Injury forces black RB Starks to miss 2009 season.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/9981482/Buffalo-RB-Starks-to-miss-senior-year-with-injury
<div>AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo running back James Starks knew
shoulder surgery now would cost him his final season of college
football. He also knew he couldn't help his team if he wasn't healthy.</div>
So Starks decided it was best to have his shoulder repaired and prepare
for a shot at the NFL, leaving the defending Mid-American Conference
champion Bulls without their all-time leading rusher.
"It
was a hard decision," Starks said on Tuesday. "I've been here the whole
summer, working hard. My teammates have been here. Just to feel like I
was letting them down made the decision that much harder for me."
Coach Turner Gill said that tests revealed Starks, a
fifth-year senior scheduled to graduate in December, has a labral tear
in his left shoulder. Gill said doctors told him Starks should make a
full recovery after four to six months of rehabilitation.</font>
Starks
holds school records with 3,140 yards rushing, 34 touchdowns rushing
and 222 points scored. He already was being projected as an NFL
prospect in next year's draft, and made the Doak Walker Memorial trophy
watch list as one of the nation's top college running backs entering
this season.</font>
"I know he has an opportunity on the next level," Gill said.</font>
Gill
said Starks was injured during a scrimmage on Aug. 15. Initial attempts
at rehabbing the injury were ineffective and an MRI revealed the labrum
tear.</font>
Further attempts to rehab the shoulder went nowhere, Gill
said. Starks tried to practice despite the discomfort, but the injury
soon proved to be too painful.</font>
"I asked a lot of people and the best decision for me and the team was to have the surgery," Starks said.</font>
The
injury is a blow to a Bulls program coming off its best season - and
first with a winning record - since joining the MAC in 1999. The Bulls
went 8-6 last year to win their first MAC championship and make their
first bowl appearance, a 38-20 loss to Connecticut in the International
Bowl.</font>
"We have a lot of great running backs that can take the load," Starks said. "It's just a temporary setback."</font>
The
starting job now likely belongs to Brandon Thermilus, a 5-11, 224-pound
junior previously used as a bruising complement to the flashier Starks.
Buffalo opens the season Sept. 5 at UTEP.</font>
"The way I look at it,
I've just got to pick it up," said Thermilus, who rushed for 454 yards
and seven touchdowns last season. "I've got to play football, that's
what I came here to do."</font>
The Bulls already were entering this
season with sophomore quarterback Zach Maynard taking over for Drew
Willy, who finished his career at Buffalo by setting nearly every
school passing record.</font>
"Injuries are, and will always be, a huge
part of football, but this one is particularly painful because of what
James has meant to this program and community," Gill said. "However,
this is an incredible opportunity for a group of very talented running
backs that we have to step up and help us achieve our goals this
season."</font>
Edited by: Colonel_Reb
