THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 19, 1994 TAG: 9409190132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Norfolk State's Jeff Henderson spent the better part of a year rehabilitating his right knee, for a chance to play football one more time.
``It was like a job,'' he said. ``Twice a day. It wasn't until after six or seven months that I started to believe I could come back.''
He did, but his comeback lasted one game.
Friday afternoon, in practice, Henderson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He'll miss the rest of the season.
It's a heartbreaking ending to what was shaping up as an inspiring comeback story. Henderson, a junior running back, tore up his right knee in May, 1993, while playing catch in front of a Norfolk State dorm.
Henderson returned to Richmond, where his injury was improperly diagnosed as a strain of the anterior cruciate ligament. It wasn't until he returned to Norfolk for pre-season practice that he found out he'd need surgery.
But because the injury didn't happen on the football field, Norfolk State wasn't obligated to pay for the surgery. Henderson didn't have health insurance - he had just turned 23 and was no longer covered on his mother's policy - so he had to wait until his family could raise the money for the operation.
Henderson underwent surgery in November, 1993. He was on crutches for two months after the operation, then started the long road back. He was Norfolk State's leading rusher in 1992, and said he felt stronger than ever when he reported for pre-season practice this year.
Still, coach Darnell Moore was taking no chances. Henderson, projected as the team's starting tailback, was off-limits to tacklers in Spartan practices. He didn't get his first contact until the season opener against Virginia State, when he ran for 39 yards on 13 carries.
Henderson missed a practice the following week, and was held out of the Spartans' 26-24 win over North Carolina Central. He was expected back for Saturday's game, but instead was at Sentara Leigh Hospital, recovering from surgery. by CNB