Mike Cofer - Class of 1979

[Bob]

Mike Cofer, who played football at the University of Tennessee and later started 104 games in a 10-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions, died Thursday.

He was 58.

According to The Associated Press, Phil Cofer, a forward on the Florida State basketball team, learned about his father's passing during a phone call from his family after the Seminoles' 76-69 victory over Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

Cofer, who lived if Fayetteville, Georgia, was diagnosed with amyloidosis in the fall of 2007.