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It takes a lot to hold Hudson down
Miami to hold final spring scrimmage tonight
Friday, April 20, 2007
OXFORD — Joey Hudson had a decent day on the football field last Oct. 28 even though Miami University lost to Ball State 20-14.
The sophomore middle linebacker led the RedHawks with eight tackles, including six solos.
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Hudson also spent part of the game feeling "the most excruciating pain of my life."
Three weeks earlier he had torn the labrum cartilage in his left shoulder.
"I wore a brace after I did it and it only came out of the socket once," he said.
That was the Ball State game.
"It didn't dislocate completely," Hudson said. "It just slipped out. I couldn't move it and I couldn't do anything with it until it goes back in on its own.
"I came out for seven plays, gritted my teeth and went back in," he remembered. "I came off the field, took a knee, kept my helmet on, biting down on my mouth guard as hard as I could."
Hudson underwent surgery on Dec. 19, and that's why he will be one of several RedHawk starters who will sit out tonight's annual Spring Game at Yager Stadium.
Other projected starters who have been sidelined this spring due to off-season surgery are sophomore wide receiver Dustin Woods, senior offensive tackle Charlie Norden and junior guard Matt McKeown.
Miami coach Shane Montgomery also said Thursday that various injuries suffered during the spring season will keep junior tight end Jake O'Connell, sophomore tailback Andre Bratton and junior outside linebacker Clayton Mullins off the field tonight.
Hudson said the recovery from his injury "has been better than I thought. Before we started (spring practice) I realized I could be out here and I can get better or I can get bitter.
"I've been out there helping the young guys," added Hudson, who has assisted in running some of the drills, "and I'm still learning, still asking a lot of questions."
In physical terms, Hudson said he is almost ready.
"It's been four months since my shoulder surgery and I feel I can do everything except contact right now," he said.
"I see my doctor Monday. I have one more therapy session on it. I'm pretty much ready to go."
Tonight's Red-White scrimmage will pit the first-string offense and second-string defense (Red) against the No. 2 offense and the No. 1 defense (White).
"We'll play it like a game as much as we can," Montgomery said. "We'll have four 12-minute quarters with the clock running, so it won't be as long as a regular game."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
