Wheeler Bowl 2023

On September 30, 2021, the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at Northeastern University suffered the sudden and tragic loss of our fellow brother and my best friend, Matthew Wheeler. Matt was a light in all of our lives, and the chapter has not been the same since his passing. We all miss him indescribably every day. It was later determined that Matt died due to accidental fentanyl poisoning after taking a pill that was pure fentanyl when he thought it would be something different. Matt was not an addict; he took one pill that ended up being the biggest mistake of his life. Matt was only 20 years old, looking forward to the school year ahead.

Fentanyl-laced drugs have become an epidemic in recent years, becoming the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. More than suicide, covid, or car accidents. 175 people die from fentanyl every day. As of April 2021, there has been a 49% increase in yearly fentanyl overdose deaths.

(Sources: cdc, familiesagainstfentanyl. org)

These deaths are preventable, especially for young college students. Awareness is an essential aspect of preventing these needless, tragic deaths.

Football was Matt’s greatest love in life. From being a player to a fan, football flowed through his veins. Because of this, we are honoring Matt by hosting the second annual Wheeler Bowl Charity Touch Football Tournament for our fellow Northeastern students on November 5, 2023 in McLaughlin Park. The funds raised will be donated to Song for Charlie, an organization whose mission is to educate young people on the dangers fentanyl poisoning and prevent needless deaths like Matt’s from happening. Last year at our inaugural Wheeler Bowl event, we raised over $8,500 to aid in education and outreach for this issue, and this year we hope to top that goal and donate even more to this important cause.

Click here to sign up to play in the Wheeler Bowl