11:15 a.m., Nov. 20, 2002--University of Delaware football Head Coach K.C. Keeler announced Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 19, that starting quarterback Andy Hall will miss the season finale against nationally ranked Villanova on Saturday due to a torn rotator cuff injury.
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| Andy Hall |
Hall, a junior from Cheraw, S.C., and a first-year transfer from Georgia Tech, had taken all 796 snaps this season and was trying to become the first quarterback in school history to take every snap for an entire season. Hall was injured in Delaware's 37-13 win over Maine Nov. 9 but remained in the game.
The injury did not appear to be serious at first but a recent examination confirmed a tear in the rotator cuff of his right arm, which is his throwing arm.
Hall is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday, Nov. 27, and it is expected that he will be sidelined for at least four months. The injury could keep Hall from taking part in spring drills, which will begin in March. Hall also was expecting to pitch for the Blue Hen baseball team in spring 2003.
With Hall out of the lineup, sophomore Mike Connor will see his first action of the season and will be backed up by true freshman Ryan Carty. Connor, a sophomore from Wallingford, Pa., battled Hall for the starting spot throughout pre-season drills but was slowed by a broken finger that sidelined him the first four games of the season. He has been available since the William & Mary game Sept. 28 but has not played.
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| Mike Connor |
Last season Connor became the first true freshman to start at quarterback at UD in 50 years when he took the field against William & Mary Oct. 20. He started the final four games of the season and completed 41 of 83 passes for 580 yards and one touchdown with five interceptions. He had his best game against Villanova in a season ending 19-14 loss when he connected on 15 of 31 passes for 205 yards.
"We are disappointed that Andy could not finish out the season and we hope that his rehabilitation goes smoothly," said Keeler, whose team is 5-0 this season at Delaware Stadium. "At the same time, we are confident that Mike Connor will do an outstanding job in his place. We gave Mike the option of not playing and keeping his redshirt year, but he made the decision to play. He is a seasoned guy and has played in big games before. He is a smart player who has a great command of our offense."
Hall was enjoying a solid season for the Blue Hens in leading the squad to a 6-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in Atlantic 10 play. He has hit on 159 of 306 passes for 1,832 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He also leads the Blue Hens in rushing with 153 carries for 863 yards (sixth best in the Atlantic 10) and seven touchdowns. His 863 yards, which ranks third among all NCAA Division I-AA quarterbacks, set a new Delaware single season quarterback rushing record, surpassing the mark of 755 by Leo Hamlett in 1995.
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