If you injure a particular body part once, that’s too bad.
Twice, you could be having problems.
Thrice, and it’d be wise to favor that particular part of your body for the rest of your career.
But six times?
That’s the unfortunate circumstance that Arizona State quarterback Ryan Kealy is dealing with after injuring his right knee for the sixth time in the Sun Devil’s 38-31 loss to the Bruins on Saturday.
The injury is rumored to be severe enough that it could end the senior’s college career. The Arizona Republic reported that there was a strong possibility that Kealy tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
“It’s damaged,” Sun Devil head coach Bruce Snyder said of his quarterback’s knee. “There’s something there. The percentages are not in his favor.”
The injury further worsens what has already been a forgettable year for Kealy. In last season’s regular-season finale against Arizona on Nov. 27, he tore his ACL in his right knee and was forced to have surgery.
He rehabbed throughout the off-season, but then made headlines in many newspapers July 23 when he was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Immediately after that embarrassing incident, Snyder suspended Kealy “indefinitely,” which ended up lasting only two games.
Kealy returned Sept. 23 against Utah State in a reserve role and completed 4 of 9 passes for 89 yards. Then came his big starting assignment this past Saturday against the Bruins, in which he started off by throwing 13-for-25 for 199 yards and a touchdown. Snyder believes he injured his knee early in the third quarter, but Kealy didn’t come out until 9:08 to go in the game when his knee buckled.
Kealy did not speak to the media afterward and was reported to be in a very “somber mood.”
“He loves football so much,” Snyder said. “I think he is looking at whether he should continue.”
If Kealy is indeed done, his career stats would put him fourth on the Arizona State career yardage list, as he was the starting quarterback in 32 of 34 games. He has completed 477 of 859 passes for 6,562 yards and thrown for 46 touchdowns.
The starting duties will belong to senior Chris Goodman, at least until redshirt freshman Jeff Krohn recovers from mononucleosis.
Another injury to report from Saturday’s Arizona State-UCLA game was Bruin running back DeShaun Foster’s broken right hand. At press time, his status was unknown.

So coach, was it loud or what?
Trying to be calm and subdued after Saturday’s game, Washington head coach Rick Neuheisal downplayed the loudness of the Autzen Stadium crowd.
He had heard all about the frenzied fanatics, but said he didn’t come away too impressed.
“I just didn’t think it was as intimidating as people said,” Neuheisal told reporters after the game. “We didn’t play very well, but I don’t think the noise was the issue.”
That was Saturday. On Sunday, his view had changed.

“It was extreme,” Neuheisal told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “[Fullback] Pat Conniff told me on the plane ride back home that he couldn’t hear a word the whole game.”
Neuheisal mentioned that the next time Washington prepares for a game at Autzen, he will blare those speakers during practice much louder and have his players wear ear plugs.

Congrats, you’ve just

won a road game
Down in Berkeley, Calif., the Washington State Cougars were ecstatic. When the final horn sounded for its 21-17 victory over California, the Cougars raced over to the corner of Memorial Stadium to be with all of their fans. The players proceeded to soak up the win by singing the Washington State fight song with their supporters.
It was the Cougars’ first Pac-10 road win since they knocked off the Huskies on Nov. 22, 1997 — the year they went to the Rose Bowl.
“It’s like we’ve turned the corner,” running back Adam Hawkins told the Seattle P-I. “It’s like the misfortune in the past is gone.”

It could… go… all…

the… WAY!
There was an unexpected running back at the Oregon State game last Saturday.
It didn’t have a number nor wear a helmet, but it drew some of the biggest cheers on an afternoon that the Beavers upset the then-No. 8 USC Trojans.
And, it made its national appearance during the opening theme song of “SportsCenter” on Saturday night.
It was a possum.
During the first half, the possum sneaked onto the field at the Oregon State end zone and took off for its — slow — jaunt across field.
The crowd immediately got behind the possum, which kept moving along the 10-yard line, the 20, 30 and then the 40. Minutes kept passing and the possum kept moving. It reached the 50… the other 40… and then the 30. By now the Reser Stadium fans were going nuts.
The possum kept on chugging. The 20… the 15… the 10…. the 5… and finally… the end zone. Trojan head coach Paul Hackett signaled for the touchdown. The scoreboard showed the instant — and slower than slow-motion — replay.
And as for the possum? For its efforts, it was picked up and carried off by its tail.