Former Tech linebacker star dead at 44
BY DON WILLIAMS l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Brad Hastings was one of the most highly recruited football players ever landed by Texas Tech. By signing when he did — after the program had suffered four straight losing seasons — Hastings gave Red Raiders fans hope for brighter days.
Hastings, a three-time all-Southwest Conference linebacker who ended his career as Tech’s all-time leader in tackles, died early Monday at his mother’s home in Arlington, according to his father. Fred Hastings, who said his son had high blood pressure and breathing problems, said an autopsy was being performed later Monday.
“He was absolutely one of the most outstanding football players I ever was around,’’ former Tech coach Spike Dykes said. “He was a great leader, and he was a great player. I think had he not got his knee hurt before his senior year, no telling how long he would have played in the NFL.’’
Hastings was 44 years old. No. 44 also was the jersey number he wore from 1983-86, when he racked up 480 tackles, a total that still ranks second all-time at Tech. He had the record for 15 years until another middle linebacker, Lawrence Flugence, broke it.
Hastings was an honorable-mention all-American in 1985, his junior year, and a third-team all-American in 1986. He played in the Blue-Gray all-star game. But a recurring knee problem — he had five surgeries on the same knee, his father said — derailed his pro aspirations.
Lubbock businessman Bart Reagor, a former teammate, said he remembered Hastings having arthroscopic knee surgery on a Wednesday and playing three days later when the Red Raiders visited mighty Miami (Fla.) in 1986.
“As far as toughness goes, that’s a great testament to his toughness,’’ Reagor said. “The dadgum sutures (from the knee surgery) weren’t even healed. … He was just a lot of heart. He knew how to play the game.’’
Dykes, who had been head coach at Midland Lee, came to Tech as defensive coordinator in 1984 and was Hastings’ position coach his last three years.
“He was one of those guys that always practiced hard, but on game day, just stay away from him,’’ Dykes said. “He was zeroed in. He was unbelievable.’’
Coming out of Arlington Bowie High School, Hastings was a Parade magazine all-American and was listed among the top 20 recruits in the nation by the Dallas Morning News. It was considered a major coup that he signed with Tech in 1983, when the Raiders hadn’t had a winning season since 1978.
“He went out there, and he felt like he was at home,’’ Fred Hastings said. “He loved the campus and loved the coaches, especially Jerry Moore, who was the head coach at the time. He really did like him. He was recruited by everybody.’’
Around the same time, Moore signed several more talented players, especially on the defensive side of the ball, who went on to NFL careers. Though Tech wouldn’t break through with a winning season until 1986, Hastings and future pros such as Carl Carter, Roland Mitchell and Dwayne Jiles helped the Raiders build a solid defense.
“They were great football players,’’ Dykes said. “Brad was the leader of the bunch. When you’re the signal caller, the middle linebacker, you sort of inherit that position, and that’s what he was. He was the bellcow, no question about it.’’
Fred Hastings said a memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. April 19 at First Presbyterian Church in Arlington. Hastings’ survivors, in addition to his parents, include two children, his father said.
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com uE06C 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com uE06C 766-8735
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I remember him back in the days he was one heck of a football player during the SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE ERA my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
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Rest in Peace Brad.
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If you looked under tough in the dictionary,his picture would be there. He played the game as it was supposed to be played.
My prayers and thoughts go to his family…He will be missed
by many.
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Thanks for your contributions to the Red Raider family on and off the field. God bless and rest in peace! My sympathies to the family.
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To our brother Brad, you we’re admired, looked up to, by everyone who loved Tech football and played with you.You were loved by Joe Mcbride,Dudley,and me and all the others that hung with us and played with us. We will miss you and love you my friend. Rest in peace and may the Lord take you home.
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Mike and I were saddened to hear this news. Rest in peace Brad.
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My most sincere condolences to Brad’s family. As a freshman on the team in 1986, I was fortunate to have Brad look out for me and take me under his wing. He demonstrated to me and all of us what true “toughness” meant. “Bad Brad” was the embodiment of Red Raider Football. Rest in peace Brad.
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Brad Hastings was a heck of a player.
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A too early exit for an outstanding young man. Thanks for the great memories and may the good Lord bless and keep him forever more.
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What caused the symptoms? What killed him?
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I remember very well watching Brad play football. I have always followed Tech football closely and was always proud that Brad played for Tech. What a great player. God bless and comfort his family.
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When Brad signed with Tech in 1983 it was the beginning of a new era for Texas Tech Football in Lubbock. Brad was the type of player that not only winning teams where built with but the rebuilding of an entire winning program. Brad and I played against each other in HIgh School and I was very thankful to be on the same team with him at Tech. Brad had the intensity and the intestinal fortitude to tee up every down and loved it physical. The bigger the game, the bigger the competition the more Brad loved it. Brad absolutely played the game the way it was supposed to be played.
I am thankful for the time spent with Brad, thankful for the model he was for me and thankful for his gifts to Texas Tech and the game of football.
My prayers go out to Fred, Connie and the two children. May you each have peace and love in your heart. Thank you for the gift of Brad Hastings.
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A fearless competitor on the football field and a heart of gold off the field. He loved the game, his family, friends and especially his kids. I feel fortunate to have been his friend and to have known him. We’ll miss you big guy..
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Speechless from this news….It is a sad day for Raider Nation! You were a great friend that will be missed dearly. May the Lord lift up the family during this difficult time and my prayers are with you all.
Rest in Peace #44
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My family is speechless after hearing the news of Brad’s death. He was good friend and room mate. He will be missed dearly. Our prayers are with his kids and family.
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May your fondest memories comfort you all as you grieve the loss of a young man taken too soon. My entire family will pray for you during this time of great grief. Our thoughts are with you as we all remember a life well lived!
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My condolences to the family, ex-teammates and friends. Brad Hastings could have been an even bigger player than Zach Thomas in the NFL, had he not suffered the knee injury, which slowed him too much. He was always a class A person, on and off the field and a great ambassador for Texas Tech football. So sad to hear about this.
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The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
Great heart, great man. A fierce competitor who helped put Tech on the college football map, Brad commanded respect on and off the field from teammates and opponents alike. Our thoughts and prayers are with your children and family.
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I was born a Raider on the east side and brad gave the Tech fans hope , rest in peace
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What a great loss. Brad was one of the best highschool linebackers
ever. Someone that big that could move so well . We will miss you.
Our prayers are with his family
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i loved my dad he was the best dad ever l love u dad we miss u so does ava see you soon!!!!!!!!! rip #44
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Hello Everyone:
Please know all of your comments about Brad are so welcomed and so appreciated.
I wanted to take the time to write because with your comments you are helping his children get through their grief; especially, his son, Bradley Scott Hastings, II who is 11. His son is checking all of the postings regularly.
We were very fortunate, Brad spent his last weekend with both children. Brad would frenquently stay at my home on Saturdays and/or Sundays while the children rode their bikes or played with neighborhood friends. It was comforting to them to have his presence in their home.
The neigborhood children would stop in and of course they couldn’t believe what a big man he was. He would playfully growl at each of them as they would run by. He also played a starring game. He could always, always out stare us all. I would always crack up and laugh. He was so good at it. It wasn’t the kind of starring game where you starred to not blink; but, it was starring game to not smile. I always imagined him on the football field starring at his opposer to intimidate. His daughter Ava Marie, 9, has become quite good at the game. She almost always outlasted him.
Speaking of football, please know while I did not know Brad during his college days, I am his biggest fan. I think anyone would tell you that. I loved him so, so much! In fact, it was this past weekend, I hung his poster that was a copy of the billboard “We’re Hungry”. I hung it above the T.V. in the childrens T.V. Room. He was pleased to see it there.
I could go on and on writing. It too helps me grieve. One of his dear friends is constructing a website for Brad, www. bradhastings.net. I am about to post pictures. I encourage you to visit the website to learn more about Brad. There is also a Trust Fund in place. It is for Brad’s children’s college education. They too hope to go to Tech. (Please bear with me, I am about to submit the pictures.)
Go Raiders and my dear Brad, may you rest in peace!
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My condolences to the family. I went to Tech 82-86 and big Brad is the first player I remember when thinking about the football team. Those were pretty rough seasons (even though they had a worse coach down in Austin), but I think the team really started the slow but steady improvement into what it is today with key players like Brad.
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Hi Angela,
My heart goes out to you and your family. I had the pleasure to meet Brad and seen him on several occasions because one of my friends when I was in college went to high school with Brad. I knew who Brad was before I met him because I was a huge Red Raider fan and kept up with the recruiting trail.
I was shocked to hear about his death as I did not know about his condition. He will be missed and was a classy guy.
My condolences to Brad’s family and may he rest in peace.
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Brad began what was the turning point in Texas Tech Football in the 80’s. Although I did not play with Brad, he obviously had a very huge impact on all of us future players making a decision to come to Tech. As I see many former players posting on this board, it makes me proud to know that at the end of the day we are a family of Red Raiders! I am extremely saddened and hope and pray for the Hastings family. Always know that Brad was always “looked up” to many!
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Bradley:
Hold on to all the great memories of your dad and remember that you will see him again some day. Losing a loved one is the worst experience anyone can go through. Just know that he is in a better place and will be watching over you the rest of your life. God bless you and your family.
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My earliest tech memories are of big #44 and the havoc he caused offenses. Rest in Peace Brad and may God watch over your family.
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I was at TECH when Brad played for the Raiders, this guy paved the way for other sought after recruits for the team. Brad was a class act on campus and showed it on field. He gave 110% on every play as a linebacker. I can still remember the times I saw him outside of dorms, he was always laughing and enjoying life. God Bless you and your family.
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I only knew Brad for about a year & a half when I was a Junior & he was a Senior at the old Bowie. He was just such a beast on the field but just a real nice guy off of it.
I will never forget in practice one time we were doing 40 yard dashes, one on one. Brad stepped up to the line & no one else stepped up to run against him because they knew they would not win. I went ahead & stepped up there, because I wanted to guage myself against the best. I don’t have to tell you the result because he was the best.
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WE WILL MISS YOU BRAD. MY CONDOLENCES TO YOUR FAMILY. I DID NOT MEET YOUR MOM OR DAD. I’M SURE THEY ARE GREAT FOLKS.
BRAD, YOU WERE THE FIRST I WORKED WITH AT INTERSTATE BATTERIES ( A GREAT COMPANY . . . ACTUALLY, IT WAS A FAMILY ). I DO REMEMBER YOU NOT ONLY BEING A TOUGH GUY, BUT A GREAT LEADER. I SAW YOUR TOUGHNESS EARLY; I WAS SO IN AWE OF YOU, BUT WITHIN DAYS, I SAW WHAT A GREAT MAN YOU ARE, WITH SUCH A GOOD HEART. BECAUSE OF WORKING WITH YOU, I AM A BETTER MAN.
THANK YOU.
ANGELA, BRADLEY , JR. AND AVA MAIRIE: I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM MY FAMILY THAT OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU AND YOURS.
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Bob Lankston, Joe McBride and Steve Chittenden, please call me. Angela Kell Hastings. 817-707-8223. I do not have a number to contact you.
Again, I appreciate everyone’s comments. Brad would be so honored to see how many people cared for and remembered him.
Angela Kell Hastings
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Brad,
You were always like a brother to me and my heart aches to think that you’re gone. All of the incredible Tech memories that I have of you, Joe and I will stay with me my entire life. Some of the best memories I ever had were with you and I am truly honored to have known you and to have called you one of my best friends. You were larger than life and loyal to all of those that you loved. I love you Palzo and it breaks my heart to know that you’re gone.
To Ava and Bradley:
I knew your Dad well. He was one of my best friends and we have shared many wonderful times together over the years. The last time we talked was a few months ago and most of the conversation was about our kids. He loved being your Dad and he was so proud of both of you. He loved you with all of his heart. I pray that God gives you the strength to be able to deal with this now and in the future. If you ever need anything, even just to hear a funny story about your Dad or you want to ask me some questions in the future because you miss him so much, please ask your Mom to contact me. I will contact her soon so she will have my contact information.
Dudley McAfee
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correction: my phone number is 817-704-8223.
Dudley, I would love to hear from you as well. I hope you noticed you are on the website http://www.bradhastings.net.
Angela Kell Hastings
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Brad… I love you like a brother. It was an honor hanging out and spending time with you. May God hold you in his arms!
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Rest in peace Brad and God bless your family.
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I was a walk-on linebacker at Tech who was fortunate enough to play alongside Brad. As I mentioned before, Brad made me want to become a better player. In order to be on the field with him, Dwayne Jiles, Mike Kinsey, and Michael Johnson I had to become a better player. Brad was the epitome of toughness and leadership. As a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator, I look for the same qualities in the kids I coach. For me, as with us all, Brad will always be in our hearts and mind. God Bless you Brad and your family.
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