Sports agent Gary Wichard, who, at least in the college ranks, was probably best known for his involvement with former UNC assistant John Blake and that whole NCAA debacle in Chapel HIll, died at the age of 60 today. He suffered through a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Wichard was first diagnosed in last February, and spent much of the year undergoing chemotherapy. In the wake of UNC’s NCAA scandal, Wichard was suspended by the NFLPA for 9 months in December. Last week, we reported that federal investigators planned to go through Wichard’s financial records dating from 2009.
On the NFL side, Wichard represented such athletes as Baltamore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs, Indianapolis De Dwight Freeney and new Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller.
“I didn’t have any sons,” Wichard said recently. “But these players are my sons. They’re my guys.”
Obviously, every man’s life can be, and often is, viewed differently depending on those who have been impacted by that person. Wichard will unfortunately be known among the college football community for being a part of one of the more significant NCAA scandals of the past year.
Still, our condolences and thoughts go out to Wichard’s family and friends, who I’m sure have a far different memory of him.