Etheridge 'blessed' just to be walking

AUBURN — Zac Etheridge sat upright, his eyes straight ahead, his chin slightly extended and his posture rigid.

The Auburn junior was wearing a neck brace attached to a harness-like padding on his chest and shoulders, and he looked decidedly uncomfortable.

But on Tuesday afternoon, Etheridge was smiling, grateful that three days after a frightening injury he was able to walk around, visit with teammates and even entertain hope of playing football again.

"I'm just blessed to be able to walk," Etheridge said.

Etheridge tore neck ligaments and cracked his fifth vertebra while trying to make a tackle in the first quarter of Auburn's win against Ole Miss on Saturday. Etheridge collided with teammate Antonio Coleman and landed on top of Ole Miss running back Rodney Scott.

Etheridge was immobilized — with Scott still underneath him — taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to hospitals in Opelika and then Birmingham.

It was the few moments after the collision, when Etheridge feared he might be paralyzed, that were the most terrifying.

"Just laying on the ground, it felt weird not being able to control your body," Etheridge said. "I take my hat off to Rodney Scott. If he would have moved, I wouldn't be here today. I'd still be lying in the hospital bed."

Etheridge said he began to regain feeling in his body and was encouraged to give a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was wheeled off the field. He was able to walk in the hospital, where he was met by his parents, who were following the ambulance.

"When it first happened, I was just laying there. I was in shock just not being able to move, and there was a lot going through my mind," he said. "The only thing I could say was, 'Jesus. Jesus,' just calling out His name and being able to move by the time I got on the stretcher. When I was on the ground, I was moving my toes a little bit. I didn't have much feeling, but when I got on the stretcher, they were just like, 'Move your hands and just let everyone know you're fine.' That's when I was able to put a thumbs-up and that's when I knew that all the prayers that went up, God answered those that time."

His parents joined him Tuesday at the athletic complex, where he received a loud ovation from teammates in a meeting.

"All moms, they don't like to see their child on the ground, can't move. It hurt them pretty bad," Etheridge said. "The fans sent me e-mails and text messages. That has kept us upbeat about the situation."

For now, his main challenge is discomfort. Doctors have told him to wear his brace contraption constantly for another three months. He hasn't undergone any surgeries, although he's supposed to check back with doctors in a few weeks.

Etheridge said he would like to return to play in 2010 and doctors haven't ruled it out.

"I would love to be able to step back on the field and continue to play the game, but right now we've just got to take it one day at a time," he said. "That was probably the first question I asked (doctors). They said, 'Don't worry about anything. You'll be fine.' I was like, 'Will I be able to play again?' At first, the doctor said they don't know. After we got some pretty good results from the MRI and the X-rays and the CAT scan, things look like I'll be able to play again."

On Tuesday, Etheridge took a phone call from Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt and was trying to track down Scott. He visited with teammates and felt it was important to sit down with media, as well.

"I told my mom that I got messages from a lot of people, a lot of fans. I want the world to know that I'm fine," he said. "I want to thank everybody for their prayer requests. That helped my family out. They're going through this situation — especially knowing how much I love this game. I can't stay away from the guys long. If I could, I'd dress out today. I'm just happy to walk again."