Funeral date set for Kurt Schmitz

The funeral Mass for Kurt Schmitz has been set for 11 a.m. Saturday Dec. 6 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in his hometown of Haskell, New Jersey, according to an email from University Chaplain Craig Kocher. 

The email included that a memorial service will be held at University of Richmond next semester at a time when Schmitz’s family can be included. Details of the service will be provided as they become available.

Richmond city police found Schmitz’s body in the 1400 block of the West Marshall Street apartments, and major crimes detectives are currently investigating the case. A state medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, and no foul play is suspected at this time, James Mercante, a representative from the Richmond Police Department public affairs office, said.

On Nov. 29, Seth Fisher, a roommate of Schmitz’s for three years and member of the Richmond football team, received a text message from Schmitz congratulating Fisher on Richmond’s playoff victory against Morgan State. Schmitz played football for the Spiders as a freshman, and practiced alongside Fisher during training camp before Schmitz’s sophomore year. Schmitz’s football career ended in training camp after he suffered his fourth concussion in a one-year span.

Schmitz concealed the first three concussions he suffered as a freshman from the training staff in order to keep playing, according to Lauren Shute's article published by The Collegian last April. After a head-to-head hit during training camp, Schmitz failed to respond rationally to trainers and was taken to the hospital.

After his trip to the hospital, Schmitz’s father suggested he stop playing football and consider his future health. He took his father’s advice, but stayed involved with the team as a coach’s assistant, helping coaches stay organized and checking players’ helmets to make sure they fit correctly. He served in that role for three years.

Head coach Danny Rocco gave Schmitz the role with the team as a way to keep him involved, and to give him an opportunity to maintain his scholarship so he could continue going to school. Schmitz was a political science major.

Schmitz’s passion for playing football made his new role with the team difficult at times. “He loved the game so much that he started to not enjoy what he was doing,” Fisher said. Schmitz struggled with being a spectator rather than a player, and his attempts to fill the athletic void with helping on the sidelines upset him at times, Fisher said.

Despite his frustration, Schmitz never appeared to be depressed and never expressed any deep sadness, Caleb High, a close friend of Schmitz’s, said. “He was never depressed because he was always with us, his friends,” High said.

Schmitz did have some trouble that required attention from the football coaches, though. In a meeting between Rocco and about 20 players on Nov. 30, Rocco noted that in 2012, an incident occurred that led the team to seek help for Schmitz, said Justin Williamson, a senior football player.

“We had a little player meeting like with like 20 of us that knew Schmitz,” Williamson said. “So [Rocco] had that and he mentioned it at the moment but I never heard anything. Then I asked a few guys and they didn’t really speak of it. So we didn’t know what happened."

“[Rocco] said they got help for him. He didn’t really go in detail about stuff. He just said they went out and got him some… I don’t know if he said therapy or what, but just got him some help for what he was going through.”

Schmitz was not the only college football player to die this weekend. According to The New York Times, Ohio State player Kosta Karageorge died Nov. 30 from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gun wound. He had texted his mother, apologizing if he had been an “embarrassment” and blaming concussions for his behavior, according to the article.

Fisher said he didn’t believe Schmitz would harm himself in any way. Schmitz returned to Richmond from New Jersey on Nov. 29, and was going to visit a female friend, Fisher said.

“I think it is bizarre and absurd for anyone to think that Schmitz would kill himself,” Fisher said. “I spoke with him on Saturday night, and I am as sure as anyone can be that it was not suicide.” High reinforced Fisher’s assertion.

“Kurt was the most unselfish person,” Fisher said. “He always had a ‘what’s mine is yours’ attitude, and I want people to know that. I think he touched a lot of people at Richmond and will be remembered by those people.”

Contact Sports Editor Charlie Broaddus at charlie.broaddus@richmond.edu