Old neck injury sidelines tight end

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Sep 21, 2004 | by TODD JACOBSON THE GAZETTE

An old injury to Air Force tight end Robert McMenomy's neck resurfaced last week, and will keep him out of a second straight game.

The junior will miss the Falcons' game Saturday against Utah with what is being called a neck sprain by the team. Junior Carsten Stahr started in McMenomy's place against UNLV last week.

McMenomy said he doesn't know exactly what the injury is.

When he first injured his neck in his last game as a senior at South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, Ga., Mc-Menomy was told he had a pinched nerve.

What he does know is this: He took a hit on the opening kickoff of Air Force's game against Eastern Washington, and he felt a pinching pain on the back of his neck and his left arm went numb.

He recovered and played against the Eagles, but in practice last week, the symptoms recurred several more times.

Monday, trainer Tony Peck ruled McMenomy out for the Utah game.

"It's a scary thing," Mc-Menomy said. "A lot of times with football injuries you just tough it out. You can deal with it. But I have done that before with this. If it's happening every other play on something that's not even a big hit, I have to take a step back and really think about the logical thing to do."

Butler runs, may play

The closest senior wingback Anthony Butler got to running last week was when he sprinted in a swimming pool, but he is optimistic he will play against Utah despite a sprained ankle.

Butler, who was injured on his only carry against Eastern Michigan, ran for the first time since he was hurt Monday.

"I'm starving to play," Butler said. "I am definitely not 100 percent, but I think I'll get better and better as the week goes on."

Tailfeathers

Center Larry Hufford was added to Air Force's injury report with a sprained left ankle, and did not practice Monday. He is listed as questionable for Saturday.... The Air Force-Utah game will be televised locally on KXTU, which is Channel 7 on Adelphia Cable.