“16 years ago…what a journey it has been…”

[Tango Two]

 

[Bueller]

I was online here just before game began. One of the lady posters at the game mentioned seeing a black cat in the end zone during warm-ups.

I recorded the game at home with screen recorder. After the game I debated posting the injury segment and decided against it. But watching all the people working on EL (including Army staff) I saw they did good work and I posted event because of that. A day later it had 300 views on Youtube and thought it was a lot. A day later it was over 20,000 views (Youtube stopped count at 300 to make sure it wasn't spam) . Eventually clip had had over a million views and EL mentioned (SI interview) watching it a lot because it was his last play when he could walk.

 

[Caliknight]

Black cats aren’t bad luck. In fact, in some cultures they are good luck.

 

[Bueller]

Black cats aren’t bad luck. In fact, in some cultures they are good luck.

Yes I believe Germany is one place where it can be good or bad depending on direction it crosses. I'm not very superstitious but I always remember the post about the black cat. In high school I made sure to wear my socks a certain way and that was about the extent of my supertitions.

 

[Caliknight]

Much of history considered them good luck. Or even more. Not to derail this thread from EL. He should always be spoken of. A little info on black cats

https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/council/news/articles/2026/march-2026/black-cats-the-catalyst-for-good-luck

 

[drewbagel423]

Still remember how deafening silent it was at MetLife that day

 

[RU206]

Still remember how deafening silent it was at MetLife that day

It’s etched in my memory. What a terrible day.

 

[Bueller]

It’s etched in my memory. What a terrible day.

When his legs levitated at the same time you knew it was bad.
As soon as I saw play I knew what happened - EL put his head down and hit returner with top of his head. It was like Jets Denis Byrd. I was lucky and had a JV coach who would stop practice and yell if someone hit with their head down (no neck resistance to blows from above). He would yell "You want to hear stories about what happens to people who hit with their heads down!" On varsity and college no coaches mentioned it and I was lucky for my JV coach.

Schiano blamed the play (kickoff) but even EL admitted in SI interview that he put his head down. I bet he never had a coach teach about head down hits. Parcells was doing the broadcast when Byrd hit with his head down and Parcells was speculating it was a should injury when it was clear it was a head/neck issue so even he didn't know. If anyone has kids playing football (or any contact sport really) make sure they know about keeping head up and and back. It becomes second nature. GS could have made a difference talking about safe tackling instead of blaming kickoffs

Subtle Difference Between Head-Up and Head-Down Tackling

Axial loading of the cervical spine resulting from head-down contact is the primary cause of spinal cord injuries. Keeping the head up and initiating contact with the shoulder or chest decreases th…

taskforceconcussion.wordpress.com

 

[RUGuitarMan1]

Still remember how deafening silent it was at MetLife that day

I was there with my son. A terrible scene and day. RU managed to win that game but I was very depressed coming home.

 

[RU#1fan]

Still remember how deafening silent it was at MetLife that day

Was there in the Stadium with my brother.
The silence was deafening. The winds were ferocious. The game had little meaning after that horrific moment.