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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Former Rebel Norman Hand Passes Away
5/14/2010 | Football
"Norman Hand, 37, collapsed at his residence around 11 this morning," said Colleton County, S.C., Coroner Richard Harvey. "He was taken to the Colleton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 12:39 p.m. ET. The cause of death is pending an autopsy. There is no foul play suspected, and the family has asked me to make the following statement:
'Our beloved Norman was brought to the hospital earlier today. He was unresponsive and resuscitation efforts were not successful. He passed away earlier this afternoon surrounded by his family. Respect for our privacy will be greatly appreciated as we mourn this incomprehensible loss. We ask that you focus on Norman's life and the contributions he made rather than his untimely death.'"
Hand played defensive tackle for the Rebels from 1993-94 after transferring from Itawamba Community College, where he was an All-State pick as a sophomore. During his two years in Oxford, he played in all 22 games with 20 starts and tallied 100 tackles and 12 QB pressures.
As a senior, Hand earned Mississippi Sportswriters All-State first team distinction after ranking fifth among SEC defensive linemen with 61 stops. The preseason All-SEC second team honoree was also credited with nine pressures, 3.5 sacks and an interception.
Following his time in the Red and Blue, Hand was a fifth-round pick of Miami in the 1995 National Football League Draft and played 10 seasons in the NFL. He suited up for five teams, including the Dolphins (1995-96), San Diego Chargers (1997-99), New Orleans Saints (2000-02), Seattle Seahawks (2003) and New York Giants (2004).
Hand started 41 of 44 games for New Orleans and helped the Saints register an NFL-best 66 sacks in 2000 and an NFC-high 53 in 2001. He was honored as the Saints' Man of the Year in 2002 for his work in the community, notably his devotion to the Starbright Foundation program at Children's Hospital-New Orleans.
A prep standout in football and baseball, Hand earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades from Parade and USA Today as a tight end for Walterboro High School. He was also named the state's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1990.
