ChiefsPlanet - USC kicker found dead!

Didn't see this posted.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16400951.htm

Southern California kicker Mario Danelo was found dead Saturday about 120 feet down a rocky cliff near Point Fermin lighthouse in Los Angeles’ San Pedro section.

The body was reported by a passer-by at about 4:30 p.m., said Martha Garcia of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Danelo, the 21-year-old son of former NFL kicker Joe Danelo, made 15 of 16 field goals this season and led the Trojans in scoring with 89 points. A junior, he made two field goals in the Rose Bowl on Monday and helped USC beat Michigan 32-18.

Speaking on behalf of Trojans coach Pete Carroll, USC director of sports information Tim Tessalone said: “We were stunned to hear about this tragedy. This is a great loss. Mario was a wonderful young man of high character.

“He was one heck of a kicker. He was a key ingredient in our success the past two years.”

Danelo was an All-City Section player at San Pedro High School. He redshirted at USC in 2003 and did not have any attempts in 2004.

Danelo, however, earned a scholarship in the fall of 2005 and had a record-setting season for the Trojans, who reached the Bowl Championship Series title game for the second consecutive year. Danelo made 11 of 12 field-goal attempts.

He also converted 83 of 86 extra-point attempts, setting NCAA records for both attempts and makes.

Danelo is the second USC athlete to die in the last eight months. Ryan Francis, a point guard for the basketball team, was shot to death last May in Baton Rouge, La.