Rutgers Football Player Paralyzed After Tackle
- Posted on October 18, 2010 at 7:45am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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(AP) — Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was paralyzed below the kneck after making a tackle during a game against Army, and he will remain hospitalized for the near future.
Coach Greg Schiano said Sunday that LeGrand was resting in the intensive care unit at Hackensack University Medical Center. He had emergency surgery overnight to stabilize the spine after making the tackle during Saturday’s game at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
“Eric’s spirits were as good as you can expect,” said Schiano, who visited with him before and after surgery. “He was cognizant of me being there, his mom, everybody.
“He’s a fighter.”
Schiano, who had tears in his eyes during his press conference following Rutgers’ 23-20 overtime win, talked to his team about LeGrand around noon on Sunday.
“As I talked to our team, we’re just going to believe that Eric LeGrand is going to walk onto that field again with us,” Schiano said. “That’s what we believe. We’ll see with the speed of which that happens.”
LeGrand was hurt with 5:10 to play in the fourth quarter against Army, making a violent tackle on Malcolm Brown on the kickoff return after Rutgers tied the game at 17.
The Avenel resident who played at Colonia High School – just 15 minutes from Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway – appeared to duck his head while making the hit.
The junior lay on the turf for at least 5 minutes while medical and emergency personnel treated him and players on both teams took a knee and watched. Army coach Rich Ellerson walked on the field at one point and put his hand on Schiano’s shoulder to comfort him.
The injury brought back memories of the injury to Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett in 2007. He ducked his head tackling Denver’s Domenik Hixon during the second-half kickoff in the season opener. He was paralyzed from the neck down and doctors feared he’d never walk again.
Everett showed signs of movement days later and began walking by November.
Detroit Lions guard Mike Utley was not so fortunate. He was paralyzed below the chest after sustaining a neck injury in a 1991 game.
Schiano said he already talked to Penn State coach Joe Paterno about how to handle such a delicate situation. Paterno coached Adam Taliaferro, who had a career-ending spinal cord injury in 2002. Doctors initially feared he would never walk again after he was motionless on the field for several minutes. He had a lengthy recovery and eventually walked again.
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JohnDoe
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 7:24amOur great country was founded by and for the citizens of the thirteen colonies. It was designed to insure that a central government was controlled and limited by representatives of those citizens. It was given a limited amount of power, with many checks and balances, to secure the rights and freedoms for its citizens. They were making sure that an American Government would and could not become as Britian had. England enacted laws and taxes on their American subjects, but without allowing the colonies a say in their government. Ignoring the will of the people of America, they bullied and took away what limited rights they had and tried to force them to comply. Sound familiar? Yes, we don’t have to look far across the Atlantic at a despotic leader, we have only to look at the Oval Office in Washington, D. C. and to those whom we had entrusted the liberties of the people and the country. Our representatives, Senate and the House, are there to represent the will of the people. Instead, they have consistently lied to their constituents, both during campaigns and when in office. They have consistently robbed the American people, not only of their money, but also by stealing their liberties, little by little. The incumbent office holders allow themselves to be above the law, they allow themselves to steal by back-room corrupt deals and the like. They ignore the very people who put them in office, they even resort to passing laws, under cover of darkness. They hide laws and corrupt deals in the midst of thousand of pages of laws. This has always been a trick of unethical lawyers. Their mindset is to bog down any opposition by inudating them with mountains of paperwork. Then, they laugh and call the people stupid and ignorant, or worse! No doubt, I could go on and on. Their lack of character, morals and ethics makes them unfit to be employed anywhere, let alone entrusted with the security, freedom, and economic growth of this great country. They have taken your freedom to worship, especially targeting Christianity. They have tried to rewrite the American history, to further their agendas, just like the Moslems continue to do with Israel.
Soon after deciding what sort of Government America was to become, that very question was asked of Benjamin Franklin. In reply Franklin said, “A Republic….if we can keep it”. This is a question that should be upon the lips of all true American patriots. If we can’t or more correctly, if we won’t, then we don’t deserve it. The choice is up to us, the American people, and the answer should be and must be yes we will!
You’re probably asking how do we insure that we will keep this nation a free Republic. Oh, we voted for only those who promised no more taxes, no more spending, etc., etc. Of course they all were proven to be liars again (or should I have said they were just not quite forthcoming or perhaps they were a little disingenuious?). Then we did the “best of the two evils” choice. This was no different than the “Magician’s Choice” trick! We now know that there is no difference between Republicans and the Democrats when it comes to which is telling the truth. Neither has the best interest of America at heart, probably not even in mind! Their goal is simply to acquire power, money, more power and more money while doing and saying anything to remain in office.
So what is the answer? They don’t listen when the people, overwhelmingly, protest and tries to voice their opposition. So the American people need to get their UNDIVIDED attention. How? WE THE PEOPLE, must vote any and all incumbents out of office. It doesn’t matter if they are better than most. If they haven’t been part of the solution, then they are part of the problem. THEY MUST KNOW AND WE MUST LET THEM KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER BE RUN BY ROUGUE LAWYERS AND OPPORTUNISTS, PROGRESSIVES (AKA SOCIALISTS), ETC. THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MODERN-DAY CARPETBAGGERS OR WANNA-BE DICTATORS. THEY MUST BE EDUCATED TO THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE VOTED OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN, UNTIL THEY LEARN THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO RUN THEIR OWN VERISON OF CRIME, INC.
AND THOSE THAT ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE, BUT CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT WILL SOON LEARN THEY WILL HAVE ONLY ONE TERM IN OFFICE.
We, the people, need to lobby our newly elected representatives to enact new laws to insure ALL our freedoms, our security, etc. Enact laws that ethical or criminal behavior of representatives will be prosecuted swiftly and severly, with no possibility of any pardon…not by a state Governor nor by a President! Enact laws or amendments to limit a President to one term only, ensuring that any damage to our country will not be as damaging as is obvious with this Government. Further limit the terms of our Representatives, both in the Senate and the House. Imperative to limit the term of all Supreme Court Justices to no more than an eight year term and make an amendment that the justices can no longer re-interpret the Constitution, but uphold the laws as it was written and intended by the original framers.
So, the bottom line is this: unless the American people get the undivided attention of those in government…when you and your family members are homeless and hungry or at the very least jobless…remember, you have only yourselves to blame.
THE ONLY WAY TO INSURE THAT YOUR FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES WILL LISTEN TO ITS CONSTITUENTS IS VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS!!! FROM THAT POINT ON, EACH REPRESENTATIVE MUST KNOW WE WILL VOTE THEM OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATIVES THAT UNDERSTAND THEY ARE THERE FOR THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:32amSpam post somewhere else loser.
Report Post »jojo
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 10:56pmThat’s heartbreaking. My prayers are with Eric, his family and his teammates.
Report Post »mamawalker
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 6:29pmMy prayers are with you and your family. May God heal you soon!!!
Report Post »JPRAustin
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 2:25pmour prayers are with you and your family.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 2:15pmMy prayers to the family and the player as well as the person who did the tackling this is something that may bring him nightmares.. I am glad my kids were to skinny to want to play football I would have been a nervous wreck..
Report Post »Skwerl E. Muckenfutch
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 12:16pmPrayers for his speedy recovery.
Report Post »Amerigo Vespucci
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 12:08pmThoughts and prayers are with him. Also, for all of us with kids who play football, show them this video and teach them NOT to lead with the top of the head.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 12:05pmHe’s paralyzed because he used the crown of his helmet to make the tackle. I don’t feel any sympathy for him. He was using his equipment in a manner that is against the rules because it is so dangerous both to somebody making a tackle and the person they are tackling. He could just as easily have permanently injured or killed the player he was tackling. Your equipment isn’t there to be used as a weapon; it’s there to protect you.
Take helmets off and this would never happen again. Nobody is sticking the top of their head into somebodies chin running at full speed for fifty yards without a helmet on.
Report Post »canddmf
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 2:10pmAgreed…shame it happened to him, but that is the reason for the rule. I played some in college and nearly had my ribs broken by a similar tackle that was lead using a helmet. Hopefully, he recovers from this mistake.
Report Post »Greyhound424
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 11:41amI pray to the LORD GOD almighty that he will completely heal this man.
Report Post »LittleLordFauntleroy
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 10:45amThat video was so disturbing. I imagine it is difficult to go back on the field and play after that. I pray that God will bless him and heal him so that he can walk again. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Report Post »sobeit
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 10:37amI watched this game on ESPN3.com and Schiano walked over to his mom to comfort her prior to resuming the game. It touched my heart to see the looks on both of their faces and the comfort he provided at the moment. I will say a prayer for his quick recovery!
Report Post »W W GW D?
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 10:21amMy prayers will be with you..a fellow football player
Report Post »littlebin518 ✟
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 10:00amMy heartfelt prayers go out to Eric, his family & friends.
Report Post »mrep809
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 9:50amYou hate to see that happen, and may God give his body the strength to recover and comfort his mama’s heart.
Report Post »klevalt
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 9:37amPrayers for heis healing and for the comfort of his family and fellow team mates. Lord bless them all and fulfill their needs as you see fit. Amen.
Report Post »thefiremanjoe
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 9:05amI will be praying for him!!!!
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:49amThere has been so much learned about treating these injuries in the last 10 years that I would already have high hopes for the young man, but the power of God and the power of prayer are way ahead on his side. I am adding my prayers to circle. Amen.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:10amHe’s in my thoughts and prayers.
Report Post »justsaying
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:09amWe are praying for this man, his family, and his teammates.
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:07amPrayers and blessings go out tho him and his family. Such a tragedy. Let’s pray he gets use of some/all of his limbs back.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:03amOMG I hope he can recover from that , keep your faith & keep your prayers @ all time .
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:14amAmen will do the same and have asked friends to do the same as well.
Report Post »gobluebuckeye
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:02amI never like seeing this, he and his family will be in my prayers..
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:01amPrayers for Divine healing up from my lips to The Father’s ears. There is hope!!!
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 7:55amI hope the youngster comes out OK.
Report Post »BQI
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 7:55amI and my family will pray for this young man and his family.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:12amMay the healing hand of the Almighty heal his injuries to mind and body, comfort him and his families and guide the hands who aid him with the knowledge and power from above.
All please keep this man in prayer – both him and his family.
For what is impossible for a human is possible by the authority and power of the Almighty.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)
grandmaof5
Posted on October 18, 2010 at 8:37amWe will pray this is a temporary injury and this brave young man will soon be up and walking. Our thoughts and prayers also for his coaches, teammates, and family. God bless.
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