Following up my earlier Sheehan post...
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:32 pm
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 1074/SPT03
Sheehan back in time for Elder
By Tom Groeschen
Enquirer staff writer
La Salle quarterback Tyler Sheehan took the football, backpedaled several steps and planted his feet. Sheehan then launched a tight, 40-yard spiral that a Lancers receiver caught in stride.
La Salle coach Tom Grippa, standing on the sidelines at practice earlier this week, watched with a smile.
"He's back, and all of a sudden we're a much better team," Grippa said.
Sheehan, rated by many scouts as Cincinnati's top senior quarterback, has been out since breaking his collarbone Aug. 27 in a season opener. Doctors thought Sheehan would miss six to eight weeks, but Sheehan will return for tonight's big Greater Catholic League South Division game against Elder at La Salle's Lancer Stadium.
Elder (2-2) is ranked No. 5 and La Salle (3-1) is No. 6 in The Enquirer Division I area coaches' poll. It's the 2005 league opener for both, and La Salle has not beaten Elder since 1992.
Might Sheehan be the difference?
"I've been pain-free all week, so that's a good sign," Sheehan said. "My first day in pads was Monday, and I was so happy. I felt like a little kid again."
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Sheehan, who has committed to Bowling Green, is ahead of schedule in rehabilitation. One plus is that Sheehan is right-handed, and the injury occurred to his left collarbone.
"If it had been the right side, I wouldn't be back this soon," Sheehan said.
La Salle team physician Dr. Robert Burger worked with Bowling Green doctors and also consulted clavicle specialists nationwide, Grippa said.
Sheehan spends time daily with a bone stimulator attached to his left clavicle. A metal plate, surgically implanted the day after he was hurt, is held in place by six screws. For football, Sheehan has been fitted with extra padding around his shoulders.
Sheehan was hurt with barely a minute left in the 35-7 opening win over Sycamore, after he threw four touchdown passes.
Sheehan's backup, junior Brian Jacob, was unable to replace Sheehan in the Sycamore game because Jacob - also a starting defensive back - had been knocked woozy moments before. La Salle has gone 2-1 with Jacob at quarterback.
"It was a big load on me, replacing the best quarterback in the city," Jacob said. "The team got behind me and gave me confidence. I'm just glad Tyler is coming back, because he's our leader."
Jacob has totaled 163 passing yards and two TD passes in his three games; Sheehan threw for 152 yards and four TDs in his one game. Jacob did break out last week, rushing for 110 yards and a TD and throwing for 51 yards and another TD in a 34-0 win at Louisville Butler.
La Salle seeks to snap its 12-year losing streak to Elder. Last year's loss was particularly harsh, as La Salle led 21-0 in the second quarter before losing 38-35 at Elder's Pit. Sheehan, himself replacing an injured QB (since-graduated Anthony Kummer) that night, threw for 226 yards and two TDs but also was intercepted once.
"I owe Elder one from last year," Sheehan said.
Grippa, a former Elder coach (1987-96), has taken La Salle to the playoffs in both his years as Lancers head coach (2003, 2004).
"We're a good football team, not great, but we're on the right track," Grippa said. "With Tyler Sheehan ... it makes us that much better."
Sheehan back in time for Elder
By Tom Groeschen
Enquirer staff writer
La Salle quarterback Tyler Sheehan took the football, backpedaled several steps and planted his feet. Sheehan then launched a tight, 40-yard spiral that a Lancers receiver caught in stride.
La Salle coach Tom Grippa, standing on the sidelines at practice earlier this week, watched with a smile.
"He's back, and all of a sudden we're a much better team," Grippa said.
Sheehan, rated by many scouts as Cincinnati's top senior quarterback, has been out since breaking his collarbone Aug. 27 in a season opener. Doctors thought Sheehan would miss six to eight weeks, but Sheehan will return for tonight's big Greater Catholic League South Division game against Elder at La Salle's Lancer Stadium.
Elder (2-2) is ranked No. 5 and La Salle (3-1) is No. 6 in The Enquirer Division I area coaches' poll. It's the 2005 league opener for both, and La Salle has not beaten Elder since 1992.
Might Sheehan be the difference?
"I've been pain-free all week, so that's a good sign," Sheehan said. "My first day in pads was Monday, and I was so happy. I felt like a little kid again."
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Sheehan, who has committed to Bowling Green, is ahead of schedule in rehabilitation. One plus is that Sheehan is right-handed, and the injury occurred to his left collarbone.
"If it had been the right side, I wouldn't be back this soon," Sheehan said.
La Salle team physician Dr. Robert Burger worked with Bowling Green doctors and also consulted clavicle specialists nationwide, Grippa said.
Sheehan spends time daily with a bone stimulator attached to his left clavicle. A metal plate, surgically implanted the day after he was hurt, is held in place by six screws. For football, Sheehan has been fitted with extra padding around his shoulders.
Sheehan was hurt with barely a minute left in the 35-7 opening win over Sycamore, after he threw four touchdown passes.
Sheehan's backup, junior Brian Jacob, was unable to replace Sheehan in the Sycamore game because Jacob - also a starting defensive back - had been knocked woozy moments before. La Salle has gone 2-1 with Jacob at quarterback.
"It was a big load on me, replacing the best quarterback in the city," Jacob said. "The team got behind me and gave me confidence. I'm just glad Tyler is coming back, because he's our leader."
Jacob has totaled 163 passing yards and two TD passes in his three games; Sheehan threw for 152 yards and four TDs in his one game. Jacob did break out last week, rushing for 110 yards and a TD and throwing for 51 yards and another TD in a 34-0 win at Louisville Butler.
La Salle seeks to snap its 12-year losing streak to Elder. Last year's loss was particularly harsh, as La Salle led 21-0 in the second quarter before losing 38-35 at Elder's Pit. Sheehan, himself replacing an injured QB (since-graduated Anthony Kummer) that night, threw for 226 yards and two TDs but also was intercepted once.
"I owe Elder one from last year," Sheehan said.
Grippa, a former Elder coach (1987-96), has taken La Salle to the playoffs in both his years as Lancers head coach (2003, 2004).
"We're a good football team, not great, but we're on the right track," Grippa said. "With Tyler Sheehan ... it makes us that much better."