12-22-2004, 09:45 AM
This is very good news
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Whitmore's back on his feet and ready to bowl'em over
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
TORAINE NORRIS
News staff writer
HONOLULU - He stood behind the defensive backfield Tuesday morning, hands on his hip, gold helmet hanging over his head.
UAB senior safety Justin Whitmore was back in a familiar environment, despite being miles away from home in the unfamiliar surroundings of Aloha Stadium.
The decision for Whitmore to play in Friday's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl wasn't entirely his own. Whitmore, who has been out since breaking his tibia in half in the Blazers' thrilling 35-28 win over the Memphis Tigers in late September, will suit up and play his final college football game when UAB (7-4) tangles with the University of Hawaii (7-5) here at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
"I'm going to play," said Whitmore. "I can run so I'm not worried about (my leg). The coaches asked me if I wanted to play and I said yes."
Whitmore had been seeking a medical redshirt and possibly a return to the Blazers secondary in the spring. But he found out Monday his request for a redshirt had been denied.
"We looked into every angle we could to see if we couldn't get him a redshirt," said Brown.
Not even Whitmore was expecting to play in this game when he boarded the plane for Hawaii last week. Coming into this season he was being looked at heavily by NFL scouts who were intrigued by his size, 4.4 speed and cover skills.
But all that was put on hold after suffering the break in the third quarter of the Memphis game. Whitmore had two rods inserted into the leg after breaking the bone in half.
Whitmore said he's been running for about a month, but only recently without a limp. He was holding out hope for a redshirt but his time at Auburn played into the eligibility equation.
"I was having a real good season until the injury so I wanted to come back and look as well as I had and just carry it into next year," he explained.
Now he's back preparing for his final game. Just last Friday Whitmore had the screws taken out of the leg.
"I'm really surprised I'm able to play," he said. "I'm not going to hurt the team being on the field. Since my surgery last Friday, I've been feeling great."
Brown agreed. He said Whitmore looked so good running as a scout team receiver early this week, that when the denial of the redshirt came back, the coaching staff didn't hesitate to see if he wanted to play against Hawaii.
Brown said the staff will watch Whitmore during the game to see how he's responding to his first action in months, but if he shows no ill effects from playing on the turf, he'll be a valuable addition to a UAB defense preparing to face quarterback Timmy Chang and Hawaii's high-powered offense.
"It's amazing that he's gotten back out there," said Brown. "We're going to watch his reactions but his just being out here helps us. The defensive line and secondary are key in this game."
At least one Blazer is glad Whitmore is back for at least one more game.
"When I see Justin Whitmore out there, it just gives me a boost," said cornerback Bobby Keyes. "Every one is kind of tired, but when I saw Justin out there today, I just got an extra boost of energy. It's great to have someone out there that you know has got your back."
E-mail: tnorris@bhamnews.com
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Whitmore's back on his feet and ready to bowl'em over
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
TORAINE NORRIS
News staff writer
HONOLULU - He stood behind the defensive backfield Tuesday morning, hands on his hip, gold helmet hanging over his head.
UAB senior safety Justin Whitmore was back in a familiar environment, despite being miles away from home in the unfamiliar surroundings of Aloha Stadium.
The decision for Whitmore to play in Friday's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl wasn't entirely his own. Whitmore, who has been out since breaking his tibia in half in the Blazers' thrilling 35-28 win over the Memphis Tigers in late September, will suit up and play his final college football game when UAB (7-4) tangles with the University of Hawaii (7-5) here at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
"I'm going to play," said Whitmore. "I can run so I'm not worried about (my leg). The coaches asked me if I wanted to play and I said yes."
Whitmore had been seeking a medical redshirt and possibly a return to the Blazers secondary in the spring. But he found out Monday his request for a redshirt had been denied.
"We looked into every angle we could to see if we couldn't get him a redshirt," said Brown.
Not even Whitmore was expecting to play in this game when he boarded the plane for Hawaii last week. Coming into this season he was being looked at heavily by NFL scouts who were intrigued by his size, 4.4 speed and cover skills.
But all that was put on hold after suffering the break in the third quarter of the Memphis game. Whitmore had two rods inserted into the leg after breaking the bone in half.
Whitmore said he's been running for about a month, but only recently without a limp. He was holding out hope for a redshirt but his time at Auburn played into the eligibility equation.
"I was having a real good season until the injury so I wanted to come back and look as well as I had and just carry it into next year," he explained.
Now he's back preparing for his final game. Just last Friday Whitmore had the screws taken out of the leg.
"I'm really surprised I'm able to play," he said. "I'm not going to hurt the team being on the field. Since my surgery last Friday, I've been feeling great."
Brown agreed. He said Whitmore looked so good running as a scout team receiver early this week, that when the denial of the redshirt came back, the coaching staff didn't hesitate to see if he wanted to play against Hawaii.
Brown said the staff will watch Whitmore during the game to see how he's responding to his first action in months, but if he shows no ill effects from playing on the turf, he'll be a valuable addition to a UAB defense preparing to face quarterback Timmy Chang and Hawaii's high-powered offense.
"It's amazing that he's gotten back out there," said Brown. "We're going to watch his reactions but his just being out here helps us. The defensive line and secondary are key in this game."
At least one Blazer is glad Whitmore is back for at least one more game.
"When I see Justin Whitmore out there, it just gives me a boost," said cornerback Bobby Keyes. "Every one is kind of tired, but when I saw Justin out there today, I just got an extra boost of energy. It's great to have someone out there that you know has got your back."
E-mail: tnorris@bhamnews.com