Tailback awaits results of MRI
Hayes-Stoker injured in scrimmage

By Rusty Simmons
Editor In Chief

Junior tailback Andrew Hayes-Stoker was on the sidelines at football practice Tuesday, but other than the brace on his knee, there were no signs of how much practice time he will miss.

Hayes-Stoker was injured on the first play of Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage at Amon Carter Stadium, and he underwent an MRI Monday. Head coach Gary Patterson said the results of the test still have not been released.

“Andrew’s mother took him to an outside source (for the MRI),” Patterson said. “They are taking their sweet time returning the results.”

After transferring from Tulsa to TCU three years ago, Hayes-Stoker has seen limited playing time while acting as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup. Hayes-Stoker’s personal highlight as a Frog came Oct. 30, 1999, when he rushed 18 times for 99 yards and a touchdown in a victory against Hawaii.

Tim Cox/SKIFF STAFF Freshman running back Corey Connally practices Tuesday at the practice fields. Connally and freshman running back Ricky Madison could be replacements for junior tailback Andrew Hayes-Stoker, who was injured at a scrimmage Saturday.

But Hayes-Stoker’s patience and hard work while backing up Tomlinson was supposed to pay off this season as he was projected to start at tailback in the fall.

“The hardest thing is that Andrew is being compared to a Heisman-Trophy finalist and a Doak-Walker winner,” Patterson said.

Despite Hayes-Stoker’s injury, the Frogs are staying optimistic.

“We were looking at a running back by committee anyway,” Patterson said. “This gives us an opportunity to get some of the younger guys some more repetitions.”

The next running backs in line on the TCU depth chart are freshmen Ricky Madison and Corey Connally. Madison ran seven times last season for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Connally was redshirted.

“All three runners have their own special talents,” Patterson said. “Andrew is the best pass blocker, and he is the smartest.”

But both Madison and Connally have accepted the challenge of stepping into the starting tailback position.

While Madison and Connally compete for playing time on the field, Hayes-Stoker will compete with himself just to get back on the field.

Todd Nalder, director of athletics training, said he would not start treating Hayes-Stoker’s injury until the MRI results are released.

Hayes-Stoker’s parents, Allen Stoker and Debbie Hayes-Stoker, were at the scrimmage Saturday, and they ran to the first row of the bleachers to check on Andrew’s status after the injury.

A fan shouted “You’ll be OK, Stoke,” and the tailback’s mother agreed that he would be back on the field soon.
Until he suits up again, the Frogs are left with a game of wait and see.

Rusty Simmons
j.r.simmons@student.tcu.edu