updates on rutgers player paralyzed

Said the LeGrand family into the statement: "You want to say appreciate it to everyone its your prayers, kind words, and well wishes. We appreciate every last thought. Eric is within good spirits and we are praying for one full recovery."

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, who broke what is the news of LeGrand's injury to his team shortly before resuming its typical Sunday activities, spent the night with LeGrand at the hospital.

"Eric's spirits were as good as you could expect and he was cognizant of me being there great mom and everybody," Schiano said. "I saw him before surgery and after surgery, and he's a fighter."

LeGrand fell to the ground and never moved after colliding helmet-first into Army's Malcolm Brown through a 22-yard kick return with five minutes to play in the fourth quarter of Rutgers' 23-20 overtime win at New Meadowlands Stadium.

Replays showed LeGrand running at full speed before he drove his helmet into a full-steaming Brown at the 25-yard line. Both players flopped immediately towards the turf, but as Brown got up, LeGrand was motionless. His legs hovered slightly off the ground, and his arms appeared limp as he tried to lift his head to no avail.

Rutgers medical personnel, including head trainer David McCune, sprinted to LeGrand within seconds. Equally fast came Schiano, who quickly dropped to his knees to tend to his fallen player.

The 6-foot-2, 275-pound LeGrand laid motionless on the turf for roughly seven minutes before being lifted onto a backboard regarding his head and body immobilized. He was carted off the field to an ambulance, which transported him to Hackensack University Medical Center.

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