A medical issue exposed after he was injured in the spring game has forced Oregon senior tight end Brandon Williams to retire from football. Williams, the backup to senior starter David Paulson, has been diagnosed with a narrow spinal canal, and has a bulging disc in his back that is exacerbating the problem. Williams said he could risk paralysis by continuing to play contact sports, and that the proximity of the condition to his diaphragm could also threaten his breathing in the event of a devastating hit. Doctors discovered the condition while examining Williams following the Ducks’ spring football game, which Williams left early after being hurt. A former junior college all-American from Merrionette Park, Ill., Williams had his initial season at Oregon last fall marred by a hand injury, finishing with two receptions for 48 yards. “It’s heartbreaking,” Williams said. “Almost like losing a loved one. I’ve been playing football all my life, and then to find this out right before my senior season, it’s tough. It’s been a challenge dealing with it, but I’m getting through it.” Williams was told of his condition, and that doctors had no choice but to call for his retirement from the sport, after returning to Eugene from spring break. “Brandon has worked hard to overcome this latest setback but it is in his best interest to step away from the game at this time,” UO coach Chip Kelly said in a released statement. “His presence will certainly be missed.” Williams will remain on scholarship at Oregon and said he intends to finish his degree in sociology and pursue an interest in criminal justice. More details in Saturday’s print edition of The Register-Guard. http://www.registerguard.com/web/up...ams-football-oregon-condition-senior.html.csp
good call on the scholarship, hopefully he puts his education to good use! its just a game, and he has a whole healthy life to look forward to, best of luck
you know that one NCAA college athletics commercial where they say something along the lines of... "There are umpteen thousand scholarship athletes and 99% of them will be going professional in something other then their sport?" Playing sports at a high level earned Brandon a full ride at a fine University, but the odds were stacked against him making the NFL. The end of his football career unfortunately comes one year early... but if you think about it this is almost a blessing for him as he has the opportunity to truly focus on his most realistic opportunity to make something of himself. I'll continue to root for him. STOMP
