Injured Larimore plans to help team
Linebacker Patrick Larimore was off to a fine first season as a starter when he separated his shoulder during the second series of the Oregon game. He knew something had happened to shoulder and left the game right then and there. He recently found out he would miss the rest of the season and will be having surgery.
"At first it was really hard," Larimore said about he is dealing with his injury. "I was really hopeful that I would be able to come back with the rehab.
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"I thought I would have a good chance, but my shoulder just wasn't progressing," Larimore said. "So I talked with numerous doctors.
"Coach Chuck Bullough and Coach Todd Howard recommended a doctor," Larimore said. "I talked to everyone on UCLA's staff and they think it is best that I go for surgery to avoid permanent damage.
"But it was really hard to start off the season and not be able to finish with my teammates and the help the team get wins," Larimore said. "I think it I better just start to move on and get surgery and help the team in any way I can.
"Hopefully I will be having the surgery sometime next week or the end of this week," Larimore said. "Then I can start rehabbing immediately, but they say I could be rehabbing up to four to six months.
"Some doctors have told me I could potentially come back for spring ball and some have told me not," Larimore said. "I'm going to rule spring ball out and it would be great to come back for spring ball, but I don't know. I will have to see."
If Larimore does indeed miss spring which at this time the answer if he will participate or not is unclear, but he will be back and ready to go 100 percent by the time August training camp rolls around in 2011.
You have to admire Larimore because he didn't hang his head. While he has accepted his fate for the 2010 season and though he won't be able to help the team on the field, he hasn't thrown in the towel on ways to still help the team.
"We still have a great opportunity ahead of us as team," Larimore said. "We have three big games and a huge game against Washington Thursday Night so I just have to help the team in any way I can and help coach Jordan Zumwalt and help coach the linebackers.
"Like I said, if there is any way I can help the team," Larimore said. "That's what I'm going to do.
"I'm going to help Coach Clark Lea on the sidelines and help him with tendencies and stuff and mistakes," Larimore said. "Any way I can be a leader, I will do so."
In six games and two series, Larimore was extremely productive in 2010. He accounted for 41 tackles five tackles for loss, he still leads the team with three forced fumbles, he has three pass breakups, one sack and one fumble recovery.
On September 21st, Larimore was named FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week.