PROVO -- It may be Friday the 13th, but it was not an unlucky day for senior cornerback Brandon Heaney. After missing all but one game of his senior year with a season-ending shoulder injury--the second straight year his season was cut short because of shoulder problems--Heaney found out on Friday the NCAA had granted him a sixth year of eligibility.
"I was lifting weights with the team, and I saw Val Hale and Jim Kimmel walk in. I knew it was either going to be good news or bad news," Heaney said. "Val shook my hand and said, 'You must be living right.' He had a big grin on his face. I gave them all big hugs and ran back in the weight room. I gave Coach Mitchell a big hug and told Coach Mendenhall the news. It's exciting to know that I have a chance to end what I started here."
After having shoulder surgery following the 2001 season, Heaney battled more shoulder problems throughout the 2002 campaign. Ten games into his junior season, and after a series of painful dislocations that eventually required surgery, Heaney's season was cut short. With his shoulder surgically repaired, and a clean bill of health, Heaney returned for his final season in Provo. During the Cougars' season-opening victory over Georgia Tech, Heaney suffered another shoulder injury--to his good shoulder.
"I knew it was bad when I had to put my shoulder back in its socket right out there on the field," Heaney said. "They told me the next day I was going to have to have surgery. It was devastating, I was heartbroken. I wanted to be out there with my teammates. I remember thinking I did not want to have my career end that way.
"It has been a long process. We've been working on getting the information to the NCAA since last October. While we submitted the paperwork to the NCAA about three weeks ago, it still seems like it has been forever. It is definitely a relief and a burden off my healthy, surgically-repaired shoulders. I'm just excited to go out and have some fun."
Heaney will return now for his senior season, expected to fill an important roll on the defense.
"Brandon is as good of a cornerback as we can find out there," cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell said. "He's going to give us some leadership, toughness, experience. Today's news comes at a point in time when it is paramount that we have Brandon Heaney back."
Despite suffering as many as four complete shoulder dislocations during the 2002 season, not to mention a handful of partial dislocations, Heaney managed 34 tackles, including 22 solo takedowns. He also led the team with three interceptions and tied for the team lead with five pass breakups.
"I have been around football for 34 years," head trainer George Curtis said. "It is rare to find someone with as much heart and determination. Brandon is an extremely tough kid. Everyone respects him and looks to him as a team leader. This is wonderful news for the team."
"Brandon is an outstanding young man," athletics director Val Hale added. "He's the kind of person who exemplifies what being a student-athlete is all about. We appreciate the NCAA's willingness to grant Brandon a sixth year. We're also appreciative of the work Jim Kimmel and Chad Gwilliam put in to prepare the necessary materials for the NCAA review on Brandon's behalf."
With today's news, and a clean bill of health, Heaney has been cleared to practice with the team during spring drills. The Cougars will begin Spring practice on Monday, March 15.