Update on Auburn's Zac Etheridge

In case you haven't heard, Auburn's Zac Etheridge was injured during their game with Ole Miss this weekend. His head collided with a teammate's shoulder pad. Etheridge lay motionless (on top of the Ole Miss running back he tackled) for several minutes until he was immobilized and taken away via ambulance. Me being the manly man sports fan that I am, I teared up more than a little when he gave the thumbs up as he was carted off of the field. I teared up again when I read this report from Jay G. Tate (Auburn beat writer at the Montgomery Advertiser) over at his "Hottest Auburn Blog on the Net"

Etheridge speaks

Hey everyone. Safety Zac Etheridge just stopped by the complex to meet with his teammates. He also spoke with reporters.

• He is walking fine. He is wearing an invasive brace that keeps his head firm and connects to his chest/back. It's pretty intimidating. His mother said Zac will be in that for at least three months. That's 24/7.
  
• Etheridge was highly complimentary of Ole Miss tailback Rodney Scott. Etheridge called over there to speak with Scott, but he was in class. The conversation instead was with Houston Nutt.
  
• Etheridge said he plans to play football again next season.
  
• His official injury is a cracked C-5 vertebrae and a few damaged neck ligaments.
  
• He was paralyzed initially. Within a minute or two, though, he was able to wiggle his toes. All feeling was restored within an hour.
  
• More to come ...

So good to hear that he is doing well. That was a scary, scary injury.

*edit* Mr. Tate has updated the story since I posted this. Follow the link above for the latest. * *