Penn State recruit out for final year

By JOHN GIBLIN
Collegian Staff Writer

While Cumberland Valley High School walked away with a 15-0 victory against Carlisle Friday at Ken Millen Stadium, one of its star players wasn't as lucky.

Penn State verbal commitment Jesse Neumyer left the game after a three-yard run, the Eagles' first offensive play of the second half.

The senior re-injured his left knee — the same knee that suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear, causing him to miss the entire 1998 football season.

"I went to plant, and it popped twice," Neumyer said. "I couldn't straighten it (my leg) when I got to the sideline, so I knew it was my meniscus."

The two-time all-state fullback/strong safety is no stranger to tearing his medial meniscus -- the cartilage disc in the knee. During preseason, Neumyer suffered the same injury and had surgery to repair it. Twelve days later he was back on the practice field.

This time, however, he wasn't as lucky.

After being examined by trainers on the sideline, Neumyer saw a doctor the following day. By Sunday, he was under the knife, having surgery on the knee for the third time in less than a year.

"The doctor compared it (the laser surgery) to cooking bacon," Neumyer said. "You cook it, but it's brittle."

The senior received word on his condition shortly after the surgery.

"I was sedated," Neumyer said. "I just remember the doctor saying something about the injury keeping me from playing and I asked him how long. He said, 'Your season,' and the tears just came."

After his injury, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior sat on the sideline for the remainder of the game. He joins a growing list of players who have been plucked from the Eagles starting lineup.

Tailback Tony Bushman has also been lost for the season and starting fullback/linebacker Jon Sauve is currently rehabilitating a knee injury and is expected to return in two weeks.

"I consider myself lucky," Neumyer said. "Every time I want to feel bad for myself, I think of someone who's paralyzed or can't walk, and realize how lucky I am."

Neumyer started the game at fullback for Bushman but also saw action as quarterback. He tallied 113 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in only two quarters of action. For the season, he has 353 yards and five touchdowns.

The string of injuries has been tough not only on Neumyer, but also on his family.

His father, Harry, was in the stands Friday, watching his son fall once again to the injury bug.

"We weren't back psychologically yet from his last injury. Every play we were worried he was going to get injured," Jesse's father said. "We still couldn't enjoy every handoff or every play."

Last season, Harry's son received words of wisdom from family, friends, and faculty when he sat out the season. People told him to be patient, he said, and that his time would come.

And once again Neumyer is stuck waiting.

"He's an excellent young man — just a great person," Cumberland Valley Athletic Director Ron Audo said. "All he's been saying is how it could be worse."

Although Neumyer's football career at Cumberland Valley has come to a close, he still has a future at Penn State.

According to Neumyer, Penn State assistant coach Larry Johnson called shortly after his surgery, apologizing for his situation and to reassure him that Penn State would still offer him a scholarship once he signs a national letter of intent.

"The good thing is he should be all right for Penn State," Jesse's father said.

"The real shame would be if we didn't see him in the Blue and White at Penn State."