GrizzlyEdd
August 15th, 2006, 06:38 PM
Hilliard injured, out for season
Montana running back Lex Hilliard sustained a season-ending foot injury in practice Monday. Hilliard, in position to set a new career rushing record for the Grizzlies, will have surgery and redshirt during the 2006 season.
UM SPORTS INFORMATION Photo
MISSOULA - University of Montana senior halfback Lex Hilliard sustained a serious foot injury in practice Monday that will force him to miss the 2006 season.
The injury will require surgery, according to a UM sports information release.
Hilliard - who played as a true freshman - will redshirt this season.
“We’re very disappointed for Lex Hilliard,” said fourth-year Griz head coach Bobby Hauck. “For him to lose his senior season, especially one that he has prepared so hard for, is a hard pill to swallow. It’s difficult to put into words just how bad that myself, our coaches and our players feel for Lex.
“Obviously it is a tremendous loss to our football team and certainly puts a damper on our championship aspirations since we lost our best player for the season,” Hauck said.
Hilliard - a 6-0, 228-pounder from Kalispell - is ranked second in Montana history with 2,884 career rushing yards. He has rushed for 34 career touchdowns. He has been a unanimous first team All-Big Sky Conference selection the past two seasons.
Last season he rushed for 1,322 yards, the second most in single-season history at UM, and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award given annually to Division I-AA’s offensive player of the year.”
The release said UM will have no further comments on Hilliard’s injury
Montana running back Lex Hilliard sustained a season-ending foot injury in practice Monday. Hilliard, in position to set a new career rushing record for the Grizzlies, will have surgery and redshirt during the 2006 season.
UM SPORTS INFORMATION Photo
MISSOULA - University of Montana senior halfback Lex Hilliard sustained a serious foot injury in practice Monday that will force him to miss the 2006 season.
The injury will require surgery, according to a UM sports information release.
Hilliard - who played as a true freshman - will redshirt this season.
“We’re very disappointed for Lex Hilliard,” said fourth-year Griz head coach Bobby Hauck. “For him to lose his senior season, especially one that he has prepared so hard for, is a hard pill to swallow. It’s difficult to put into words just how bad that myself, our coaches and our players feel for Lex.
“Obviously it is a tremendous loss to our football team and certainly puts a damper on our championship aspirations since we lost our best player for the season,” Hauck said.
Hilliard - a 6-0, 228-pounder from Kalispell - is ranked second in Montana history with 2,884 career rushing yards. He has rushed for 34 career touchdowns. He has been a unanimous first team All-Big Sky Conference selection the past two seasons.
Last season he rushed for 1,322 yards, the second most in single-season history at UM, and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award given annually to Division I-AA’s offensive player of the year.”
The release said UM will have no further comments on Hilliard’s injury