OT- Rutgers DE paralyzed from neck down after tackle
For everyone complaining about wins, losses, and the defense, here is a little perspective on how well we have it. I feel bad for the kid. It didn't look like he used bad form on the tackle either. I hope that he can pull through and reach the levels Brock has. There are things more important than wins and losses and this is one of them.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/ncf/news/story?id=5696563
October 17th, 2010 at 5:09 PM ^
It is absolutely sickening that these young men keep getting hurt this severely in the game we all love. I hope that with a few prayers, some great doctors and lots of hard work he can get some movement back someday.
You'll be in my prayers tonight Eric LeGrand.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
That was terrible to see. I hope and pray for him and his family. What a nightmare they are going thru. With all the disappointment and complaining we do- this definitely puts everything in perspective.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
October 17th, 2010 at 5:12 PM ^
Certainly, we are all pulling for Schiano on this issue. He's got a tough job ahead to pull that team together, help this young man, and deal with this tragedy.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
Wasn'tdown by any means, but somehow jammed straight back. This is unfortunate, and any player's, and their families worst nightmare. I played for 15 years, including college, and was always terrified of exactly this. I hope that the most high shows favor upon this young man.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:23 PM ^
Makes you take a step back and put things in perspective and take stock of all the valuable things in your life and realize you should take none of them for granted. Regardless of your background, religion, or beliefs I would hope that everyone would say a prayer , wish , or just keep this young man in your thoughts. I hope the best for him and his family.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
encouragement the Rutgers website has a a way to do so:
October 17th, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^
and done. Thank you for posting that link. I'm sure a lot of us will show him support like we have for Brock. Good luck Eric, see you back on the field soon!
October 17th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
Thanks for posting this. When you see stuff like this, it just makes you sick with worry for all the kids out there who play tackle football. I hope he fully recovers.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:10 AM ^
I just sent him a message. Man, I really feel for him and his family. Kudos and plus 1 for you for the link
October 17th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
Such an innocuous hit, and I wish the family the best. Hopefully once the swelling subsides and they are able to look at the injury more, perhaps the prognosis will be better.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:43 PM ^
That's just terrible. You watch this game on TV or in the stands and it's easy to forget what a violent game it can be. Hope that this kid recovers ASAP.
October 17th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^
"It didn't look like he used bad form on the tackle either."
I respectfully disagree. It looks to me like he dips his head just before the impact, a big no-no that you still see guys do all the time and thankfully get away with. Players are taught to keep their head up through the tackle.
October 17th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
I wish they would force every young player to watch this clip. Just as an estimation, I think this accounts for about 90% of all serious injuries (I deem serious as head/spine injuries, ones that affect the rest of your life). What a terrible occurence.
October 17th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
October 18th, 2010 at 1:43 AM ^
Yes, I don't know what these "clean hit" people are talking about. It looked pretty obvious to me that he hit the guy with the crown (top) of his head, which puts a player at a huge risk for a major spinal injury.
The sad fact is that really, nothing will be done to dial down head tackles unless/until somebody sues a coaching staff and a corps of officials. Those depositions would be unreal. They'd ask the coaches if they advocate against using the helmet to tackle, and ask to see their playbooks and internal memoranda concerning player safety. They'd interview teammates to ask if and how the coach reacted to unsafe tackles in practice or on film - seriously, or with an "aw shucks" and move on? They'd call crew chiefs in and ask if the refs had addressed the spearing penalty or had overlooked lack of enforcement of safety rules. With the number of helmet-first tackles I see, methinks a lot of coaching staffs, and officiating organizations, would have a lot to fear from a good team of plaintiffs attorneys. As we see in Hollywood, it's easy to make coaches into demons.
Incidentally, I just coached a game in which we were the beneficiaries of four (!) spearing penalties. I hadn't seen spearing called in a game let alone that much (our opponent was doing it on every play to every player).
October 17th, 2010 at 6:39 PM ^
young man. Thoughts and Prayers
October 17th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
Makes our loss pretty insignificant now huh. Man I hope this guy ends up being ok. Thoughts and prayers most certainly go out to his family and friends. Good luck Eric!
October 17th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
Tackle seemed ok to me. Just bad luck for the kid.
Godspeed Eric, get well soon, and don't stop believing in your ability to recover.
October 17th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
Get better Eric, you can do it...God bless...
October 17th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
Prays will certainly be going his way
October 17th, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
Such a tragedy....Everytime I watch a game and see these types of injuries my stomach drops. Just breaks my heart for him and his family.
Quick question for the board. Whatever happened with that experimental cold saline treatment they would inject spinal chord victims with right after the accident....
October 17th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
(Possibly) great news:
According to two posters on scarletnation.com, Eric LeGrand just moved one of his toes and is having tingling feelings in one of his hands.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:56 AM ^
It is a reminder how fragile and precious life is, and how much we have to be thankful to God for. Sometimes, it takes a wakeup slap in the face like this to stop being so unaware and ungrateful for all I have. Thanks for posting this.
October 18th, 2010 at 2:16 AM ^
I pray he can recover. The news from the hospital (posted by gebe659 above) is really encouraging.
October 18th, 2010 at 7:33 AM ^
Thank you for posting this. Events like this really put everything in perspective. It is awful to see great kids like Eric have life changing injuries. He is in my prayers and thoughts.
October 18th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^
Things like this make me cringe. My thoughts and prayers definitely are with this kid and his family.
This isn't as significant, but did anyone else hear about Kyle Rudolph (ND's TE)? His hamstring fell clean off of his femur. Things like this definitely make me have a lot more respect for the players, for I don't think we (as fans) realize how much they put on the line.
October 18th, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^
I grew up a few blocks from Hackensack Medical Center and and it is regarded as one of the best hospitals in NJ. Many trauma injuries are directed there. Eric is known at Rutgers as a really good guy and one of those "young leaders" like you see on some teams. He's the 3rd DT but gets starter minutes and would have started next year and most likely would have been named a captain. But football means nothing now.
I hope that he can someday walk again ang go back to RU and get his degree and have a live a happy life.
October 18th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
Here's praying for a full recovery and the strength for him to get there.