The play that may turn out to be his last was a reflection of the resolve Ryan Van Dyke has exhibited throughout his injury-infested career.
But this time when the play ended at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Saturday, the senior quarterback couldnt get up on his own.
I was knocked out completely, Van Dyke said. I didnt know where I was for about 30 minutes. I thought I was in the Silverdome. I didnt even know I was playing football. Ive never been knocked out before.
Van Dykes jaw was broken and his head rang from a concussion before senior tailback Little John Flowers caught his pass and squeezed out a first down on third down.
When Van Dyke regained his composure, the first questions he had were for sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker.
He asked me how hard did I get hit? Smoker said. What was the play? Did I complete the pass? You could tell he was really confused.
Smokers answers put him at ease, Van Dyke said.
It feels a lot better to me to know that I completed the pass, he said. The first thing I asked Smoker is if we got the first down. Thats the type of person I am, no matter what happens to me Im worried about the team.
And Van Dyke has proven that he is a team player throughout his career even though he has been sidelined every season with a major injury since he arrived in 1998, head coach Bobby Williams said.
Its has been four straight years that hes had an injury, Williams said. Its really been difficult on him