Alton Grizzard was noisy and upbeat. Kerryn O'Neill was quiet and unassuming. But both former Naval Academy athletes were remembered in Annapolis as true leaders with bright futures ahead of them.
Their futures ended Wednesday when they were shot to death inside the bachelor officers quarters at a southern California naval base Wednesday. Police said Ensign George P. Smith, another Naval Academy graduate and O'Neill's ex-fiance, shot them and then killed himself.The tragedy cast a pall Thursday over the traditional celebrations leading up to the Army-Navy football game that will be played Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J.
Only this year's seniors were at the academy when Grizzard was graduated in 1991 as one of Navy's most celebrated quarterbacks. The 27 seniors on the football team remember him well as an aggressive, outspoken leader.
Standing on the practice field Thursday as a chilly breeze blew in from the Severn River, fullback Brad Stramanak said Grizzard's death might provide extra motivation for the midshipmen Saturday when they play Army because "Alton Grizzard was a motivational person."
"I don't think he would want us to dwell on this. He would want us to go out and beat Army," Stramanak said.
Jason Van Matre, a senior tailback, remembers Grizzard as someone who "was full of life, never quiet, an upbeat person to be around."
"He led by example. He was always first in everything we did," Stramanak said.
Fullback Javier Zuluaga recalled breaking an unwritten rule as a freshman by decking the quarterback during a practice session. The coach chewed him out, but Grizzard "just got up smiling," Zuluaga said.
Grizzard, 24, was a lieutenant junior grade whose parents live in Bowie, Md. He was Navy's all-time offense leader and holds seven academy football records.
O'Neill, 21, was a 1993 graduate of the academy from Kingston, Pa. She won 12 varsity letters in cross country and track and was the academy's outstanding woman athlete last year.
"She was one of the finest people I've ever known," said Michelle Montgomery, captain of this year's cross country team.