Monique Scales Maxey Parrish July 24, 2009 Baylor football player faces uncertainty It was a beautiful sunny

day in Lincoln, NE, the day Jordan Hearvey saw his life take an unexpected turn. A fifth-year senior offensive tackle from Richardson, Texas, was at the top of his game before Oct. 25, 2008. You can see the uneasiness on his face when he takes me back to that traumatic day. As he adjusts his chair and says the Friday before the game he felt as if he was going to have one of the best games of his life. Since he was 8 years old and watched the movie Rudy, Hearvey (as called by his teammates) only had two goals: play at Notre Dame and in Lincoln, Nebraska. I really wanted to experience this tunnel of red everyone talked about, he said with a smirk. The game in Nebraska was nationally televised and Hearvey was ready to work. When I stepped on that field I was completely star struck, I couldnt believe I was about to be playing on this field, he said bright- eyed and excited. Everything was working out just as planned; by second quarter Baylor was up 14-7 and a timeout was called. Hearvey recalls how great the atmosphere was on the field and with the fans; then everything quickly changed. -MORE-

All he remembers is that Coach Art Briles called a play, he had a double-team block with Jason Smith, and the next thing he knew he was on the ground, not able to feel his whole left leg. I knew immediately that it was my knee, he said. After that play the demeanor of the team completely changed and it lost them the game. The next day he had an MRI, and on Monday he received the shocking results that he had torn his left medial collateral ligament, anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus. I wasnt going to give up hope, not yet. I know exactly what I need to do to get back for next season. On Nov 18, 2008 Hearvey had knee surgery and immediately after he began rehab. Rehab was the hardest thing I ever had to do I struggled for three days just to raise my left leg, he said. Two weeks into rigorous rehab, depression started to kick in, and he began to feel as if his NFL dream was slowly becoming unreachable. With the love and support from his teammates, coaches, family and his girlfriend he was able to get through it all. Here we are nine months later after his nightmare in Nebraska; his leg is only 70 percent ready for the field. Because I cant do what everyone else is doing on the field and in the weight room, I feel like I am really behind and forced to watch everyone become stronger and faster than me, he said avoiding eye contact. Until this very moment Hearvey never realized how bad of an injury this was. Feeling extreme uncertainty in his football career approaching this upcoming season, he is now starting to look at other options beside football. Being a communication specialist major he has the desire to attend film school. -MORE-

Hopefully the NCAA will grant me my request and allow me to play in fall 2010, if not I know that football isnt the only thing I am great at. I couldnt end without asking Hearvey about his former teammates Dan Gay and Jason Smith. The three of them play offensive tackle and are extremely close. Smith was the overall second round pick in this years draft for the St. Louis Rams and Dan Gay was picked up this year as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers. Im not going to lie, it was discouraging to see them move on; I always pictured them getting drafted and me being able to take over for them on the field. Seeing what they accomplished he knows that all he has to do is get healthy and he will be in there same position, maybe better. It is very refreshing to talk with a player who has everything in perspective, 100 percent committed to getting back on the field but is also realistic and prepared for whichever way his life leads. Though he will not be on the field, he has great feelings about this season. This coaching staff is doing a great job and has really turned this team around; I think this season can end in a bowl game. I know that if I continue to work hard in rehab this season, that I have the possibility of being better than I was before the surgery. The way his face lights up when he talks about it, you cant help but believe him.

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