left behind.

And to quote D.A., "We're all we got."

Thank You to Dana Oppedisano of the Naples Daily News and Ryan Elswick of the Sun News who contributed to the story.



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