Joe Paterno injured at practice

[KPENN]

ESPN NCAAF Joe Paterno injured in practice collision

Penn State coach Joe Paterno suffered injuries to his right shoulder and hip when a receiver ran into him during practice Sunday.

Paterno was "blindsided" by a player running a drill but "walked away after the collision," according to a statement released Monday by the team.

Paterno sustained a hairline fracture to his pelvis, sources told ESPN's Chris Fowler.

But the 84-year-old coach was not expected to require surgery, said Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State's director of athletic medicine. A team spokesman said he would likely be released by Tuesday afternoon.

Paterno was taking notes when receiver Devon Smith, a 5-foot-7, 157-pound junior, ran into the coach.

Paterno walked off the field at the end of practice but was cornered by physicians who insisted he be examined.

Paterno conducted a coaches' meeting Monday morning via speaker phone from Mount Nittany Medical Center, where he was undergoing tests.

"I expect to be back at practice soon. I'm doing fine; tell everyone not to worry about me," Paterno said in a prepared statement. "I like the effort I have seen from the squad during our first few practices, but we have a long way to go to get ready for the schedule we have."

Practice resumed Monday as scheduled, with the team in full pads for the first time this summer. Football media day, originally scheduled for Thursday, was postponed.

Paterno's health has been a frequent issue in recent seasons.

Paterno suffered a hip injury in preseason practice in 2008 while demonstrating an onside kick and underwent hip-replacement surgery after the regular season.

He also suffered a broken leg and a damaged knee ligament in 2006 when a player ran into him during a game at Wisconsin.

The legendary coach said last month at Big Ten media days that his health is strong and he has been exercising regularly throughout the offseason. He's entering his 46th season as Penn State's coach this fall.

Adam Rittenberg covers Big Ten football for ESPN.com. He can be reached at espnritt@gmail.com. Informaion from ESPN's Joe Schad and Chris Fowler, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

PSU has a 5'7'' 157 lb WR on scholarship? /laff

 

[Veer option]

Devon Smith, a 5-foot-7, 157-pounds.


He was hurt by a mere speck of a man. GD he is old.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

JoePa better stay away from Pop Warner games too, then.

 

[pkt77242]

PSU has a 5'7'' 157 lb WR on scholarship? /laff

But he can fly. Seems like he would be ok in the slot and on return duty.

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - ATH Rankings 2009: Fastest

 

[BeauBenken]

That receiver is smaller than me, dang. You mean if I worked my butt off I could've gotten a scholarship from PSU? I've got the best hands EVER.

Jokes aside, I do hope Joe Pa heals up well. Same with the kid.

But he can fly. Seems like he would be ok in the slot and on return duty.

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - ATH Rankings 2009: Fastest

Good lord! Nevermind, I can't run sub 4.2. Kid's running mach speed.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

But he can fly. Seems like he would be ok in the slot and on return duty.

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - ATH Rankings 2009: Fastest

Good find; that's crazy speed.

Still... how can you survive in Division I CFB at that weight? He's gonna get tackled eventually, and there's a good chance he ends up as a stain on the grass every time that happens.

 

[BeauBenken]

Btw, what's with fast kids out of Maryland?

 

[Veer option]

Reminds me of this.

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0etQ744o2O4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

At 84 years old he is tough Ill give him that.

 

[pkt77242]

Good find; that's crazy speed.

Still... how can you survive in Division I CFB at that weight? He's gonna get tackled eventually, and there's a good chance he ends up as a stain on the grass every time that happens.

Thanks.

I agree about the size, if they could get him up to 170-180 then he might stand a chance at surviving (though he would still be really small).

The real question is he a shifty runner who can avoid taking direct hits? If so that would go a long way to helping him prevent injury.

 

[mgriff]

Trindon Holliday ladies and gentleman. You can be little and fast in college. There are others but I'm not doing more legwork.

 

[kmoose]

Rocket was 5'10", 175, in his sophomore year......... just saying

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Rocket was 5'10", 175, in his sophomore year......... just saying

That's almost 20 lbs heavier than Devon Smith is currently.

5'10'' ~180 is within the normal range for slot receivers. But 157? Most 10th grade boys weigh more than that.

 

[pkt77242]

Trindon Holliday ladies and gentleman. You can be little and fast in college. There are others but I'm not doing more legwork.

Thank you for making my point. He was 168 in HS.

Trindon Holliday - Yahoo! Sports

He is about 170 lbs now in the pros.

 

[kmoose]

That's almost 20 lbs heavier than Devon Smith is currently.

5'10'' ~180 is within the normal range for slot receivers. But 157? Most 10th grade boys weigh more than that.

Catch him if you can................

P.S.: Rocket was an outside receiver, not a slot guy. So the normal range for a slot receiver is immaterial.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Catch him if you can................

P.S.: Rocket was an outside receiver, not a slot guy. So the normal range for a slot receiver is immaterial.

Then disregard the slot designation. ~180 lbs is within the normal weight range for a college WR; toward the lower end, but not dangerously light.

Conversely, 157 is dangerously light for CFB. As with every "rule", there are a few successful middleweights who end up being the exception. But as a parent, there's no way I would allow my kid to play Division I ball at that weight.

 

[kmoose]

Then disregard the slot designation. ~180 lbs is within the normal weight range for a college WR; toward the lower end, but not dangerously light.

Conversely, 157 is dangerously light for CFB. As with every rule, there are a few exceptional middleweights who end up being success in football. But as a parent, there's no way I would allow my kid to play Division I ball at that weight.

How do you know? Do you have a kid that has worked his tail off, and is good enough to play DI-A? I don't claim to know how I would react in that situation, because I've never been there. Unless you have, you shouldn't either.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

How do you know? Do you have a kid that has worked his tail off, and is good enough to play DI-A? I don't claim to know how I would react in that situation, because I've never been there. Unless you have, you shouldn't either.

I know the risk of brain trauma for football players is serious. I know enough physics and physiology to deduce that such risk increases significantly if one is playing that under weight.

It has nothing to do with hard work and dessert, and everything to do with protecting them from life threatening injury.

 

[Irish Insanity]

That's almost 20 lbs heavier than Devon Smith is currently.

5'10'' ~180 is within the normal range for slot receivers. But 157? Most 10th grade boys weigh more than that.

Hey i'm in my early 30s and at 6' I barely weigh that. I thought somewhere in the board rules was something about making fun of other posters

 

[pkt77242]

Hey i'm in my early 30s and at 6' I barely weigh that. I thought somewhere in the board rules was something about making fun of other posters

Do you have the pimples and cracking voice of a 16 year old as well?

Oddly enough my oldest brother is 38 years old 6'4" and 160 lbs (though somehow I ended up 5'8").

 

[irish1958]

We had a little, fast receiver one year. Our offensive coordinator (who had recently been fired from Purdue) decided that his best route was a slant into the line backer (wr 150#, line backer 250#). He was the only fast guy on the entire team, but he wasn't sent on post or fly patterns, but short slants.
Needless to say he suffered torn abdominal muscles and that was the end of him, and us as we had nobody who could go deep.
You can get away with being small and fast, unless the coach decides to sent you into harm's way on every play.

 

[kmoose]

I know the risk of brain trauma for football players is serious. I know enough physics and physiology to deduce that such risk increases significantly if one is playing that under weight.

It has nothing to do with hard work and dessert, and everything to do with protecting them from life threatening injury.

What is the correlation between height and weight, and concussions?

 

[BeauBenken]

What is the correlation between height and weight, and concussions?

Direct? Idk.

But put it this way, if you're small and get hit by a big guy, it hurts a lot more. Trust me, I know from experience.

 

[kmoose]

Direct? Idk.

But put it this way, if you're small and get hit by a big guy, it hurts a lot more. Trust me, I know from experience.

That has nothing to do with brain injuries. Brain injuries, as relates to football, are all about inertia, and repitition. Two big guys, having more mass, create more inertia at the point of impact than two small guys do. It stands to reason that a big guy and small guy meeting at the point of impact would fall somewhere in between.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

James Milling played a bit in the pros at 156 lbs.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Paterno needs to just stay out of the way. What was he even doing on the field? Was the lion on the field too?

 

[BeauBenken]

That has nothing to do with brain injuries. Brain injuries, as relates to football, are all about inertia, and repitition. Two big guys, having more mass, create more inertia at the point of impact than two small guys do. It stands to reason that a big guy and small guy meeting at the point of impact would fall somewhere in between.

With little guys though there's a second collision which is often worse than the first...the ground.

And this guy's ridiculous speed would only add to the scientific equation here.

 

[BGIF]

@cbfowler

Chris Fowler JoePa's injuries at practice yesterday: a hairline fracture to his pelvis and shoulder. No surgery required, I'm told.

Fractures at 84 hairline or otherwise can end up fatal. Think not - ask your grandparents or parents (or dshans). I'm sure PSU has a team of physicians on top of this. Nonetheless, disconcerting.

 

[rikkitikki08]

He is kind of like charlie weis.....except old and not 300 lbs