By Clyde Hughes
D3sports.com

Injuries during the first game of the season can always be hard for a player. Fans of the National Football League saw Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett go down in a freak accident on opening day, suffering a major spinal cord injury.

Everett has started to move his legs and arms and while he might never be able to play football game, it reminded all of us how the glory of sports can be short and for us to enjoy the opportunities that we do have to play and watch while we can.

Elmhurst quarterback Chris Kudyba was a bit luckier. Kudyba was coming off a banner sophomore year in 2005 where he was a second-team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection at quarterback. Fans expected big things from him and the Blue Jays in 2006.

Six plays into the season, Kudyba suffered an ACL injury and his season was over. He didn’t get to complete his first drive. He didn’t get to throw his first touchdown. He didn’t get to win his first game.

When Kudyba walked off the bus at Benedictine, in neighboring Lisle, Illinois, earlier this month for the season opener, the same team he suffered in injury against in 2006, there was a sense of unfinished business. Elmhurst is now 2-0 going into its last non-conference game against Olivet, of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. It’s Elmhurst’s home opener.

Kudyba said he smells the roses, but wants to do it at full throttle as Elmhurst prepares for a roughed CCIW season.

“There is definitely a sense of anticipation,” Kudyba said about the season. “There is a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. When I stepped out on the field (against Benedictine) I felt pretty confident. I knew my knee was 100% and felt I could do the normal things I can do. Taking a year off because of an injury makes you hungrier to play. I’ve had this date marked on my calendar for a while.”

Kudyba, a Des Plaines, Illinois, native, led his team touchdowns on his first five drives as they whipped Benedictine 52-3 opening day this year. Last Saturday, Kudyba led the Blue Jays to a 36-13 road victory against Chicago.

So far this season at quarterback, he’s 23-for-39 passing for 291 yards, one interception against five touchdowns. His quarterback rating is 158.8.

“His level of performance is back to where he left off,” said Elmhurst coach Tom Journell. “He had a tremendous sophomore season. He rehabbed and did everything he had to do to be back. We went to Italy in May and played over there. He was fully cleared and by the summer he was 100 percent. It’s a credit to his work.”

Journell said he knew if anyone could bounce back from sitting out 2006 after a season-ending injury the first game of that season, it would be Kudyba. He’s a double major in biology and history. He’s an honor student who will graduate in the spring with plans to go to medical school.

“Chris can accomplish about anything he wants to accomplish,” Journell said. “He’s a brilliant kid, a tremendous competitor and can relate to anybody. There was no question that he would come back. He’s better than he was. He took a year off physically, but not mentally. He was like a coach for us. He was here every day. He turned a negative into an opportunity.”

Getting back on the field was just part of Kudyba’s goal. He said he wants to help the Blue Jays win the CCIW title. It’s always a goal, but Kudyba said he believes it’s realistic.

Now, nationally ranked Wheaton, North Central, and Augustana, the favorites in the tough CCIW, may have something to say about this fairy tale ending. That’s all fine by Kudyba.

“I think as a team, a realistic goal would be to win the conference championship,” Kudyba said. “Elmhurst football has its eyes on that. There’s no doubt you have to take it a week at a time. As a team, we talk about how we can be better each week and we know each week will be a battle.”

He said the year off taught him a lot of things about football, life and himself. He said he’s looking forward to applying those lessons on game day and after his football career is over at Elmhurst.

“The injury taught me a whole lot about myself as far as perseverance,” Kudyba said. “I like being a part of something bigger and doing my part. I like being able to contribute. The injury taught me a lot about discipline and time management. I love to run around, pass and play quarterback.”

Now, there is this issue of eligibility. Kudyba is listed as a senior and he plans to graduate in the spring.

That’s what he plans to do.

But he received a medical redshirt, making him eligible for one more season, so one could say his return next season could be, well, a game-day decision.

“I will cross that bridge when I come to it,” Kudyba said coyly. “I’m ready to graduate in the spring. I don’t want to be down the road wishing I could play football. Everything is flexible. It’s in the back of my head. A major factor will be if I can physically can I go through another offseason and will I be into it mentally. I don’t know how much farther can I play football. I’ll let season play out.”

Journell said Kudyba has used his personal example to encourage current injured teammates and by his presence has made Elmhurst a better football team. He said he’s just happy to have him back another year.