European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 3, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday october 19b7 the stars and stripes Page 33 commentary Marc Buoniconti fights to walk again the play came on n third and a situation. It was a sweep right off1 an option fake. The mid dle linebacker s Bruin responded automatically. On a sweep right he moves left. It s instinctive inc linebacker said. I came off the Blocker and the quarterback released to the run Ning Back. I was committed upheld to was a typical play a Piny i had made for i3 years from the time i weighed 75 pounds t can t imagine How Many limes 1 made Hal acc in my this time he routine play went wrong. This Lime. Marc Buoniconti s spinal Cord was damaged and he was paralysed. "11 happened he said softly. A was an injury thai Shoutan t have happened but in it was an injury not Only o body bul to spirit of the son of Chi nil Star Nick Buoniconti. For six months after lie was Hurt in 1985 while playing for the Citadel Marc Buoniconti was on a Respirator his breathing monitored mechanically. Firs 15 breaths a minute then 12, then 10, a Laboured regi men for what healthy people do automatically. His body weight dropped dramatically from a football sized 203 pounds to a frighten ing 120. "1 thought i was going to die he Sard. People died next to me in inc Hospital people who could t be saved. You ask yourself Why me there s tremendous 1c m depression. It s impossible for that not to happen. Then you Realise you still can do things my spine was injured not my Buoniconti s brain told him he still had a life to live one that could he productive and rewarding. It took me seven month to get he said. I got 20,000 letters and i read every one of them. People inspired me. My friends my family the Doc tors and nurses. I had a great support a Large part of that network came from the Miami project. Launched by Scuro surgery Iirth Green � Lew months before Buoniconti was injured it functions out of inc University of Miami school of Medicine and is committed to finding a cure for paralysis. Ruon Conli gave inc Miami project a High profile Bright spokesman a person with a Rico Gnu Abl name especially in Miami where his father was inc heart of two super bowl championship teams. The Miami project gave Buoniconti the drive to recover. Two years ago 1 was near death he said now i do everything 1 put my mind to doing. When t found out i could do things for myself and for it lick people that inspired in urn Buoniconti inspires others. He was the guest of Honor thursday night at the Miami pro acct s sports legends dinner in new Vork where Mario Andrelli Arthur Ash Julius Ervine. Ray Floyd Frank Giffard nordic Howe Bruce pc incr Stan Musial. Floyd Patterson and Johnny Niini gathered to help raise funds for the project. The dinner was something of a birthday party for Marc Buoniconti who turned 21 earlier in Chr week. I be gained Back some weigh to where i ant Corn for table now he said to breathe Fine with no Respi Rator. I go to therapy three times n week with electrical stimulation through electrodes attached to my legs. I work on a stationary Bike two Days a week. To enrolled in the University of Miami majoring in psychology. The Accident slip cd a lib he on things that 1 did t see before. It changed my Outlook. If not for the Miami project. 1 Don t know what would have happened. In fires me up Marc Buoniconti is determined to walk again. The people at the Miami project arc committed to help ing him do just that. Tim Aizik to Patti seminoles taking on hurricanes by the associated press Florida slate coach Bobby Bowden in t sure his team is worthy of he no. 4 ranking in the nation bul he is sure about Miami s status As no. 3, they look so Good to me. I m amazed they re nol on strike said Bowden re Ferring to the n Al strike. In some ways Bowden is looking for Ward to saturday s compelling Home matchup with another top 10 team. He s eager o see How his Youthful team will handle the Veteran hurricanes. I think we re going to learn More about us this week than we will them from this game 1 said Bowden who starts six sophomores and seven unions. If we can beat Miami. I la say we be Long up there. I see Miami As a proven football team playing against a team that has t proved itself but might be in another contest involving ranked teams no. 7 Louisiana state will play Host to no. J 9 Florida. Elsewhere in the lop 10, it s no. I Oklahoma at Iowa Stair no. 2 Nebraska against South Carolina no. 6 Auburn at North car Olina no 9 Ohio stale at Illinois and no. 10 Tennessee is. California. In the Tywond 10, no. Ii Urcla is at Stanford n. 12 Michigan plays Wisconsin no. 13 state takes on Texas Elpaso no. 14 Perm state hosts Temple no. 15 Texas a unravels to Texas tech no. 16 Washington is at Oregon no. 17 Ala Bama plays southwestern Louisiana at Bir Mingham Iowa also no 17 faces Michi Gan state and no. 20 Georgia tackles Mississippi. Fifth ranked notre Dame and no. H Clemson Don t play. Bowden says his game will feature More skilled players than any in the country. Runners catchers throwers Sefc Nouv secondary defenders punt resumes Kickoff returners. I think you la Sec More in this ballgame than in any one Bau game Bow Den said. The Hurricane 2-0. In pc Al toned just 11 Points in victories Over Honda and Arkan Sas. Bowden s team averaged 39 pain s and Florida stale will meet Miami s Warren Williams shown in last january s fiesta Bow who nihed far 108 Yards last week. 489 offensive Yards an Outing in winning its first four games. Bowden has closed his practices to the Public in preparation for the nationally Tele Vised showdown at Tallahassee where a sell out crowd of 63,000 is expected. Any Lime we play Florida or Miami or anybody close we re going to close prac Tice Bowdon said. We want to gel the attention of our play ers and get everything where there Are no distractions Ort the football Field the Ltd Florida game features some of tic top offensive stars in inc Southeastern conference quarterback Kerwin fac to Anil freshman it nation Emmitt Smith. In icon i s third leading rusher for the a lors 3-1, and quarterback Tom Hodson. Wide receiver Wendell Davis and in Lhadi Harvey Williams of the tigers 3. Defensively we Are facing our biggest Challenge this season Florida coach Galen Hall said. The Fiator have rebounded from a sea son opening 31-4 thrashing by Miami to Post consecutive victories Over Tulsa Ala Bama and Mississippi state. Leu knocked off Texas am Fullerton state and Rice before having in perfect re Cord marred in a 13-13 tie with Ohio slate last week. Mike Archer at 3-t the youngest head coach in division i a says the gators arc playing Warui a lol of Confidence since they have found out about Emmil Smith has rushed for 100 Yards or More in the last three Gam. Another 100-Yard Effort would tie the Florida record of four Scab Jimmy Ilu Bose in 1975. Counting his High school Days Smith has Heniken the to Yard Barrier in the last 30 Gan i he has started. Tlw.1 top ranked Suronen have been con Lynn Ramg on defensive formations and Kitling in for Unis weekend s game at Jota stale. The soon cars Are whop Ping 45 pull favourites coming Olta 65-0 whipping of Tulsa last week. Nebraska Covich Tom Chrome says his Cohu Ikon Are still hurling from injuries bul will be ready for saturday s Home game against South Carolina. We arc Slit a Little beat up on the defensive Side of the Hall. Often Sicly we re fairly healthy Osborne said after Weli Oming three defensive starter Hack i practice this week. Am sports television dust Lull or roue a football. H . Sat urday to in announced. Al Lei for till Minnii at i lurid stud t , Sunda a Rhet in. Radio Kathi r to Strull forum la us Detroit 7 15 . Saturday at Rutili Kun Tuo Bill Al Stanford 8 ,1t . Saturday. Coir Joe football Lewida Al Louisi on stati1. 12 30 . Sunday
