Colt McCoy – Quarterback for the Texas Longhorns

By Danny Reagan / Abilene, Texas

Haven't been able to talk to Father McCoy yet (Brad), and that's the only diagnosis I'll trust at this point, but ...

From wire sources, it appears that Colt sustained a "stinger" on his right shoulder last night. That's like a very serious nerve pinch around the neck and shoulders. In high school my son got two in consecutive games. They are scary because they happen in the spine area, but they can be overcome in a day or so.

X-rays supposedly showed no damage or separation, but stingers will just take the strength right out of the arm on the side where you were hit.

In medical-ese, stingers happen "when the spinal cord in the neck is compressed as the head is forced backward and sideways, or when the nerves in the neck and shoulder are over-stretched as the head is forced sideways away from the shoulder."

On that play last night, it looked as though both of those things happened to Colt on two different, quick hits as he dove over the line.

You know Colt wanted to go right back in, but credit goes to Mack Brown. He knows that if a stinger isn't treated properly and time allowed to pass, it can make the player more susceptible to them in the future. Colt is just a redshirt-freshman.

I'm sure Colt's family and friends appreciate the coach doing the right thing. Even if some people might think it cost the Longhorns a game.

Hey, the national title can wait another year. Colt's health can't.