Football team suffers injuries
Gunn to miss three to five weeks
By Braden Howell
and Brent Yarina
Sports Editors

This was the last thing the Horned Frog football team wanted.

More importantly, this was the last thing sophomore quarterback Tye Gunn wanted, especially after last season’s knee injury.

However, during Tuesday’s practice, it happened again.

This time, Gunn’s injury occurred on a play that he has called more times than any other in his football career. On that option play to the right, Gunn sprinted toward the sideline when his right knee, the same one that ended his season last year, buckled and caused him to fall to the ground. In an attempt to cushion the fall, Gunn put his arm out and upon landing on the field, suffered a separated right shoulder.

Gunn is expected to miss three to five weeks. With the offweek this Saturday, Gunn could only miss two games and might be ready to return when the Frogs resume their Conference-USA schedule Oct. 4 against Army.

In the meantime, junior Brandon Hassell has been named the team’s starting quarterback. Hassell, who has not seen significant playing time in his career, should be ready to step in and provide the team with an adequate replacement. Despite having little game experience, Hassell, who worked with the first team offense during spring practice when Gunn was recovering from injury, said he is confident in his ability to lead the Frogs.

“Working with these guys all spring, with the number ones, and taking some reps whenever Tye’s a little bit gassed or when his knee is bothering him, I feel pretty comfortable about going in there and doing my job,” Hassell said.

Hassell is not the only Frog who will be called on to step up in place of an injured player. Compounding the loss of Gunn is the injury to senior tailback Ricky Madison, who went down during the Navy game. Madison, the C-USA offensive player of the week for his performance against Tulane, is expected to miss two to four weeks after undergoing knee surgery Wednesday.

In Madison’s absence, senior Corey Connally and redshirt freshman Robert Merrill should get more repetitions, joining sophomore Lonta Hobbs in the backfield. The veteran Connally will be called on to perform at both fullback and tailback. He said he is ready to contribute, no matter what position he plays.

“I’ve been taking some snaps at both positions, and I’m prepared,” Connally said. “If something happens at fullback, I can hop in there, or at tailback, I’m ready either way.”

Merrill said head coach Gary Patterson has not said anything to him about receiving playing time. He said Patterson expects the players to always be prepared to play.

“We always have to be ready, if you’re (second string or third string),” Merrill said. “I feel ready, I’ve been ready for a while.”