cowboyjoe
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Bullet severs athlete's spine at University of Southern Mississippi
A time for prayer here zoners!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2010-11-16-tragedy-at-southern-mississippi_N.htm
By Rick Cleveland, Clarion-Ledger Columnist
HATTIESBURG, MISS. — The first time I saw Martez Smith, he was a freshman on the University of Southern Mississippi football team, and I had to look his name up in the game program. I had never heard of him.
But I had just watched him race down the middle of the field, covering a kickoff, a human blur. He beat his teammates by nearly 10 yards in what amounts to a 50-yard sprint. He rammed through the opposing team's blocking wedge and then nailed the return guy inside the 20-line. It was a stunning display of speed and strength.
A few minutes later, USM kicked off again, and I told two NFL scouts sitting nearby: "Put your binoculars on No. 32, next to the kicker. You aren't going to believe this." Smith did it again. Just like the first time, he blew up the wedge, this time clearing the way for trailing teammates to make the tackle inside the 20.
The program listed Smith, a linebacker, at 6-feet tall and more than 215 pounds, yet he was the fastest and seemingly the most fearless guy on the field. That night more than three years ago came immediately to mind when I learned this distressing news Monday: Martez Smith, so swift and powerful, almost surely never will walk again.
One of the bullets that seriously injured three Southern Miss football players apparently severed Smith's spine. Neither USM, nor hospital officials, have divulged details of the injuries. However, trusted sources also say that junior linebacker Tim Green was shot in the neck, severing his vocal cords, and that junior defensive end Deddrick Jones was shot in the chest. All are expected to survive.
A time for prayer here zoners!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2010-11-16-tragedy-at-southern-mississippi_N.htm
By Rick Cleveland, Clarion-Ledger Columnist
HATTIESBURG, MISS. — The first time I saw Martez Smith, he was a freshman on the University of Southern Mississippi football team, and I had to look his name up in the game program. I had never heard of him.
But I had just watched him race down the middle of the field, covering a kickoff, a human blur. He beat his teammates by nearly 10 yards in what amounts to a 50-yard sprint. He rammed through the opposing team's blocking wedge and then nailed the return guy inside the 20-line. It was a stunning display of speed and strength.
A few minutes later, USM kicked off again, and I told two NFL scouts sitting nearby: "Put your binoculars on No. 32, next to the kicker. You aren't going to believe this." Smith did it again. Just like the first time, he blew up the wedge, this time clearing the way for trailing teammates to make the tackle inside the 20.
The program listed Smith, a linebacker, at 6-feet tall and more than 215 pounds, yet he was the fastest and seemingly the most fearless guy on the field. That night more than three years ago came immediately to mind when I learned this distressing news Monday: Martez Smith, so swift and powerful, almost surely never will walk again.
One of the bullets that seriously injured three Southern Miss football players apparently severed Smith's spine. Neither USM, nor hospital officials, have divulged details of the injuries. However, trusted sources also say that junior linebacker Tim Green was shot in the neck, severing his vocal cords, and that junior defensive end Deddrick Jones was shot in the chest. All are expected to survive.
DAL @ GB
