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The excuse eliminator: 3 years after amputation, Koni Dole plays college football
The excuse eliminator: 3 years after amputation, Koni Dole plays college footballMONTANA STATE FOOTBALL
DEAN HENDRICKSON, courtesy Montana State University
September 09, 2015 7:30 pm • GREG RACHAC for the Missoulian
BOZEMAN – It was that nondescript juncture late in Montana State’s season-opening victory last Thursday night against Fort Lewis.
The game was in the bag with 4 minutes and 8 seconds left on a waning clock, and the Bobcats’ defense was back on the field to try to shut down the Division II Skyhawks one final time. Many of the 19,367 fans who packed Bobcat Stadium had already left.
That’s when linebacker Koni Dole ran onto the field for the first time as a college football player. Dole, propped up by the football-specific prosthetic he’s used since having his right leg amputated during his junior year at Huntley Project, was achieving an important personal milestone.
....
Dole’s story is well-detailed.
On October 19, 2012, in the regular-season finale between Huntley Project and Shepherd, Dole suffered a horrific compound fracture to his right leg that required six surgeries. But Dole soon developed compartment syndrome, and in an effort to save his athletic career he made the agonizing decision to have his leg amputated below the knee.
Dole eventually returned to the field as a senior at Huntley Project after months of rehab and recovery – and with the help of a football-specific prosthetic.
DEAN HENDRICKSON, courtesy Montana State University
September 09, 2015 7:30 pm • GREG RACHAC for the Missoulian
BOZEMAN – It was that nondescript juncture late in Montana State’s season-opening victory last Thursday night against Fort Lewis.
The game was in the bag with 4 minutes and 8 seconds left on a waning clock, and the Bobcats’ defense was back on the field to try to shut down the Division II Skyhawks one final time. Many of the 19,367 fans who packed Bobcat Stadium had already left.
That’s when linebacker Koni Dole ran onto the field for the first time as a college football player. Dole, propped up by the football-specific prosthetic he’s used since having his right leg amputated during his junior year at Huntley Project, was achieving an important personal milestone.
....
Dole’s story is well-detailed.
On October 19, 2012, in the regular-season finale between Huntley Project and Shepherd, Dole suffered a horrific compound fracture to his right leg that required six surgeries. But Dole soon developed compartment syndrome, and in an effort to save his athletic career he made the agonizing decision to have his leg amputated below the knee.
Dole eventually returned to the field as a senior at Huntley Project after months of rehab and recovery – and with the help of a football-specific prosthetic.