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Saturday, October 14
'Come on, it's a mere flesh wound'

By John D. Hunter
ESPN.com

College football players continue to get bigger, faster and stronger every year. While this makes for some exciting football, the unfortunate part of this evolution is more injuries on the field. It seems a weekend doesn't go by where the headlines aren't sprinkled with news of more and more players being lost for the season or nicked up with injuries.


	Colorado's Javon Green says he has no problem playing with pain.

It is something every player must deal with and it prompted this week's The Players question. We asked our pool of student-athletes how they deal with injuries and when they decide to play in pain. We also asked the players to describe the impact a starter's injury can have on the team.

As you read this week's responses, you will find an interesting recurring theme -- no matter the injury, the team trainer plays a big part in any football injury.

Javon Green, wide receiver Colorado
"I try to take care of the injury and get it worked out. I make sure the swelling goes down and do the best I can to figure out what is the best way to treat it. I don't always listen to the trainers. Each player knows his body better than anybody else. You take the trainers' and doctors' advice but in the end, you have to use your best judgement and decide for yourself what's best.

"If the injury is not visible to the opponent and you can handle the pain, then go ahead and play. But if the pain is too excruciating that you can't even perform, then it becomes bad for the team, and you have to pull yourself out."

Starter goes down

"When a key player is lost for the season, the situation forces the team to become closer. They have to pull together even tighter because one of the links is gone and they need to make up for that lost link."
Reggie Newhouse, Baylor

"It might have a small effect on the team, but players are replaceable, there is always someone behind them. You just hope for the best and hope no one gets injured."
Kenny Clark, UCF

"Everyone has to pick up the slack. It hurts the team but more often than not, a star will be born because of an injury to someone else."
Javon Green, Colorado

"Losing a starter is difficult, but that is what practice is for. Your No. 2's will have to step up and make plays for you throughout the year."
Romaro Miller, Mississippi

"I think it all depends on the personnel and the depth of your team. If the No. 2 guy is ready to play and can step in and not miss a beat, then an injury to the No. 1 guy doesn't have to really change anything. We try to keep focusing and not slack off just because a "starter" isn't playing. We keep playing as a team and we focus on our assignments. To other teams, losing a key player brings about questions and doubt. Other teams might rally around each other. It just all depends."
Marlon McCree, Kentucky

"It hurts the team's morale. Your teammates are like your brothers, and when one gets hurt, you hurt with them. When a starter goes down, the only thing you can hope for is that his back-up steps in and gets the job done."
Chris Lepore, Navy

"If it happens, especially during the middle of the season, a team can experience anything and everything from a loss of leadership to a change in team chemistry. The one positive of a serious injury occurring to a major contributor would be the chance for younger players to step up and assume a starting/leadership role. An injury can be a blessing in disguise for someone waiting in the wings to earn their notice."
Travis Dorsch, kicker Purdue

"It hurts a lot because he is a major factor on the team and you need every person that plays a significant part on the team to be there and contribute. The only way it should change the team is to practice a lot harder and the backups should step up and practice harder."
Dylen Smith, Kansas

"Obviously, you have concern for him, his family,and his friends. We're concerned for his well-being. But I also expect the next person in line to step in and contribute, or as we say 'pick up the flag.' You want to make sure that the injured player is safe and will recover, but the next guy on the depth chart has to step up and contribute."
Chris Palic, Arizona

Kenny Clark, wide receiver Central Florida
"If I get hurt, I approach it day-by-day. I try to get treatment four or five times a day and then pray - pray that I can get back by the next game. The trainers try to get anyone who is injured into the training room at least three times a day. I cooperate with the trainers because they know a lot more than I do in that field so I just try to do what they tell me to do. When I can't play like Kenny Clark, then it's time to sit down. I feel like I'll be hurting the team then. But if I can play like Kenny Clark and still play with pain then there's no reason to come off the field. I've hid injuries before, but they weren't injuries that hampered my play. If it was an injury that hampered my play, I don't think I could hide it very well."

Marlon McCree, linebacker Kentucky
"I listen to my body and I listen to our trainers. You have to have trainers you can trust. At Kentucky, I totally trust our trainers. They assess the injury and let us know what our options are. If the injury is minor and they think we can play through the pain, then it's our decision. But, if they tell us we have to sit out, then we have to sit out. They know what is best. They will do whatever they can to get us back out there, but they won't let us get back out there too quick so we don't damage ourselves further."

Dylen Smith, quarterback Kansas
"I deal with an injury by going into the training room and getting treatment and doing whatever the trainers tell me to do. I do listen to the trainers about treatment but it's hard to listen to them when you want to be out there playing. If you can't put any pressure on your injury then you shouldn't be out there. I have hidden injuries before because I never want to come out of the game.

Chris Palic, punter Arizona
"In a sense you do listen to the trainers, but at this level you have to learn to play through the pain. Obviously, there are times when life-threatening injuries like multiple concussions or back injuries may cause you to be more cautious and sit out. I'm a strong believer in that if you tell your body its healed, or feeling better, it will speed up the rehab process ... It's not about hiding injuries, but being able to play through pain."

Reggie Newhouse, wide receiver Baylor
"I don't like the training room at all, so I like to avoid it whenever I can. But, if I know that I am hurt and that my injury will hurt the team, I go see the trainer. The trainers know what they are doing and it's important to see them early so the healing process can begin. Pain is part of the game. Everyone plays with pain, but an injury is something you can't play with. It is important to realize that and work toward getting healthier.

Romaro Miller, quarterback Mississippi
"I try to stay out of the training room as much as possible. If you are injured you have to go to treatment at 7 a.m., so for us to go to treatment, you have to really be injured! I have been hurt before in a game, and looking back on it, I probably should have come out. However, I chose to stay in because I did not want to let my teammates down. It was hard because I was hurt, but I saw my teammates out there and I knew they needed me so it drove me to keep on playing. When I have been injured, I have not had a fear of less playing time, but I have had the fear of letting my teammates down. As a quarterback, I feel like the offense needs me a lot and I do not want to send those guys out there without me if I can help it."

Chris Lepore, free safety Navy
"Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. When I get injured, I usually tell the trainers because I feel that the treatment I will receive will help me heal quicker. Whenever I'm hurt, I will make the decision to play or not based on my performance. If I feel I'm helping my team being out on the field while I'm hurt, then I'll play through it. But if I feel that someone else can do my job better than me, then I'll take myself out. In general, I don't hide any serious injury from the trainers or coaches."

"When a teammate goes down, it hurts the team's morale. Your teammates are like your brothers, and when one gets hurt, you hurt with them. When a starter goes down, the only thing you can hope for is that his back-up steps in and gets the job done."

Travis Dorsch, kicker Purdue
"Being a kicker and punter, it is not too often that I think about being injured. I believe, though, the hardest part about dealing with an injury is getting back on the field and regaining confidence. It takes time and reps to return from a serious injury to expected playing form, and it's always hard to accept the trainer's decisions about how long they expect you to be out. As young athletes, we tend to be overzealous in our attempt to get back to pre-injury status, and this can often lead to complications in rehabilitation.

"An old sports cliche used by many coaches and trainers asks, "Are you hurt, or are you injured?" Well, this is tough line to draw, because as athletes we want to be on the field for every snap. By hiding an injury, though, we can hurt the ballclub with a sub-par performance, and possibly even injure ourselves further."

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