Hearn injury a shock to Streaks

Rocks' player hurt in game vs. Alleman

Thursday, October 5, 2006

By JUSTIN CONN

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Football didn't seem so important anymore to the members of the Galesburg High School Silver Streaks after hearing about Rock Island junior Travis Hearn's neck injury.

On Sept. 22 in a game against Alleman, Hearn sustained a burst fracture of the C4 vertebae - one of seven vertebraes in the neck. He was carried off the field in a stretcher and taken to Trinity Medical Center West Campus in Rock Island, where overnight spinal surgery was done to remove pieces of the vertabrae.

The 17-year-old Hearn is still listed in serious condition and has no feeling below his shoulders.

A week earlier, the Silver Streaks had played against Hearn in Rock Island.

"We talk to all the Rocky guys, so I've met him - he's a pretty cool guy," said GHS senior Andrew Thierry. "It was a shock to hear he got hurt that bad."

Thierry said the news startled the whole team.

"It's real scary - that's somebody's life changed over a football game," Thierry said. "Things get serious when something like that happens. You might be enemies on the field, but when something like this happens it's real life."

GHS coach Wes Olson said the Streaks have talked as a team about Hearn's injury.

"That's one of those things you hate to hear - the guys really took it to heart," Olson said. "We talked about how football is just a sport - it's not the end-all, be-all of life. Football is important, but there are a lot of other more important things like health and family.

"We told them when they go back out on the field, they should have fun and enjoy what you've got while you're out there," Olson said. "But to also remember that it's only a game."

Olson said the coaches also re-emphasized the importance of safety.

"The big thing is not to butt or spear," Olson said. "It's a rule - you can't lead with your head. But we still see guys every Friday night lowering their heads when they hit or run. We stressed to our guys not to do that."

Thierry said in the thick of the game, remembering to tackle correctly isn't always easy.

"You know you never want to put your head down, but everybody slips up," Thierry said. "My dad tells me all the time - don't lead with your head. But you catch yourself sometimes and you have to tell yourself, 'Don't do that.'"

Helping Hearn

The GHS Booster Club will continue the effort started last week at games in the Quad-Cities Area by donating proceeds from its 50-50 drawing to the Travis Hearn Fund.

The student council is also planning a raffle.

Contributions can also be made payable to the "Travis Hearn Fund" and mailed to or dropped off at any Quad-Cities Area THE National Bank branch.