TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Gators' Singleton Giving It One Last Shot

ADVERTISEMENT

By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - When former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson went down with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in the 1995 season opener against the Detroit Lions, Land O' Lakes senior running back Chris Singleton wasn't even in first grade.

Four months later, Woodson made a miraculous return, playing in Super Bowl XXX. It has been reported as the first time an NFL player has returned from such an injury during the same season.

Singleton doesn't recall that injury or the dramatic moment in that Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys when Woodson hopped up after making a play and emphatically pointed to the knee, showing that all was well.

What he does remember is what former Miami Hurricane and current Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee endured.

As a sophomore, McGahee tore the ACL, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee during Miami's 31-24 double-overtime loss against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl in January 2003. Three months later, the Buffalo Bills drafted him in the first round.

'The Rod Woodson injury, I didn't know about that, but the one that sticks in my mind is Willis McGahee,' Singleton said. 'I see the success he's had, and I've really been determined. ... It's given me more of a drive to get back.'

He's needed that drive, because this is the third time Singleton has injured an ACL. The latest injury came during the second week of spring practice in May, when he took a pitch to the left, planted his left leg to cut up field and the knee gave out.

'I didn't want to think it was anything torn,' Singleton said.

The first tear came in the second game of his freshman season, while he was on junior varsity. Singleton tried to shake Wesley Chapel's Greg Jenkins, cutting right and then left, but the final move was too much for his right knee.

After missing the remainder of this freshman season, Singleton began spring practice with the varsity team. During a midseason practice, Singleton ran a 12-yard curl pattern, planted and tore the right ACL again.

He made it through his junior season injury free.

'He's missed a lot of football, and I feel bad for the kid, you know,' Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto said. 'Especially for the family, because it's such a great family.'

It has been that family - parents Andy and Denise Singleton and brother Bryan, a former Land O' Lakes player - who have guided him through the trying times. He also has sought help from a higher power.

'I go to church with my family, and I'm just like, 'What's going on?' I know everything is for God's will,' Singleton said. 'Me and my mom started thinking maybe this isn't meant to be.

'I actually go to Bible study with some of the guys, like John Weatherford and Keith Hoffman ... and our group leader was, after John got hurt, telling us that God trusts us and puts us through all of this because He knows we can handle it.'

Friday against Sunlake, Singleton made his return to the Land O' Lakes lineup. He carried the ball five times for 22 yards and scored twice, including a 9-yard burst.

'Before I came back, in my head I was saying, was it worth it and I wanted to be able to move around whenever I have kids,' Singleton said. 'But in my heart I really wanted to play and knew I would regret it if I didn't ... that this is really the last time I'd be able to play ball.'

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT