Tulane football does not get much attention these days and it has been a long time since the New Orleans community really seemed to bond together to support the football program. The 0-4 Green Wave though are currently seeing plenty of support from the community this season as New Orleans is coming together to support Devon Walker and his rehab from a devastating spinal injury suffered earlier this season.
From rallies to fund-raisers, everyone seems to want to help support Walker and his family through what must be an excruciating and trying time for everybody. When something like this sort of injury comes along to a football player it seems to give everyone a reason to slow down and think about what is really important in life. Football, ultimately, is just a game. It is unfortunate that an injury like this is what reminds us of that fact most often because football is so much a part of our lives. While we never want to see major injuries like these put a player's life in jeopardy or restrain them to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives, there are positives that can be pulled from these events if we give it some time and take a look.
Penn State's Adam Taliaferro has gone on to regain the ability to walk, finished his Penn State degree and followed up with a law school degree and has become a new member of the Penn State Board of Trustees. Rutgers's Eric LeGrand may not have had quite the recovery Taliaferro had in a physical sense but his endless optimism and, perhaps, new outlook on life inspires us all to this day. Time will tell how things will shape out for Walker, and hopefully he can become a fraction of the positive influence Taliaferro and LeGrand have become. We are all behind him, and any other player who must deal with these unfortunate situations.
If you read one story today, make this story about Tulane football published by The New York Times it. But if you still want some other recommended reading material, carry on.
We are starting to look forward to some of the games coming up this weekend. Ohio State hosting Nebraska is a rather important Big Ten game, while LSU at Florida is pretty significant in the SEC.
This Penn State Homecoming video has caused a bit of a stir, requiring otherwise unnecessary damage control.
Oklahoma plays Texas Tech this weekend and if history is any indication, it should be a good one. [Blatant Homerism]
Notre Dame's success this weekend could rest on the play of quarterback Evertt Golson. The AP looks at some other key players in big games this weekend. [AP, via New York Times]
Texas will need everyone to step it up a notch this weekend when they host West Virginia, but running back Malcolm Brown will be out for the game due to a sprained ankle. [SI.com]
Speaking of West Virginia, Chris Brown has a couple stories on Grantland worth checking out. The first breaks down Dana Holgorsen's offense, the second takes a closer look at Geno Smith.
You don't need a gigapixel image to soak in West Virginia's Big 12 debut atmosphere, but it helps. [West Virginia Athletics]
Stanford head coach David Shaw is still backing quarterback Troy Josh Nunes. [AP, via SI.com]
UCLA looks to have back linebacker Jordan Zumwalt a week and a half after a motor scooter accident. [LA Times]
It was bound to happen sooner or later, but former Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary has filed a whistle blower lawsuit against Penn State, seeking $4 million. [Fight on State] According to the lawsuits claims, every assistant coach on Joe Paterno's staff was given an opportunity to interview to be a part of Bill O'Brien's new staff, except McQueary. [Dan Wetzel]
Scheduling Note: No longer the sisters of the poor, Ohio State has agreed to a home-and-home with TCU. [FBSchedules.com]
Also, TCU's shiny chrome helmet for Iowa State. [Saturday Football]
It's become somewhat of a trend for someone to attend various sporting events, in this case college football games, dressed up as Waldo. Introducing, Where's Waldo? Sports Edition.
Real or fake? Oregon's breast cancer awareness helmets.
Fighter jet pilot wearing a Nebraska-style helmet.
Video of the Day
Alabama fans are a loyal bunch, this cannot be denied. Take, for instance, these Alabama fans forced to make an emergency landing in a small airplane who abandoned their plane in an open field so they could still make the game against Ole Miss.
