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Louisville’s Michael Bush Breaks Leg in Opener

Michael Bush’s dreams of a Heisman and Louisville’s hopes of a Big East title were shattered along with his right leg in Sunday’s season opener.

Louisville Heisman Trophy and All-America candidate Michael Bush suffered a broken right leg Sunday night early in the third quarter in the Cardinals’ game against Kentucky, an injury that will end his season.

The injury, which occurred as Bush was being tackled by Wildcats linebacker Wesley Woodyard, is a potentially devastating blow to Louisville’s hopes for a Big East championship, BCS bid and any hopes it had for national title contention. The NCAA 2005 scoring champion, who had worked himself into the best shape of his life, had rolled up 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in just over two quarters of work against Kentucky. His first carry of the season was a 48-yard touchdown.

It was apparent that the injury was severe almost immediately, as the 245-pound Bush writhed in pain on the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium turf. Louisville medical staff applied an inflatable cast to Bush’s leg and he was carted off. Bush tried to rouse a stricken capacity crowd as he was taken off the field.

[...]

This marked the third major injury suffered by a Louisville star in the last three games played on the artificial turf at PJCS. Bush sprained his foot last Nov. 4 against Pittsburgh and missed Louisville’s next two games. And in the home finale of 2005, quarterback Brian Brohm tore his ACL and dislocated his kneecap against Syracuse, ending his season.

Bush wanted to enter the NFL draft after last year, his junior season at Louisville. He reluctantly returned for his senior year when he was told he did not project as a first-round pick.

Truly a shame. It’s quite amazing that any program with the ability to afford something better is still using AstroTurf. Natural grass or even FieldTurf or its variants are so much better.

Some good news at least:

University of Louisville running back Michael Bush underwent successful surgery Monday morning at Jewish Hospital to repair his broken right leg, the school said in a press release. Bush went into surgery at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning and had a rod inserted into his leg. Dr. Art Malkani performed the hour-long procedure.

(Oddly, the story is on the horse racing page. Go figure.)

One hopes he’ll recover sufficiently to have a chance at the NFL.

 
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