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| Friday, November 3 Parry: 'I'm going to play again' Associated Press | |||
| SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Neil Parry didn't shed a tear during an
emotional reunion with his family, friends and teammates at San
Jose State on Friday.
In fact, Parry -- the sophomore walk-on football player whose
right foot and ankle were amputated two weeks ago -- had only one
declaration, and he made it several times.
"I just want to let everybody know I'm going to play again,"
Parry said.
Parry was released from the hospital this week after nearly a
month of extensive surgery, rehabilitation and rest. He will watch
the Spartans' game against No. 9 Texas Christian on Saturday night
from a box seat at Spartan Stadium.
"I'm going to finish what I started by coming here," Parry
said. "I'm not done."
Looking healthy and upbeat while seated in a wheelchair, Parry
gave thanks for the national outpouring of support he received
seriously injured the leg during an Oct. 14 game against UTEP. He
was joined by his parents, coach Dave Baldwin and his brother Josh,
the Spartans' team captain and top linebacker.
"The biggest victory we've ever had in San Jose State football
is to see him sitting over there looking so good," Baldwin said.
The injury severely damaged nerves and arteries in his leg, and
surgery to repair the damage resulted in an infection that
necessitated the amputation.
Parry said he didn't feel any pain when the injury occurred. He
had planted his right foot in the turf while turning to chase
UTEP's kickoff returner, and a blocked teammate awkwardly tumbled
into him.
"It didn't even start to hurt until I got in the ambulance,"
Parry said.
Parry's father, Nick, said he and his son don't plan to watch
replays of the injury. They're more interested in moving forward
with Neil's eventual return to a normal life -- and perhaps even
football.
"It's tough when your child looks up at you for an answer, and
you don't have an answer," said Nick Parry, who went onto the
field when the injury occurred. "(Days later), I was the one who
told him the leg was going to come off, and after a minute of
silence, he said, 'Dad, you've got to roll with the punches.'
"We're going to get back one way or another. We're probably
going to break many prostheses in the process, but we'll do it."
As for Neil Parry's possible return to football, team physician
Martin Trieb said advances in prosthetic devices during the last 15
years have made nearly anything possible -- though he's not aware of
anyone returning to compete in such an advanced sport as
major-college football.
"In the past, we'd have never thought someone could play a
twisting, turning sport," Trieb said. "But he's young. He has the
strength, the agility. With the technology that's out there, I have
no doubt he'll have the chance to reach his goal."
Parry, a Sonora native who played quarterback in high school but
walked on at San Jose State as a safety, said everyone from 49ers
coach Steve Mariucci to members of his old Pop Warner football team
have visited and called to offer encouragement.
He also received letters and calls from dozens of amputee
patients, including a 14-year-old boy who plays football and
baseball.
"They just told me that nothing is impossible, and that this
doesn't have to limit anything I do," Parry said. "Even if I can
only hold the ball for the kicker, that's what I'll do."
Parry said he holds no grudge toward the sport or the school,
and that he'll be cheering Josh -- the Western Athletic Conference's
leading tackler and Neil's roommate -- and his teammates on
Saturday.
"I feel like he's still there with me," Josh Parry said. "I
see him running off the field someday. I know he'll do it."
| ALSO SEE
Parry upbeat after amputation, ready to leave hospital | ||
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