8-3-04 - The death of a north Texas high school football player during practice this week is weighing heavily on local practices.

Dallas Carter High School Senior Eric Brown got sick during practice yesterday and went home -- where he became sick and ended up in a hospital. He later died. He was one of three players from Carter sent to the hospital for heat exhaustion.

Coaches in Grayson County aren’t taking the incident lightly. In Gunter, the players are only practicing during the morning hours, to escape the intense heat of the afternoon. Coaches run them through drills for no more than 20 minutes at a time, then allow five minute water breaks. But sometimes it can still be too much. During their first day of practice on Monday, an offensive lineman went home sick from the heat. He should be back by the end of the week.

Coaches also advise players to drink water throughout the afternoon and night, not just at practice.

As for the player from Dallas, authorities are still trying to determine exactly what caused his death.