In the FCS Huddle: An uplifting return and a season in doubt

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08/26/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Amid the many wins and losses of a season - any season - we're so often reminded that the results take a bad seat to the people playing the game.

That has been demonstrated in the Football Championship Subdivision in recent days. Amid the many announcements of who's in at quarterback and who will or won't be available for the fast-approaching season-opening games came uplifting news from Princeton and sobering reality at Grambling State involving a pair of Tigers.

At Princeton, it was stunning to hear that running back Jordan Culbreath returned to the practice field on Wednesday to try to resume his playing career. The 2008 Ivy League rushing champion, his senior season was cut short last year by aplastic anemia, a condition in which his bone marrow stopped producing sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells.

It was assumed by many people that Culbreath's football career was over and that he was focused on his health, not Saturdays in the fall. He faces the possibility of bi-weekly blood transfusions for the rest of his life, so it didn't seem he would be cleared medically to play again.

At Grambling State, 6-foot-4, 265-pound Christian Anthony, the top defensive lineman in the FCS, probably seemed indestructible to most people. But since Anthony first developed chest pains three weeks ago - which basically was determined to be a heart attack - we now see a young man with far bigger concerns than a double-team of blockers.

Anthony, a terrorizing end who finished fourth last season for the Buck Buchanan Award which honors the FCS' outstanding defensive player, was hospitalized for several days for tests. He began classes this week, but his future - which had NFL written all over it - seems a lot different now. It would seem his season is over before it began.

"Not a hundred percent (ruled out)," Grambling State coach Rod Broadway said on Thursday, "but it's going to be tough for him. He's supposed to go back to the doctor next week and he'll have a better understanding of where we are.

"It's like everybody else, it hits you after a while because there's a void - that's something you've been doing forever and it's no longer there. He just has to fill that void for the time being and, hopefully, it can be extra academics, extra classes, even come out here and hang out and come to practice, be a part of it. He's still a member of the football team."

Grambling State surely will rally around Anthony whether he plays again or not. Princeton did just that a year ago for Culbreath, with events like a bone marrow drive and other efforts to raise awareness of the disease.

People cared about Culbreath the person, not Culbreath the football player.

And now that Culbreath is running with the ball again, they still care about him more as a person.

"Our PFA (Princeton Football Association) president, Anthony DiTommaso, said that every yard we get from Jordan this year is a miracle," Princeton first- year coach Bob Surace said on Wednesday. "First and foremost, we are thrilled to see Jordan's health improve over the last few months. Regardless of what he does between the lines this season, he is already an inspiration to our entire program."

Best of luck to both Jordan Culbreath and Christian Anthony. May you be All- League, All-America. But let winning in the game of life come first.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
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In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
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"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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