 Eugene Jarvis will miss the remainder of 2009, but his coaches hope he can come back next season. Jarvis, a fifth-year senior from Pittsburgh, was injured during the first half of the Flashes 24-7 loss Saturday at Boston College. He did not come out of the game when he sustained the injury and did not show any immediate sign of injury, according to head coach Doug Martin.
At his press conference on Monday, Martin said “When we got back (from BC), he was having some pain. We took him to the hospital, and the doctors diagnosed the injury…. That tough guy would have played the entire game if I had not seen him in there (the locker room) at halftime and figured out what was going on.” He added, “I am really thankful that we did not put him back into the game. I can’t say enough about our trainer, Pamela Long, and the job she did of holding him out”
The university, at the request of Martin and athletic director Dr. Laing Kennedy, will petition the NCAA to give Jarvis a sixth year of eligibility. Martin was adamant about getting a sixth year for Jarvis. “That is a slam dunk - that kid should get a sixth year…. If he doesn’t, then someone is not doing their job, or the NCAA doesn’t care about kids,” said Martin, who is already prepared preparing a case. He brought out copies of documents on six or seven players in the past who received a sixth year. The players had a variety of problem. including legal issues and injuries.
Jarvis is believed to be the only three-time captain in Kent State football history. He entered 2009 with the second most rushing yards in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and needed only 721 yards to become the all-time leader in that category at Kent State.
In addition to his normal running duties, Jarvis took on a punt return role this season. He had five returns, including a 33-yarder which set up a Flashes touchdown against Coastal Carolina.
Jarvis picked up 141 yards rushing and scored a touchdown in Kent State’s 18-0 home win over the Chanticleers. He ran the ball 10 times for 17 yards against Boston College before leaving with the injury.
“He called me and (linebacker) Cobrani (Mixon) on Saturday (to tell us) that he had to go to the hospital,” defensive back Brian Lainhart said. “We thought he was going to be alright, and he called us back about 2-2:30 Sunday morning, and he was crushed”
As for the immediate future, starting with Saturday’s home game against Iowa State, the Flashes will turn to Andre Flowers, Jacquise Terry and Dri Archer. “We really loved what we saw from Dri Archer last Saturday at Boston College” Martin said. “His speed is a difference maker.”
Flowers, meanwhile, led the Flashes in rushing against the Eagles with 30 yards on nine carries, while Archer had just five carries gaining 19 yards.
There is some speculation that Jarvis will be on the sideline for Saturday’s home game at Dix Stadium. According to Lainhart, Jarvis wants to show his support. “The only thing he did get upset about (was) that he doesn’t know if he can walk out (for the coin toss) with the captains on Saturday, but he said he is going to” Lainhart said.
Jarvis’ presence, like his collegiate football future, is an uncertainty. Martin, however, is moving forward with positive feelings. “He’ll be back….This is going to be hard on him watching 11 football games, but he will come out of it stronger on the other side.” |
