Brett Finbloom died 14 years ago. His legacy lives on through 'Make Good Decisions Night'
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A police call woke up Dawn and Norm Finbloom at 12:45 a.m. It was about 3 ½ hours after their son, Brett, left for a friend’s house. He was just weeks away from attending the University of Oklahoma in the fall.
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The Carmel police officer said Finbloom was being taken the St. Vincent Hospital because his heart had stopped after a night of underage drinking.
After 2 ½ days on life support, the former Carmel boys soccer player died due to alcohol poisoning in August of 2012.
Fourteen years since his death, the annual “Make Good Decisions Night” will take place at Murray Stadium on Friday. Carmel will host Homestead at 8 p.m. on a night where the Greyhounds will raise awareness about the Indiana Lifeline Law, which provides legal protection to minors who are under the influence and report a medical emergency. It will also help raise funds for The Brett Ryan Finbloom Memorial Scholarship.
Also known as “Pack the House Night”, the event has historically brought in 1,500 to 3,000 fans for the game.
“It’s developed into something that’s become really important,” Norm Finbloom said. “It’s created over 30 scholarships in excess of $50,000 for students. It has spread the word which then has allowed the people that are in attendance to be educated and spread the word.
“There’s a new group of young adults that come in and may or may not have any knowledge of the Indiana Lifeline Law. It’s the lack of knowledge what leads to a terrible tragedy and a mistake.”
Finbloom, a 2012 Carmel graduate, often played as a center midfielder for the Greyhounds. He was a scholar athlete who won "Best Dressed" as a senior. He sported his signature bowtie on Fridays, which started a trend among his classmates at Carmel.
He had a heart of gold. He radiated a big personality with a compassion for others that was just as bright. He developed a friendship with the team’s honorary team captain, who had down syndrome, and took him under his wing. He hung out with him, walked him to class and made sure he was taken care of.
His persona was a blend of vibrancy and kindness. That’s a big reason why his death impacted so many. He was about to embark on his future, ready to light up the room in college.
His death occurred just over a month after the Indiana Lifeline Law was passed on July 1, 2012. He attended a party where he drank too much, too fast and passed out. For fear of getting in trouble, other people at the gathering didn’t call 911 immediately. Some ran. Others didn’t fully cooperate with authorities.
His heart stopped before it was revived. But while in serious condition at the hospital, tests revealed he had no brain activity.
“I tell my classes when I talk about it a little bit that it’s part of my soul and part of my heart that I, unfortunately, was able to go into the hospital room and see Brett after it happened and I don’t want to ever do that again,” said Carmel head coach Shane Schmidt. “We sell t-shirts every year. That money goes to the Carmel Education Fund to create scholarships for Carmel High School students as well as to continue the education at the grassroots level with the Indiana Youth Services Association and Make Good Decisions. It’s unfortunate with his death but it’s unbelievable what Norm and Dawn have done to continue a legacy and not have it be forgotten and be a part of his program.”
Senator Jim Merritt, Brett's family and the Indiana Youth Services Association joined together to create the Make Good Decisions initiative. Finbloom is memorialized by schooling of the Indiana Lifeline Law.
Carmel assistant coach Sam Kramer, who was an incoming high school freshman in 2012, started helping with “Make Good Decisions Night” during his junior year. He even wrote a grant for the event entering his senior year. The message moved him so much that he decided to convey it as a college student and soccer player.
“I’ve heard stories and seen the statistics on how many lives it could save, and it actually really helps students,” Kramer said. “Once I went to college, I thought this was a message that needs to be on college campuses and I was able to do the same event, Make Good Decisions soccer game, at DePauw University against our rivals Wabash (College)… I was able to change the policies in the DePauw student handbook to reflect the Indiana Lifeline Law.”
The Indiana Lifeline Law lacked widespread awareness during its early years. Finbloom’s parents, Dawn and Norm, started speaking at high schools and colleges throughout the state to promote the cause. Eventually, schools started to actively promote the law and enforce internal policies to amplify the message. Finbloom's parents even educated local police.
“It was a law but there was no funding there to let the law to be advertised, so nobody knew about it, hardly, or understood it,” Dawn Finbloom said. “Really, a lot of it won’t do anything if it’s not understood and that’s what the mission of Make Good Decisions has been and that these soccer players (at Carmel) are helping to carry on by because this a part of their program every year.”
Friday’s event will be the latest effort in educating the youth, over a decade since Finbloom’s death. The 18-year-old is forever embedded in the Carmel boys soccer team. His comedic character can still be visualized by those who knew him and saw him take the soccer fields at Carmel.
The teachings of the Indiana Lifeline Law and The Brett Ryan Finbloom Memorial Scholarship are love letters to his memory. Through their years of advocating, Finbloom’s parents have heard how their son’s story has helped others in certain situations. He was a son, an older brother, a teammate, a scholar and a stand-up guy wrapped in one.
His memory will shine with the reciting of the Make Good Decisions pledge on Friday, a three-part statement that has been said in unison over the years.
"I will do my best to make good decisions."
"If someone needs help I will make the call."
"If I need help, I give you permission to Make The Call for me."
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at [email protected] , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Brett Finbloom died 14 years ago. His legacy lives on through 'Make Good Decisions Night'