Road to Recovery: Inside Look at QB Adam Bednarik

By John Antonik  |   Tuesday, July 19, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The long road to recovery has been much longer than quarterback Adam Bednarik ever expected.

Sophomore Adam Bednarik is one of just two returning quarterbacks with game experience heading into the 2005 campaign.

Bednarik is still feeling the effects from off-season shoulder surgery that kept him out of spring practice and has slowed his progress leading up to fall camp, set to start on Saturday, Aug. 6.

Bednarik's shoulder troubles date back to last fall, when he progressively noticed his passes were losing velocity and distance. There was some discomfort in his shoulder but Bednarik's high tolerance for pain masked what doctors eventually found when they finally operated on it: a complete tear of the rotator cuff.

“When they went in they were actually surprised with how much they found," said Bednarik. “They didn't think there was that much damage done and they were surprised that I was even able to throw the ball at all."

Being tough is an essential asset in football. However, tough guys can sometimes get themselves into trouble when they ignore pain and don't pull themselves out of action when they're hurt. Bednarik is conscious of that now.

“That is something I have to take into consideration because with the severity of my injury to my shoulder I did throw through the whole season," Bednarik admitted.

Bednarik says the doctors told him his rotator cuff was torn from the back all the way around to the front and they also found loose pieces of cartilage floating around in his shoulder that had to be removed.

Now eight months later, Bednarik is gradually getting his arm strength and velocity back.

“I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent yet but we're working to get the full strength back," he said. “I've been throwing every day with no restraints. I'm going as much as I can basically trying to get treatment twice a day now that it's getting closer (to camp)."

Because his arm has been inactive for such a long period of time, there is the usual soreness that accompanies getting his muscles reacquainted with throwing frequently. Bednarik admits he's taking the cautious approach.

“(The trainers) have been watching me," he said. “If I've told them I've had a little bit of pain here and there or if I'm doing exercises they're watching me a little bit. Knowing that camp is coming up they don't want me to have extra pain or twinges like that."

Bednarik has stayed away from most of the regular weight training his other teammates have been doing. He hasn't been on the bench press and has also stayed away from doing any squats because of the pressure of having the bar on his shoulder.

"They were keeping me limited because they were more worried about me throwing than pushing up weights," Bednarik said.

Because of his inactivity during the spring Bednarik's only reps were mental ones.

“Obviously it's not the same as when you are out there taking a physical rep," he said. “Whether I was in there or not I was able to pretend if I was in there behind center taking my pre-snap reads. When other quarterbacks in the spring were dropping back I was dropping back right there with them trying to see where I'd go with the ball."

With seven quarterbacks set to be in camp this fall, Bednarik knows competition is going to be intense for the starting job. Redshirt freshman Pat White distinguished himself in the spring game and offers great athletic ability. Dwayne Thompson has had his moments in the spring and also offers an interesting array of athletic talent.

Newcomers J.R. House, Jarrett Brown, T.J. Mitchell and Nate Sowers have a lot of catching up to do but they all possess physical ability. Bednarik, the team's No. 3 quarterback last year, realizes a great amount of media attention is going to be devoted to their every move this fall.

“There is going to be a lot of focus put on us but I think by camp-time we're all going to look past all of that," he said. “We're going to be giving interviews but what it really comes down to is being focused on what we need to do to become better football players and to win the quarterback job.

“It's going to be the guy who proves himself the best and I think everyone of us is capable of being that guy."

In order for Bednarik to put himself into the position of being 'the guy,' he has to make sure his shoulder is 100 percent in order to make a full accounting.

“I'd like to be able to come into camp saying I'm 100 percent and not saying what if I was this or what if I was that? I don't want to have to take breaks because my shoulder is bothering me," he said.

According to Bednarik, having a healthy shoulder means more time in the film room and less time in the training room.

“Come camp when I have extra time I want to be able to watch film and do things like that instead of having to do extra therapy on my shoulder," Bednarik said. “I want to be able to use that time to develop myself as a player."

A prepared and confident No. 1 quarterback by the end of fall camp is extremely important in the eyes of veteran WVU coach Rich Rodriguez. There are no mulligans when the Mountaineers take on Syracuse in the Carrier Dome on Sunday, Sept. 4. Bednarik is excited about opening the season with such an important game.

“Who wouldn't be? It's on ABC, it's a Big East game and it's going to be a sold-out crowd," Bednarik said. “Playing in the Carrier Dome with all of the history there … Donovan McNabb and guys like that … I can't wait for the first game and I'm doing everything to prepare for it."

Ultimately, Bednarik will happy when the day finally comes when he can just let it rip and not worry about his shoulder anymore.

“I'm definitely looking forward to it," he said. “It has been a long road … about seven-eight months now. It's been a rough eight months not being able to be my normal self."
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