Alabama TE Vogler wearing braclet to honor memory of former Auburn counterpart
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama senior tight end Brian Vogler has been wearing a bracelet this fall in remembrance of Philip Lutzenkirchen.
The former Auburn tight end was killed in a car accident outside of LaGrange, Ga., on June 30. He was 23.
“We were really close,” Vogler said. “We hung out in high school a good bit over spring break his senior year together. Then we just, he was my host whenever I went to Auburn. I’d go there a good bit just because it was so close. We stayed connected over the last couple of years.”
Vogler is from Columbus, Ga., across the state line from Auburn, while Lutzenkirchen hailed from Marietta, just north of Atlanta.
Crimson Tide senior quarterback Blake Sims wore a similar bracelet during the Florida game as a tribute to Auburn student Kayla Perry, a 19-year-old diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the most common form of cancer diagnosed for infants and very young children.
Lutzenkirchen, a very popular player caught 14 touchdowns between 2009 and 2012 to set a school scoring record for his position, was ejected from the back seat of a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe and died at the scene of the accident. The driver, Joseph Ian Davis, was also killed after being partially ejected. Nether was wearing a seat belt and both had been drinking.
“I was fortunate enough to have time off to go to the memorial service and go see his family, just remember his life with them,” Vogler continued. “It was a really unfortunate thing that happened. I think it brought out all the good things that he’s had in his life. Obviously, it makes you step back and want to be the sort of person he was.”
Vogler said he went to the service with an Alabama walk-on who was friends with one of the other three people in the accident.
Meanwhile, Lutzenkirchen’s sister Abby is a three-year starting defender on the Crimson Tide soccer team. She’s started all 11 games this season (7-3-1, 2-1 SEC), with two assists, and switched her jersey number form 33 to 43 to honor her brother’s memory.
“Every time I see 43, whether it’s on the clock or on my price ticket or anything, I just think of him,” she told rolltide.com. “I think that playing with 43 on my back this year is a huge honor for me, and I think about him constantly – on the field, off the field. It’s given me a different perspective when I’m on the field.”
The Lutzie 43 Foundation was set up in his honor. It’s mission is to “develop the character of young athletes and their coaches focusing on leadership, charity, compassion, mentorship, hard work, honesty, and faith.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
