PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The 72-hour window of hope has come and gone for paralyzed Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand without word on whether he has had any feeling or movement below his neck.
Coach Greg Schiano had no medical update on LeGrand’s condition Wednesday, the fourth day since the junior defensive tackle was paralyzed from the neck down making a tackle during Saturday’s game against Army.
Roy Vingan, a neurosurgeon with the North Jersey Brain and Spine Group, said spinal cord patients who exhibit no evidence of neurological function below the area of injury within 24 to 72 hours do not make a significant recovery. He said there have been one or two exceptions in the time he has practiced, but the number is very low.
“Seventy-two hours is a reasonable amount of time I think, and many would agree, to access the patient; that if there is no function within 72 hours, it is unlikely there will be a recovery,” Vingan said.
Schiano is adamant in his belief LeGrand will walk again.
• North Carolina cornerback Charles Brown won’t play this season amid the ongoing NCAA investigation into the football program, while cornerback Kendric Burney will miss Saturday’s game at Miami because of an “unresolved issue” related to the probe.
• Florida receiver Chris Rainey, dismissed from the team earlier this season, could be back on the field next week against Georgia, though Gators coach Urban Meyer said the junior’s status won’t be determined until next week.
• North Texas fired coach Todd Dodge, declaring its decision to put a high school coach in charge of a Division I-A program a failure after 3 1/2 dismal years and a record of 6-37. Offensive coordinator Mike Canales will be the interim head coach the rest of the season.
• Connecticut quarterback Cody Endres has been suspended for the rest of the season for an unspecified violation of university policies.
Footnotes.
NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, who exploded in anger on the radio when his brakes failed for the third time this season and later refused to get back in the No. 9 Ford during Saturday night’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, has been released from Richard Petty Motorsports effective immediately, clearing the way for Aric Almirola to drive the car this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
• San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was scheduled to undergo surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to be ready for spring training.
• Atlanta Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens is expected to be ready for spring training after surgery on his right knee.
• The San Antonio Spurs picked up the fourth-year option on George Hill‘s contract, keeping the guard signed through the 2011-2012 season.
• Ernie Els ran off three straight birdies on the back nine and turned a three-shot deficit into a one-shot victory over David Toms in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Southampton, Bermuda.
• Aliya Mustafina led Russia to the women’s team title at the world gymnastics championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, ahead of the United States and China.
The Associated Press
