By Zoe Staum
On November 9, Lafayette Football’s Charlie Clark ‘15 received the news no athlete wants to hear. He would never be able to play football again.
Clark was recruited to play linebacker for Lafayette Football, but an EKG during a routine physical revealed a serious heart condition. The doctors soon found that Clark’s heart was enlarged and his stress test revealed four palpitations in a row, a serious condition even for non-athlete.
This week, his impressive presence of a 225 pound, 6’5″ body wilted when he mentioned the endless questions surrounding his future at Lafayette. Throughout this season, in addition to filming practice, Clark said, “I lift weights with everyone. Sometimes I help out the coaches on the field by writing down plays.”
When asked about his teammates, Clark smiled — the only time he smiled during the interview, “It’s kind of like a family here … they try to keep you involved.”
The coaches have been especially kind to Clark. Though he will never contribute on the field, he was offered a position as an assistant in the weight room.
But Clark decided that without football, there was no longer a role for him at Lafayette. He turned down that offer, choosing to leave Lafayette next semester. Even with his imminent departure, Head Coach Frank Tavani sat down with Clark to help plan his future.
Explaining his decision, Clark said, “Basically, I came to Lafayette to play football. The good education was just a bonus.”
This past summer, Graham Kelley ‘15 learned as well that an injury would force his early retirement from football. Recruited as an offensive lineman, Kelley brought with him a previous back injury that was irritated during summer training. He never even made it to camp. Still under the team’s allotment of financial aid, Kelley plans to stay at Lafayette unlike his classmate Clark.
No matter how severe the injury, most injured football players keep close to the team. Wide receiver Rodney Gould ‘12, who injured his left shoulder two years ago and then his right shoulder the following summer, sat out both his sophomore and his junior seasons.
Gould, who has an extra year of eligibility due to injuries, has never missed a practice. “I would stand on the sideline or on the field watching practice, just trying to learn,” he said.
Even outside of practice, Gould said, “When I was injured I always felt like part of the team. My teammates kept me involved. We have a very close team bond.”
Jared Roberts ‘15, a defensive back from New Jersey, broke his hand during a drill in only the third practice of summer training. His hand was in a splint for a month and Roberts took a red shirt for the season. He remains optimistic, knowing he has four more seasons of eligibility.
Being out for his entire freshman season, Roberts explained, “It feels weird not playing cause I’ve never been hurt before.”
Gould and Roberts agreed that, despite their injuries, most of their friends are football players. One way that they all stay connected: video games.
“We play a lot of video game tournaments,” Roberts said. Gould added, “When we all hang out we have never-ending tournaments.” It’s lucky their injuries don’t inhibit the use of a controller.
Roberts continued to insist the only aspect he misses is the competition. “I still attend every practice,” he said, “If I’m not filming, I work out. Friday we have a mandatory workout … I never really stopped working out, even when I had the splint.”
Roberts said, “I don’t feel like I’m missing out … I pretty much do everything everyone else does. I just don’t play.”
Lafayette’s injured football players are left with options, staying close to their football family. Though, all injured athletes agree that nothing can replace the feeling on the field.