That game against Texas back in November will be remembered for the Missouri Tigers getting over that major hurdle in the Gary Pinkel era—the first win over the Texas Longhorns during his coaching stint. The day was also marred with the injury to running back Henry Josey, who at the time was leading the Big 12 in rushing.
Josey took a handoff at the Tigers 13-yard line in the third quarter and ran to his left. He went down along the sideline and lay gripping his left leg. The crowd at Faurot Field grew quiet. Even Texas head coach Mack Brown came over and talked with coach Pinkel and offered words of encouragement to Josey as he waited for the cart. After the game, Brown said, “I told him he’s had a great year and he’s a great player and I hope he got well soon. I knew the young man wasn’t coming back in when they brought the cart out. This is a game about kids.”
AUDIO Catching up with Henry Josey (3:00)
At the time, Josey’s surgeon, Dr. Pat Smith called it a “one in a million,” injury. Josey suffered a torn MCL, torn ACL and a ruptured patellar tendon. Josey had surgery in late November to repair the MCL, meniscus and patellar tendon. It wasn’t until this early spring, that Josey was able to get the ACL fixed.
Hopes about him playing in 2012 are still doubtful, but he isn’t completely giving up on the idea yet, but he won’t put a timetable on his return either. At this point, he’s concerned with just getting his “little leg, back big,” like it was before the injury.
As he rehabs, he watches from the sidelines and tries to do everything he can to help out the running backs, which include Kendial Lawrence, Marcus Murphy and freshman Russell Hansbrough.