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USF kicker injured in Skyride fall receives well wishes online

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TBO.com

Published: July 20, 2009

TAMPA - The University of South Florida has told fans they can send well wishes to injured kicker Maikon Bonani through Twitter and GoUSFBulls.com, and many fans have followed through.

On Twitter, one fan said she is praying for his speedy recovery. Another said he is a fellow student and wanted to pass along a get-well message. A third said he hopes the sophomore kicker will get well soon because "The Bulls need your leg this season."

Bonani fell about 35 feet from the Skyride at Busch Gardens on Saturday

When he returned from a break as the ride's attendant, he noticed he hadn't locked the door on a Skyride gondola, which was leaving the platform with three female passengers inside. So he held on as the gondola climbed into the sky. A woman and a young girl tried to pull him into the car, which went about 50 feet before Bonani fell into bushes.

Bonani, 20, cracked a vertebra in his back. He was in fair condition Sunday at St. Joseph's Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Jacqueline Farruggio said.

Whether Bonani will be able to play this season remains in doubt. Practice begins in less than three weeks, and USF's first game is Sept. 5 against Wofford College.

Senior punter Delbert Alvarado, who handled place-kicking duties until losing the starting spot to Bonani, likely would step in if Bonani can't play.

Bonani has a private Twitter account, @bonani28.

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