Daniels was at Andersen Fieldhouse on Monday morning, exercising and trying to work out the stiffness less than 48 hours after his right knee was injured in UMHB’s 63-7 victory over Texas Lutheran on Saturday night.
The injury occurred on the Crusaders’ first offensive play and the initial report was that Daniels had suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, but the MRI that will confirm the extent of the injury won’t be performed until later in the week.
“He was in this morning, doing some exercises,” UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg said Monday during his weekly press conference. “He did some stuff that he said he hadn’t been able to do (on Sunday), and you’re always encouraged to see some movement.
“You can never underestimate Quincy. We’re optimistic but also cautiously realistic.”
Nothing will be known until the MRI results come back. And even then, there will be different options for UMHB to explore.
Daniels, a junior, could try to rehabilitate the knee and return to action wearing a brace in as little as five or six weeks.
Another possibility would be to apply for a medical hardship, which the NCAA can grant to an athlete who is injured prior to competing in 20 percent of that season’s games and who is unable to return for the remainder of the season. In Daniels’ case, a medical redshirt would mean he still has two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
If Daniels could return in time for third-ranked UMHB’s probable playoff run, it would be beneficial for the Crusaders.
But if he does appear in a game down the road, and the knee doesn’t hold up, the opportunity for a redshirt would be lost.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Fredenburg said about the decision of whether or not to bring Daniels back this season. “We’re still quite a way away from that.
“It’s really tough for a young man like him to be in that situation. But he is an incredible person, and don’t ever underestimate his will.”
Weekly honors
UMHB (2-0, 1-0 American Southwest Conference) doesn’t have to rush Daniels back immediately, thanks in part to the performance of sophomore reserve running back Matt Hurst - one of two Crusaders who received conference honors for their performance last week.
Hurst, who will start Saturday night at McMurry (0-3, 0-1), was named as the ASC Co-Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 186 yards and tying a UMHB single-game record with four touchdowns.
Sophomore Aerttrail Robinson was named Special Teams Player of the Week. Robinson returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to set an ASC record. It was the sixth kickoff return for a touchdown in Crusaders history.
Streaks and feats
The Crusaders stretched their ASC winning streak to 22 games by beating TLU on Saturday, when UMHB had a pair of 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver in the same game for only the third time in program history.
Roger Sanchez rushed for 100 yards to go with Hurst’s performance and Pi’Dadro Davis’ two catches covered 102 yards. The Crusaders also had 100-yard trios last season against Hardin-Simmons and in 2005 against Willamette (Ore.).
UMHB will try to extend its conference in Abilene against McMurry, an opponent the Crusaders have defeated seven consecutive times by a combined total of 386-76.
No worries
Any apprehension felt about the retirement of Dr. Jerry Bawcom next spring was alleviated by the announcement of his successor as UMHB president - Dr. Randy O’Rear, an alum and the current executive vice-president.
“I’m very excited for him,” Fredenburg said of O’Rear, a former assistant baseball coach for the Crusaders. “He is in the mold of Dr. Bawcom. He’s a good man and a good leader.”
To celebrate or not
In the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sanchez was flagged for tossing the ball in the air after a 16-yard run for a first down. It’s the same penalty that raised a stink two weeks ago when Washington quarterback Jake Locker was flagged following his touchdown in the final seconds of a loss against Brigham Young.
Fredenburg believes the penalty should have been levied on only one of those plays.
“We’ve gone too far when flags are being thrown after that play by the Washington quarterback, because that game and that play had so much emotion,” Fredenburg said. “I just hate it when an official controls the scope of the game.
“And I’m all for good sportsmanship and no bringing attention to oneself. As for Roger, what was he celebrating, hurdling a guy? I don’t think his play was justifiable and he probably should have been flagged. But the Washington quarterback? (Officials) have to put it in perspective.”
Around the ASC
UMHB and No. 24 Hardin-Simmons (3-0, 1-0) are the only unbeaten ASC teams after the Cowboys held on for a 36-28 win over Louisiana College (2-1, 0-1) last week.
This week, HSU hosts Mississippi College (1-2, 1-0), which picked up its first win with a 44-7 rout of McMurry.
The Crusaders and Cowboys clash Oct. 4 in Belton.
