It's an off week for the USD football team, but not for J.T. Rogan. He has big plans for the future and can't afford such luxuries.
“I'm going to play football next year, whether it's here, in the pros in the (Arena Football League), in Europe or in Canada,” Rogan said the other day, sitting on a trainer's table with a glacier of ice on his surgically repaired left knee. “Unless my body won't let me. I still feel like I have a date with destiny.”
The 22-year-old running back has yet to watch the play that put him out for the year and derailed destiny for at least a season. During a breakaway run in the first quarter of the season opener against Marist, Rogan tried to cut back in the open field, stumbled awkwardly on his plant leg and fell to the ground untouched.
“At first I thought it was a hyperextension,” he said. “But I knew it was bad.”
Minutes later, his left knee was diagnosed as a mushy alphabet soup of injuries. He had a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament, medial and lateral meniscus damage and a lateral femoral condyle microfracture.
“I've made that move hundreds of times, in practice and in games,” he said. “For that to happen, you just have to consider it a fluke injury.”
Since team physician Dr. Paul C. Murphy performed surgery last month, Rogan has become a model rehab patient.
“He asks very good questions,” said Carolyn T. Greer, USD's associate director of athletics for sports medicine. “He's very informed about what happened to his knee and the restrictions on him. If he's frustrated, he doesn't show it in personality or effort.”
His upbeat attitude isn't a shock to teammates or coaches. As the Toreros (6-0, 4-0 Pioneer Football League) rest for next week's road game against Jacksonville, they know their All-America running back is still a big part of the team. Rogan takes his responsibilities as a captain seriously, picking the team movie every Friday night, going out for the pregame coin toss on crutches and mentoring younger running backs.
“If I'm on the sideline sulking or crying 'woe is me,' that's not beneficial for anyone,” Rogan said. “That's detrimental to the success of the team. My mindset is: What do we need to do to get ready for next year? What can I do to help the team? I'm trying to be visible and eager to help any way I can.”
Rogan's first choice is to return to USD, where he already owns career marks for touchdowns, rushing yards and all-purpose yards. Since this was his fifth year, Rogan will have to petition the NCAA for a sixth-year medical redshirt. Coach Ron Caragher would welcome the Coronado High grad's return.
“He inspires people around him,” Caragher said. “He's a throwback to a guy you imagine playing back in the '50s. Whether it's his style of play or just the little things. He's not hung up on statistics or carries. He's a blue-collar player. He comes to work every day.”
Until then, Rogan will do his best to keep his date.
“I don't know if you can quantify how much I miss it,” he said. “I've probably taken it for granted an extreme amount. It's a routine – every fall you block off your calendar from August to November and you play football games every week. For someone who is highly competitive and has a bond with his teammates, to be deprived of that is unfortunate. I can't wait to play at full speed again.”
Kevin Gemmell: (619) 718-5304; kevin.gemmell@uniontrib.com
