Former USU football player Brian Suite passes away at 28
Former Utah State football player Brian Suite passed away on Tuesday, September 1st at his home in Honolulu at the age of 28 after a valiant battle with stage four Sarcoma cancer.
Head Coach Gary Anderson, who coached Suite from 2010-2013, released a statement about his death.
“I have no words to describe how I’m feeling. Brian’s family, friends, coaches, and teammates have lost a great one far too soon. He was an integral member of this team and of Aggie Nation that impacted the lives of all he came in contact with both off and on the field,” Andersen said. “He embodied everything that we want an Aggie to be, and his example of positivity in the face of adversity will live on. Our hearts are with his mom, Wendy, and with the Suite family at this time of tremendous loss.”
Multiple former teammates and coaches sent heartfelt messages via Twitter expressing their condolences.
Former Aggie Quarterback Chuckie Keeton said: “Today I found out that my brother passed away and I haven’t been able to catch my breath since…Brian, thank you for being the tremendous teammate, friend, locker roommate, and Kava King. The impact that you made must be passed down. Love you my Bruda. Rest Easy my friend!!!”
Today I found out that my brother passed away and I haven’t been able to catch my breath since…
Brian, thank you for being the tremendous teammate, friend, locker room mate, and Kava King. The impact that you made must be passed down. Love you my Bruda. Rest Easy my friend!!! https://t.co/ad1ItH6G5G
— Chuckie Keeton (@CoachKeeton) September 2, 2020
Assistant athletic director for football operations Zach Nyborg said: “BSuite will always be a legend. He was a core member of the crew that built & flipped USU. He fought & attacked this disease with the same positivity & tenacity as he did football. He leaves an example of leaving it all out on the field. You are missed, & won’t be forgotten.”
BSuite will always be a legend. He was a core member of the crew that built & flipped USU. He fought & attacked this disease with the same positivity & tenacity as he did football. He leaves an example of leaving it all out on the field. You are missed, & won’t be forgotten 💙🤍 https://t.co/3npHQXgqwq
— Zach Nyborg (@znyborg) September 2, 2020
A native of Makiki, Hawaii, Suite came to Logan in 2010 as a fresh-faced, 185-pound kid and left as a 205-pound proven leader and winner, going 30-11 in his career and earning several accolades and recognition for his play.
The tenacious safety got his first opportunity to play in 2012 after a redshirt season and a missed season due to injury. He started in 12 of 13 games, earning a career-high 13 tackles in a game against Wisconsin. That season Utah State went 11-2 and Suite helped the Aggies finish No. 7 in the nation in scoring defense, limiting opponents to just 15.4 points per game.
In his junior season in 2013, he had a career-high five interceptions and was named to both the Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports all-bowl teams after his 11 tackles, forced fumble and interception which helped USU beat No. 24 Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia bowl.
As a senior, he earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors and finished the season with 76 tackles. He was signed in free agency to the Detroit Lions in 2015 but was cut at the end of fall camp.
Stage four soft tissue Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer where several malignant tumors spread to different parts of the body. It has a low survival rate.
Suite’s father was also diagnosed with cancer and passed away on August 9, 2019.
On Aug. 12, just over one year after his father’s death, Suite posted an update on his condition to his Instagram.
There are many forms of soft-tissue sarcoma. When it metastasizes (stage 4), it may go to the lungs, liver, bones and other places. It does not always go to the same places. Unfortunately, we don’t know what type this young man had.