Max
08-17-2001, 10:58 AM
Miles OK after bruising spinal cord in practice
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's first situational scrimmage of the preseason was marred yesterday by a spinal cord bruise to senior cornerback Willie Miles, who was immobilized and taken by ambulance to UT Medical Center.
Team physician Val Gene Iven said last night that early reports from the hospital were optimistic and that Miles had movement and sensation.
For precautionary purposes, Miles remained overnight for continued observation of his lower back and head injuries.
''Any time something like that happens, obviously all of us are concerned as a football team and as a program,'' Coach Phillip Fulmer said. ''It's a tremendous fear every coach has, but the good news is that it looks like Willie's going to be OK.''
The team huddled and said a short prayer for Miles just before practice ended. Several players left the Neyland-Thompson complex hurriedly to visit Miles at the hospital.
''It always brings you back to reality when you see one of your teammates go down like that,'' said quarterback Casey Clausen.
The injury occurred when Miles went up to defend a pass and hit awkwardly, according to Fulmer.
In a scene reminiscent of Billy Ratliff's spinal cord injury in 1997, UT medical personnel worked on Miles for nearly 25 minutes.
His face mask was removed, and he was strapped to a board and administered IV fluids on the field.
Scrimmage highlights: The Vols' passing game had sputtered for much of the two-a-days, but Clausen and his receivers seemed to find a groove yesterday.
The start to the scrimmage was ominous enough (a fumbled snap), but Clausen came back to spread the ball around to different targets.
Stallworth hauled in a 50-yard, over-the-shoulder bomb. Kelley Washington turned a quick slant into a 60-yard touchdown after spinning to the outside and away from the defender.
Eric Parker made a nifty adjustment, coming back on the ball for a leaping 28-yard grab.
Leonard Scott twice went across the middle, absorbing crushing blows and holding onto the ball.
''That's what is so exciting for me, it's not just one guy,'' said Clausen, who moved well in the pocket and also made a few nice adjustments at the line. ''Everybody is getting a touch, getting a chance to make plays. Every single one of those guys can make it happen, and it's my job to get them the ball and let them do their thing.''
Scott said the Vols' receivers made a statement to Fulmer.
''I think we opened his eyes that we have a receiving corps and we can get it done,'' Scott said. ''Now that he sees that, it's just our job to go out there and keep continuing what we are doing.''
The freshmen running backs also got extensive work. Both Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis fumbled, but they also showed the kind of dogged running style Fulmer likes.
Houston had one 15-yard run where he cut back to the left side and nearly broke it for a touchdown.
The down side to the passing game clicking was that the secondary gave up too many big plays for Fulmer's liking.
Buck Fitzgerald had the only interception of the day for the Vols and also had the hit that forced Davis to fumble.
Injury list: A large number of players either missed the scrimmage because of injuries or were held out for precautionary reasons.
One of the newcomers to the list was defensive tackle John Henderson with a neck stinger.
Defensive tackle Rashad Moore injured his left wrist yesterday and was concerned that he might have broken it. He left the complex with his wrist in a brace.
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's first situational scrimmage of the preseason was marred yesterday by a spinal cord bruise to senior cornerback Willie Miles, who was immobilized and taken by ambulance to UT Medical Center.
Team physician Val Gene Iven said last night that early reports from the hospital were optimistic and that Miles had movement and sensation.
For precautionary purposes, Miles remained overnight for continued observation of his lower back and head injuries.
''Any time something like that happens, obviously all of us are concerned as a football team and as a program,'' Coach Phillip Fulmer said. ''It's a tremendous fear every coach has, but the good news is that it looks like Willie's going to be OK.''
The team huddled and said a short prayer for Miles just before practice ended. Several players left the Neyland-Thompson complex hurriedly to visit Miles at the hospital.
''It always brings you back to reality when you see one of your teammates go down like that,'' said quarterback Casey Clausen.
The injury occurred when Miles went up to defend a pass and hit awkwardly, according to Fulmer.
In a scene reminiscent of Billy Ratliff's spinal cord injury in 1997, UT medical personnel worked on Miles for nearly 25 minutes.
His face mask was removed, and he was strapped to a board and administered IV fluids on the field.
Scrimmage highlights: The Vols' passing game had sputtered for much of the two-a-days, but Clausen and his receivers seemed to find a groove yesterday.
The start to the scrimmage was ominous enough (a fumbled snap), but Clausen came back to spread the ball around to different targets.
Stallworth hauled in a 50-yard, over-the-shoulder bomb. Kelley Washington turned a quick slant into a 60-yard touchdown after spinning to the outside and away from the defender.
Eric Parker made a nifty adjustment, coming back on the ball for a leaping 28-yard grab.
Leonard Scott twice went across the middle, absorbing crushing blows and holding onto the ball.
''That's what is so exciting for me, it's not just one guy,'' said Clausen, who moved well in the pocket and also made a few nice adjustments at the line. ''Everybody is getting a touch, getting a chance to make plays. Every single one of those guys can make it happen, and it's my job to get them the ball and let them do their thing.''
Scott said the Vols' receivers made a statement to Fulmer.
''I think we opened his eyes that we have a receiving corps and we can get it done,'' Scott said. ''Now that he sees that, it's just our job to go out there and keep continuing what we are doing.''
The freshmen running backs also got extensive work. Both Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis fumbled, but they also showed the kind of dogged running style Fulmer likes.
Houston had one 15-yard run where he cut back to the left side and nearly broke it for a touchdown.
The down side to the passing game clicking was that the secondary gave up too many big plays for Fulmer's liking.
Buck Fitzgerald had the only interception of the day for the Vols and also had the hit that forced Davis to fumble.
Injury list: A large number of players either missed the scrimmage because of injuries or were held out for precautionary reasons.
One of the newcomers to the list was defensive tackle John Henderson with a neck stinger.
Defensive tackle Rashad Moore injured his left wrist yesterday and was concerned that he might have broken it. He left the complex with his wrist in a brace.