Mulvane’s Huldon Tharp, a week after surgery
June 23, 2008 @ 1:05 p.m. by Joannaby joanna
It’s been nearly a week since Mulvane running back/linebacker Huldon Tharp had season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. According to coach Dave Fennewald, the rehab already is going well and Tharp will be fully recovered for next season.
I’m curious to see what colleges will do_ He’s been offered scholarships from Stanford, Kansas, Miami, Iowa State, Colorado, Boise State, Colorado State, Texas Christian and Illinois. Will they back off their offers? If they did, it would be pretty silly, if you ask me. So many athletes come back from ACL injuries, and Tharp is obviously in excellent shape, he’s young and there’s no way to overlook the skill he possesses.
I’ll miss seeing him play, though. That’s a kid who had no problem running over defenders and he did it with such style.
There is a question that has been raised about team camps — Should the top athletes go to the team camps and risk injury? The Pittsburg Sun talked to Brian Butler about the issue (Tharp works out with him) in this story. Butler, in short, said he’s not a fan of the team camps.
I can certainly see the point not to go. Injuries are scary. But I also understand why teams want to go to these camps. And the risk of injury is anywhere. Athletes can get hurt in conditioning, games, practice, stepping off the curb.
Fennewald talked about the team camp issue: “I asked Huldon, ‘do you regret going?’ He said, ‘Not at all. This was my opportunity to help make my football team a better football team.’ He easily could have sat out, but Huldon is not about four years, he’s concerned about what’s important now. What’s important now for the 2008 Mulvane football team. That’s what I respect and admire.”
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
“What’s important now for the 2008 Mulvane football team.”
What is important is him out on the football field for them. That’s a crushing blow for the team.
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June 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I totally agree. I’m curious to see who comes through here, though. Another back? The passing game?
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June 23rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Reminds me of Caleb Handy when he played for Conway Springs. He signed with K-State but set out his senior year with an injury. I think there will be some teams that back off but for the ones who stay with it and keep recruiting him, they will get a great football player.
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Good article about Tharp. Dr. Bruner is a very good doctor and I think Tharp will be fine when he gets back.
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Team camps have a lot of plusses. Injuries can happen any time.
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am
He’ll be missed but it’s not a crushing blow. They have plenty of solid talent and the drive to compete and win games. They have several options for running back on offense. There’s no obvious replacement for his middle linebacker position currently. Someone will have to want to step up and fill that position. People will be surprised at just how strong of a team they are when the season is underway.
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June 24th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Losing him is not a crushing blow? Anytime you lose your best player its a crushing blow… You might have replacements but you won’t have Huldon. Mulvane will be good, but they would be better with Mr. Tharp.
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June 24th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
“not a crushing blow?”
Either Tharp isn’t as good as I’ve been told … or Mulvane is really, really, really loaded.
And as the cliche goes, if you have “several” options at running back, then maybe you don’t have any.
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June 24th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Sounds like the perfect player for Boise State!! I can’t tell you how many guys we get who missed either a great portion or all of their senior season due to an injury. All the BCS schools back down, we bring them in, let them get back to 100% and are lucky to have their superior talent.
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June 28th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Rik Rok yes hes as good as you have been told and yes its a Giant Blow for Mulvane dont let anyone fool you on that.
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