April 22, 2008
After earning a starting spot at outside linebacker early in preseason practice as a freshman in 2006, Bucknell's Sam Nana-Sinkam felt his left arm go dead in his second college game against Lafayette in 2006.
His left shoulder had slipped out of socket.
No problem. It went back in on its own.
The same thing happened in practice the following week.
Easy out, easy in.
It happened every week the rest of his freshman season in both shoulders.
"Each week, it was a different shoulder," he recalled.
But the shoulders started to need help going back into the sockets. Nana-Sinkam, already undersized at just more than 200 pounds, lost the strength to fight off would-be blockers of 300 pounds or more.
Even though the Lititz resident recorded 85 tackles in his first college season, including 15 in his debut contest, he knew he needed surgery.
The labral tear in his left shoulder was repaired in December 2006, but the surgeon felt the right shoulder didn't require the same procedure.
The second day of preseason drills in 2007, Nana-Sinkam's right arm went dead for the final time.
Surgery was needed and done that September.
His sophomore season was history.
"I felt bad that I couldn't play because I thought I was letting my teammates down," Nana-Sinkam said.
Nana-Sinkam eventually had to confront what was right in his face, something that was bigger than any opposing offensive lineman.
Was there football life after the two surgeries?
For the complete article from Tom Housenick of the Sunbury (Pa.) Daily Item click here
