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Murray Pushes To Return

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

TAMPA - JoAnn Hauser doesn't pull any punches.

The certified athletic trainer used to work with the Kentucky men's basketball team, so Plant quarterback Aaron Murray doesn't stand a chance.

In the middle of a workout at Advanced Rehabilitation in Hyde Park, Hauser tossed a deflated football at Murray, which he promptly dropped.

"You're not playing Friday night. You can't even grab a football," Hauser chided.

But Murray can do so much more. Even with the 10-inch scar running down his left leg - a permanent reminder of the surgery he had Oct. 24 to repair a broken leg and dislocated ankle - Murray pushes himself to return to the football field.

Since he began rehabilitation Oct. 30, Murray's home away from home has been Advanced Rehabilitation. For two hours, before or after school, Murray is run through a series of vigorous workouts under the watchful eye of Hauser and physical therapist Chris Arrigo.

On Monday morning, the day Murray returned to practice for the first time since suffering the injury in the second quarter of the Oct. 16 game against Hillsborough, Hauser and Arrigo paid close attention to the left leg, especially during drop-back drills.

"We're looking for what he can do and can't do," Arrigo said, "what his limitations are and what we have to do to get him to do the things he can't do right now."

There's not much Murray can't do. His ankle is still swollen, but daily rounds of ice deal with that. The bone has healed, so with no risk of further injury, Murray's only obstacle is pain.

"The pain's not too bad. I think I can manage," Murray said. "I'm used to getting hit a bunch and dealing with pain. I'll be smart. I'm not going to push myself if I can't."

There is precedent for Murray's early recovery. He tore the labrum in his right shoulder during his sophomore season and, after weeks of nearly nonstop rehab, came back a month sooner than expected.

With the Panthers still alive in the playoffs, Murray is attempting another comeback.

"It was his goal to come back, that he'd be back if the team got this far," Murray's mother, Lauren, said. "So, I'm not surprised. If Aaron sets a goal, he gets it. He wills himself to get better. He'll put the work in. If he wants something bad enough, he can get it."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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