FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The simplest way of putting it is that football is a cruel game. On a single play, everything can change and usually not for the better.
After battling back from two separate ACL injuries, Collin Hill has looked great in 2019. Coming into the Arkansas game, Hill was among the nation’s leaders in passing yards with over 700 between the Rams’ first two contests.
What makes Hill so special, though, is the way that he leads the locker room. Ask anybody that’s ever played with the redshirt junior and they will tell you how great of a person he is. Having covered the young man from Moore, South Carolina, for three years, I will confidently say that he’s as humble as any athlete that I’ve been around at CSU.
“I think the guys respect him because of what he’s been through — two ACL’s surgeries and how hard he’s worked — and just the type of person he is,” Mike Bobo said on Monday.
Bush league. pic.twitter.com/QLEnkqnpmB
— Justin Michael (@JustinTMichael) September 14, 2019
That’s what made it so difficult to swallow when Hill went down late in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury. Hill isn’t just another injured player in a brutal sport — he’s a warrior that has already been through hell just to get back out on the field.
Honestly, at this point, all we can do is speculate on the situation. Following the game, Bobo said on the team’s radio broadcast that Hill will receive an MRI tomorrow and they’ll have to see what the doctors say. But the play certainly didn’t look good at all and Bobo’s tone wasn’t exactly reassuring.
Playing devil’s advocate, Bobo may have just been trying to sound calm. His admiration for Hill is well documented and the veteran coach may have simply been trying to play the situation cool while the doctors further assess the situation. After all, no good would come from Bobo hitting the panic button.
But if CSU is without Hill for an extended period of time, it will be tough for Ram fans to not feel bitter about the play. Arkansas defensive back Joe Foucha appeared to have plenty of space to slow his momentum but chose to let all of his weight go straight into Hill’s left knee. Obviously, these plays are highly debatable but the officials deemed the play as unnecessary as well, flagging Foucha for roughing the passer.
In the end, whether the play was dirty or not is basically a moot point. All that matters is CSU may be without their starting quarterback and with nine games to go, that’s not a good position to be in.
Playing in relief of Hill, Patrick O’Brien was able to complete 7-of-10 attempts for 106 yards. Although, 75 came on a single play so it’s not exactly like he was picking the defense apart.
“I have so much respect for the guy, he makes me a better player every day,” O’Brien said on the team’s postgame radio broadcast.” For something like that to happen to a guy like him (Hill) is heartbreaking.”
O’Brien handled a tough situation with grace on Saturday. After not getting to prepare with the starters all week, getting thrown into the fire is a less-than-ideal position to be in, especially considering the emotion of the moment. In a normal start, O’Brien likely would have executed the offense better and all things considered, he deserves credit for his efforts.
If the Rams have to roll without Hill for an extended period of time, though, it will be a crying shame. Just when the team was starting to discover its identity, a cheap shot may be what kills their potential.
