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To recap, which I had to actually do because I literally lost count, this is ACL injury number 7 to basketball and football players at Purdue since 2009.
Robert Marve tore his during his transfer year in 2009, then again in the Toledo game last year in 2010 (that's two). Rob Hummel tore his in February and October of 2010 (two more). Ralph Bolden tore his before the season in 2010 (that's five total). Keith Smith tore his early last season (that's six) and was then arbitrarily denied another year of eligibility by the always-rational NCAA. And now Rob Henry has torn his, bringing us to seven. (No offense to any Purdue croquet players I missed.) Oh, and just to make you really wonder, Joey Elliott tore his ACL last month making a tackle in a in Canada. Seriously. (And how far back do you want to go? In 2008, Jaycen Taylor missed the season with... yep...a torn ACL.)
But we move onward from here. We've talked about being a fan before and, well, this shouldn't change anything. You're either a Purdue fan or you aren't. And while it's easy to throw your hands up and be incredulous -- and yes, this is amazing bad luck -- you have to also remember the guys who are still out there.
This team lost a teammate, Sean Matti, earlier in the preseason. Now they've been told that one of their captains is injured for the season. And they're coming off a disappointing campaign.
Marve was a guy that we got the feeling they were all getting behind last year... and then he went down. Now we've heard even better stories about Henry's leadership....and he's down.
BUT....
There are still 80+ guys on this team who aren't injured, but who've seen Bolden, Marve, Smith and Henry get their seasons taken away. And, as mentioned, the far more devastating impact of a teammate actually dying. These guys are still working hard, they are still doing their best to believe... and they're eager -- you just know it -- to show us all what kind of team we have in a week.
My point is, don't give up now... don't reduce your support. Don't say you're not going to go to as many games as you might have. Don't throw in the towel. I don't think these guys have yet. I know Coach Hope hasn't yet. Show up next Saturday and make them believe... that you believe.
They might need it more than ever right now.
10 comments:
I think a kicker that came in with the Dayton Mainland guys, Jonathan Linkenheimer, tore his ACL last year as well int he preseason. He was expected to be a kickoff specialist, but tore his, never played, and transferred out this year.
We also had one women's basketball player (the starting point guard) and one women's volleyballer (a starter) tear theirs.
... as well as a softball player (starting left fielder) and a women's soccer player (part-time starter).
I don't know which I want it to be more: just a run of bad luck that will end soon, or something caused by mistakes at some level across the entire department that can be corrected somehow. (I don't even know if the latter is possible.) It's a lot of bad luck for a lot of kids, though.
I certainly don't think it's cause to give up on the team, though ... these aren't the Colts. They weren't going to go 11-2 anyway, and no single player on this team is going to cost them X wins.
I'd feel better about the team's offense if they would throw out the current playbook and borrow Navy's. Given the talent and an experienced offensive line, a Navy-style offense looks like it would fit great with this Boilermaker squad.
KK Houser also tore her ACL last year about 4 minutes into the first game of the season for the women's basketball team.
Maybe Mollenkopf has ghosts?
My comment the other day about a curse was just me blowing a little steam. Such things are silly and are just there to help people blame something, anything. I actually think what BDowd said in the podcast was pretty reasonable: we went through some lucky years with no major injuries, and now the pendulum has swung the other way. It happens.
But hey, who really needs a good quarterback when we have "the most exciting kicker in America!"
Marve tore it against Ball State; right?
Taking Hope's comments from last year and summer ball regarding Terbush's talent level, it would seem that had he not been in trouble academically, he very well could have been the starter last year. Who knows since no body has really seen him play but I don't think offensive production will drop off because Henry is out. More worried about Terbush's leadership qualities.
It Has to be a drill they are all doing in the weight room, something to tweak their knees. Bad form lunges???
Teddy- Marve tore his early in the game v. Toledo...bruised it v. Ball State.
@L2F- It doesn't have to be anything. I agree with bdowd, it's a string of awful luck. If you check ESPN, there's reports of ACL tears coming out everywhere. Sure, we've had a lot, but I think some of us are looking for something to blame unneccessarily.
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