The Brightest Of Futures Cut Short -- Travis Spring's Death Hits Hard At UW

There seemed so much hope for Travis Spring because he himself had so much.

This was to be his final week of radiation treatments for cancer. He had gotten engaged to be married 10 days earlier to a fellow University of Washington student, Tanita Terry.

"Travis had so much fight in him," said his mother, Sheryl Lamb. "For a kid as strong and talented and special, this just seems like such a bum deal.

"I'm looking at his jacket and shoes. I still can't believe it."

Spring died yesterday morning at his family's home near Seward Park. He was 19 years old. His name isn't as familiar as those of Steve Emtman, Dana Hall and Mario Bailey, but in time it might have been. Last night, those who knew him felt the loss.

"In my entire coaching career, I have never had anything quite this tragic to deal with," UW Coach Don James said. "This is so sad. I really can't express the gravity of my emotions."

Spring was an all-state football player at Franklin High School who redshirted last fall as a freshman at Washington. He was a talented wide receiver, starring in the final scrimmage before the regular season with two touchdown catches. Four times he was named backup player of the week by Husky coaches.

At Rose Bowl practices, he played the part of Michigan's Desmond Howard, the Heisman Trophy winner. He did his job well.

"Travis gave Dana Hall fits," said Jim Lambright, the defensive coach. "He'd beat Dana, catch the ball, Dana would slam Travis to the ground and Travis would bounce up, flip the ball at Dana, smile and then beat him again. He was a great competitor."

On the flight home from the Rose Bowl, Spring's nose was so badly plugged he couldn't breathe through it. An examination revealed a growth in the nasal passage. It was malignant.

Although attention focused on the nasal lymphoma, Dr. James Rockwell of Seattle indicated this morning the cancer had spread to the bone marrow.

"He came to me a very sick young man," said Rockwell. "He knew his situation, but we all stressed the positive aspects of recovery. We wanted to give him every reason to live.

"In the end, his body couldn't handle the treatment he needed to survive."

The initial chemotherapy treatments caused kidney complications, said Dennis Sealey, Husky athletic trainer. Subsequently, Spring was treated only with radiation, and although examinations reavled the nasal lymphoma had been cleared up, his kidneys failed yesterday morning and he died of heart failure.

"Travis hadn't been feeling well, but there was no indication a fatal process was going on," Sealey said. "We're all in shock."

A memorial service will be 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Edward's Parish in Seattle.

"Less than three months ago," said Hall, "Travis was in California with me sharing a national championship. He seemed so healthy. He made a terrific impression on all of us. I just don't know what to say."

Hall recognized Spring's tenacity and talent, and knew he would

contend for a starting spot next fall at wide receiver, a position hit hard by graduation.

He didn't know of an earlier struggle, in Vietnam, where Spring was born of African-American and Vietnamese parents. At 18 months, he was adopted by Terry and Sheryl Spring.

The family grew. Travis had a sister, Tiffany, and three brothers, Jeff, Jeremy and Tyson, and then gained a stepsister and four stepbrothers when his mom remarried.

At Franklin, he was the second coming of Mario Bailey, who graduated to become a first-team All-America receiver at Washington.

Joe Slye, Franklin coach, compared Spring and Bailey last fall. "Like Mario, he has the knack for making the big play. I told Mario to take him under his wing."

Said Spring last fall, "I'm probably here because of Mario. They took a chance on me because Mario came from the same program."

Spring made impressions off the field as well.

"He was one of the favorite kids I'd ever had," said Gayle Dimmitt, journalism teacher at Franklin. "When he smiled, his whole face lit up. He could sense when you were down a little and he would do something to make you feel better. He would give you a hug, or a smile, little but important things. I've been teary-eyed all afternoon."

His mother smiled upon hearing the teacher's words.

"He was so up-beat about life," she said of her son. "And he was so talented. I remember going down to congratulate him after the scrimmage when he caught the touchdown passes. This older man was talking with him. Later, I met that man and it was Hugh McElhenny.

"I told him I was Travis Spring's mom. And he told me, `Your son made professional catches in that scrimmage. He is going to be a great player.' "

Last Saturday, Spring was helped down to the field at Husky Stadium for the final quarter of the Huskies' spring football game. He enjoyed himself; but like so many things left unfinished, he didn't stay long enough to get his national-championship ring.