New Evidence Surfaces In UCF Player's Death

New evidence surfaced Friday in the death of a UCF football player whose family is suing the school. Ereck Plancher died four years ago during an off-season workout.

Friday, WFTV heard one of Plancher's former teammates describe what players went through. It was a videotaped deposition that WFTV viewed during Friday's hearing, but it gave a harrowing description of the off-season workout that ended with Plancher's death.

On what marks the fourth anniversary of Plancher's death, attorneys for his family laid out a case for punitive damages.

"We've learned in this country one thing, sometimes the best thing, when someone does something wrong, is to simply admit it and accept responsibility," said Plancher's attorney, Steven Yerrid.

Plancher died March 18, 2008 after an off-season workout supervised by UCF football coach George O'Leary.

Friday, the Plancher family attorneys played a videotaped deposition from one of Plancher's former teammates. Anthony Davis described a grueling conditioning session. He said it began with agility drills and then players moved onto an obstacle course.

"He said, 'I don't want any water, all the water I want is outside and I want the trainers to get away from the field,'" Davis said in the video recording.

That's when Davis said a timed obstacle challenge began. It only took a short time before Davis said Plancher began to struggle. At one point, Davis said, Plancher collapsed.

"Coach O'Leary was like, 'Get up! Get your a** up,'" Davis described.

"His testimony is completely contrary to everybody else inside that field," UCF attorney Dan Shapiro said.

Shapiro asked Judge Robert Evans for a chance to cross-examine the witness in the Plancher family's deposition. That request was granted.

Both sides will finish their arguments next Friday.

But if the judge decides this is more than a negligence case, it could open the door to millions in punitive damages.

Previous Stories: September 24, 2010: Family Of Dead UCF Player Can Sue For Millions September 24, 2010: Judge To Decide Limits In UCF Player's Wrongful Death Suit August 12, 2010: UCF Coach Knew About Player’s Condition Before He Died March 11, 2010: Judge Takes Self Off Case In UCF Player Death March 11, 2010: UCF Coach May Be Deposed In Open Court August 26, 2009: Report: UCF Coaches In The Dark About Plancher's Sickle Cell Trait August 21, 2009: UCF Fights Wrongful Death Lawsuit December 8, 2008: Web Site Calls For UCF Coach O'Leary's Firing December 8, 2008: Friends Say UCF Player Denied Water During Workout November 24, 2008: UCF Releases More Documents Related To Football Player's Death November 3, 2008: Former Player Accuses UCF Of Cover Up April 11, 2008: Reports Say UCF Football Player Showed Signs Of Weakness Before Death March 26, 2008: Internal Review Complete After UCF Football Player's Death March 24, 2008: Spring Practice Begins Days After UCF Football Player's Death March 21, 2008: UCF Won't Answer Some Questions Related To Football Player's Death