NAU's Kevin Meagher Returns After Accident

[dbackjon]

Kevin Meagher had just been in a horrific car accident. Traveling along I-40 en route back to campus from his home in California, he had blown a rear tire and had lost control of his vehicle. Without the aid of a seat belt, he was thrown 50 feet from the wreckage. And his thoughts turned to his football career as he laid on the hot pavement…
“When it happened, I remember lying on the side of the road and wondering if this is something I can just come back from in a couple weeks?,” recalls Meagher. “I thought to myself that this is probably going to be a while. I never had an injury that kept me out. I never got hurt in high school. Having an injury like that blew my mind.”

Forget football. He was lucky to be alive. He checked to see if his legs moved. They did. But he knew not everything was right. His back hurt and as some good Samaritans started to come to his side, he was not sure what lay ahead for him.

“I was lying there and trying to roll over thanking God that I could still move my legs,” said Meagher. “I realized something in my back still did not feel right. They said I had three or four spinal fractures within my vertebrae. I was hoping the doctors were going to say I get hit somebody again (and play football).”

The road rashes and two major hematomas on his head and left hip, as well as major split up the middle of his head were put back together with help of 50 staples and a “million” stitches according to Meagher. The healing process began without football but with the hope of it in the future.

“Knowing that I would not play for a while was the hardest part,” said Meagher. “After the success we had as an offense my sophomore year, I was excited to get back out there.”

Instead he was relegated to the sideline and a spot in front of a radio for road games. Meagher has listened to each road game with the win at Southern Utah on Sept. 20 particularly nerve-racking.

“I have listened to a lot of radio games the past year,” recalled Meagher. “For the SUU game, I was huddled by the radio. I was listening to Mitch (Strohman) and just praying. I was sitting with my roommates Big Jon (Toailoa) and Jeff Hines. I wish I would have seen that game. I am just glad I am back and can travel.”

Meagher will make his debut this week at Northern Colorado, 14 months after his accident. His return also comes on the same field that he played his last game in 2006, a season-ending win over the Bears.

http://nau.newtier.com/index.php?module ... 8&sid=2460

[dbackjon]

Amazing he is still alive

[AZGrizFan]

Awesome story, jon.

[BlueHen86]

Kevin Meagher had just been in a horrific car accident. Traveling along I-40 en route back to campus from his home in California, he had blown a rear tire and had lost control of his vehicle. Without the aid of a seat belt, he was thrown 50 feet from the wreckage. And his thoughts turned to his football career as he laid on the hot pavement…

Imagine how far he would have been thrown with the aid of a seatbelt.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. He is lucky to be alive and I hope he does play football again someday.

[AZGrizFan]

Kevin Meagher had just been in a horrific car accident. Traveling along I-40 en route back to campus from his home in California, he had blown a rear tire and had lost control of his vehicle. Without the aid of a seat belt, he was thrown 50 feet from the wreckage. And his thoughts turned to his football career as he laid on the hot pavement…

Imagine how far he would have been thrown with the aid of a seatbelt.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. He is lucky to be alive and I hope he does play football again someday.

Sentence structure IS key....

[grizzaholic]

Imagine how far he would have been thrown with the aid of a seatbelt.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. He is lucky to be alive and I hope he does play football again someday.

Sentence structure IS key....

I didn't catch that.