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'It's not that bad' Texas A&M concerned with Nguyen's toe injury
Posted: Monday December 28, 1998 03:43 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- They've focused on his powerful legs, his strong arms, his sharp brain, his quick feet -- even his winning smile. Dat Nguyen thought he'd been pretty thoroughly dissected and discussed in his starring career at Texas A&M. That was before the big toe on his left foot came under such steady scrutiny. "Really, it's not that bad," A&M's Lombardi Award winner insisted to a string of questions on Monday. "Once I'm in the game and the adrenalin's flowing, I don't think I'll even notice it." But with the game just four days away, lines of television cameras captured the limp as the leader of the Aggies' Wrecking Crew defense left the Sugar Bowl interview session. "It really concerns me if he's not at full strength at game time," coach R.C. Slocum said "He's the guy that makes things happen for us." A freak accident, Nguyen stepped on a teammate's foot, left the big toe on his left foot painfully swollen and black-and-blue. "Yea, for a toe, it hurt a lot," Nguyen said. Nguyen is the first player in school history to lead the Aggies in four straight seasons in tackles, including 147 this year. In his career, Nguyen has recovered nine fumbles, forced eight, intercepted six passes and scored four touchdowns. Despite his 5-foot-11, 230-pound size, Nguyen was this year's winner of the Lombardi Award as the nation's top collegiate lineman and the chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year award. Nguyen graduated in August with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural development and took graduate courses this year. Now his college career has come down to one final game -- January 1 against No. 3 Ohio State. "I'm not going to miss this game," Nguyen laughed. "You couldn't keep me out of it." Despite Nguyen's missing two practices before A&M left for New Orleans, and being able to only work on a limited basis in the first practice after arriving in town, his teammates feel sure he'll be there come game time. "He'll be out there and he'll be playing. I'm not worried," safety Rich Coady said. "He won't get much practice time, but knowing Dat the last five years, even if he's got a broken leg, he'll be out there." Injuries are something Nguyen has been able to shrug off in the past. He hasn't missed a game since breaking into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 1995. Defensive end Rocky Bernard said Nguyen will be prepared and will play. "In the Nebraska game, the first play of the game we walked back to the huddle and somebody said, 'Dat, man, you're bleeding,'" Bernard remembered. "His thumb was gushing blood. He went out, but a couple of series later, he's back in there, making plays and he'd messed his thumb up pretty good." But Slocum needs Nguyen to do more than just suit up against Ohio State's powerful offense. "Dat is a finesse guy," Slocum said. "He relies on instinct and quickness to make plays." He also relies on his ability to run and cut, something that hurt to much to try, until Monday. "Believe me," Nguyen said. "Once I get on the field, I'll never give my toe another thought."
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The Lombardi Award winner said nothing would keep him from playing