Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Koutsos Will Wait Until After Season to Plan His Future
09/24/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 24, 2002
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois senior running back Tom Koutsos spoke to the media Tuesday for the first time since his season-ending arm injury against Murray State on Sept. 14.
The school's career rushing leader said that while the school has petitioned the NCAA for a medical redshirt, he will wait until after the season to decide whether or not to return to SIU next season.
"I'm leaving my options open right now," Koutsos said. "My goal is to play at the next level. I'm going to pursue that. I don't know if it will be this year, or if I'll take a medical and play another year (at Southern Illinois). Half of me says my time is done here and it's time for me to move on, and the other half says if I leave, it's unfinished business. I don't want to go out as an injured player."
Koutsos described the severity of the injury, which will keep him out of action for the rest of the season. In addition to a broken wrist, he also broke a bone in his radius, which required a metal plate to assist the healing process. Koutsos said he will be in a cast for six weeks, however the bone won't be strong enough to absorb hits when the cast is removed.
Koutsos said the play in which he hurt the arm was a freak accident.
"I was tackled, and I tried to push myself off the ground," he said "Some big guy fell on me and snapped my arm in two."
He said he continues to pull for his friends and teammates on the team and will be on the sideline to support them the rest of the season.
