Wednesday, april 18, 1980
daily nebraskan
Porter is back on feet after crippling neck injury
pago 10
By Scott Ahlstrand
Editor's note: This is the second article in a two-part
series dealing with athletes and injuries. On Saturday,
April 12, 19S0, sophomore Randee Johnson cracked a
vertebra and was partially paralyzed in spring football
practice.
Before an afternoon practice on April 21, 1976, Budge
Porter was a promising young football cornerback. He was
looking forward to a career in physical education and a
solid future as a Cornhusker blackshirt.
The Nebraska City native had the perfect size for his
position (6' P 190 lbs.) and was being red-shirted after
playing for UNL's freshman team.
Although he suffered a knee injury his freshman sea
son, Porter was working out with the varsity in spring
practice. He was enthusiastic about his future with Ne
braska until a freak injury in a 10 minute scrimmage
shattered his dreams.
During that 10 -minute span, Budge Porter suffered a
broken neck.
The injury paralyzed Porter from the neck down and
ended any future the young athlete had in football.
Routine play
Porter was injured in a routine play, I-back I.M. Hipp
took the pitch-out and was running around end when
Porter came up to make the stop. At the same time, a
linebacker teammate smashed into Hipp. Hipp's speed
plus the momentum of Porter and his teammate, was too
much force for Porter's neck. The collision will remain
vivid in Porter's mind.
"I remember the play very clearly," said Porter. "What
was amazing was I wasn't even knocked unconscious. I
knew what had happened to me because I had been study
ing the spinal cord in anatomy class. I couldn't feel any
thing. 1 just couldn't believe it. I thought 1 had already
had my injury (knee)."
The next year was very discouraging for Porter. Not
only was he forced to quit school, but his rehabilitation
proceeded at a lethargic pace.
Basically worthless
"1 was basically worthless that first year," Porter said.
"I wasn't able to use my arms until the end of the first
year, and my legs didn't respond to constant therapy until
Misc. housekeeping items for
sale two picture frames, pots
and pans. Call 477-3050.
Teac A-100 cassette deck,
hardly used-$125. Teac A-450
cassette deck $200. Univox
electric guitar and Fender
Champ amplifier-$140. Call
435-3253, ask for Marc Koenig.
FOOTLIGHTS' KITES
-plastic kites
-paper kites
-nylon kites--cotton
kites-
silk kites
13th & Que Gunny's
Waterbed Queen, size, book
case headboard, frame pedest
al, complete waterbed mattress
system, plus 1 set sheets. $250.
Also Marantz turntable, never
used, $150. 474-4281.
Wilson T-3000, Excellent
strings and cover. Call David
Wolf, 464-31 53.
Pool table, regulation size,
with cue sticks and wall rack,
$80; ceramics kiln, $40. 477
2038 after 5 p.m.
FOR SALE: $1,200.00
worth of stereo equipment on
sale. Must move to California
and cannot take my stereo with
me. 40 watt receiver turntable,
4-40 watt speakers, cassette
deck and morel Ray 472-9712.
Fantastic savings on brand
new wedding gowns from a local
store.
Junior League Thrift Shop
2201 "O" St.
Lifetime membership to
Lincoln's Tae Kwon Do Karate
Academy, $300. 472-1965 or
423-2566 after 6 pjn.
Reasonable cost health car
plans. Call Paul Sthupbach,
American Family Ins.. 488-2322
Marantz 2250B
Excellent condition. Phone
472-1293, Call after 7 p.m.
Pioneer KP-500 Cassette-FM
"Supertuner". Only used 6
months. Paid $195, sell for $95.
474-3526.
1974 Monte Carlo.
Air, power steering, cruise,
AMFM8-track. $2,000. 472-9361.
Waterbed:
and drawers,
p.m.
King, headboard
435-8036 after 6
Panasonic stereo-Turntable,
cassette player, AM-FM, and
Thruster speakers. $195. 476-0151,483-4784.
Get 130 MPGI
End those UNL parking
problems with a moped
from
MIDLAND'S MOPED
20th&Hwy.2
423-0398
URBAN MOTORS
F. T-LANCIA
Family Cars & Sports Cars
New & Used
1021 North 48th Street
467-2559
ACCOUNTANTS
May graduates with 24 hours of
accounting. GPA of 3.0 or
above. Salaries: $13,500 to
$15,000. Fee paid by employer.
Please call Cornhusker Place
ment Service. 475-0744. Ask for
Betty.
For the 1980-81 academic
year - position available for the
Electoral Commission Director.
Apply at the ASUN office, 115
Nebraska Union, deadline, April
16th.
my second year."
Although the road to rehabilitation has been a long and
tedious path, Porter is satisfied with the results.
"I've had therapy for the last four years," Porter said.
"I work with Jane Snyder. She also works with Tom
Novak (a former Cornhusker football player, who was
paralyzed in a fall). And while the success I've had wasn't
easy to see immediately, I can now look back and see the
progress."
Although Porter has made great strides in his rehabil
itation, it is far from over. Porter isn't completely restrict
ed to his wheelchair any more, and he walks 600 yards
without resting, three days a week. His therapy also in
cludes a Vi hour workout with weights twice a week.
Intense therapy
"This semester I've been more intense than ever with
my therapy," Porter said. "On top of walking and using
weights, I'm also having therapy sessions twice a week."
Porter, as senior who will graduate next year with a bus
iness degree, knows that he may never completely over
come the injury. But that's not going to stop him from
trying.
"I know I might have to continue this therapy all my
life, but if that's what it's going to take then I'll do it,"
Porter said. "It's not healthy to sit in a chair all day, so
right now my goal is to get rid of my wheelchair."
Porter started in organized sports in seventh grade and
competed in football, basketball and track during all three
years of high school. In his senior year of high school,
Porter accepted a full scholarship to attend UNL. Budge
was the third generation of Porters to play for the Corn
huskers. No animosity
"Both my grandfather and father played football for
UNL," Porter said. "My brother, Scott, just received a
football scholarship from UNL, and my sister was just
named a Nebraska cheerleader for next year. I guess you
can say our family has a lot to do with Nebraska football."
LEGAL AID SOCIETY, INC.
500 South 18th Street
Omaha, NE 68102
(Attention: Robert V. Broom)
(402) 348-1060
Staff Attorney; Salary: $11,400
-$16,000. Open date 21580;
Close date when filled. Must
have ability to relate to low-income
clients; handle all kinds of
civil legal problems, accept new
challenges, and recognize possi
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'Salary commensurate with
qualifications and experience.
OVERSEAS JOBS-Summer
year round. Most countries. All
fields. Free info. Write: UC,
Box 52-NA, Corona Del Mar,
CA 92625.
RESIDENCE COUNSELORS
HIGH SCHOOL
EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM
The High School Equivalen
cy Program is taking applica
tions for Resident Counselors
beginning August 10, 1980.
The High School Equivalen
cy Program (HEP) is a project
of the Nebraska Human Re
sources at the University of
Nebraska designed to assist
youth from migrant and season
al farmvyorklng backgrounds
between the ages of 17 and 24
to obtain the equivalent of a
high school diploma GED and
prepare the students for
employment, higher education,
vocational training, or other
meaningful placement after
their completion at HEP.
POSITION: Residence Counse
lor RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Work i closely with Resi
dence Hall staff. Complex
Director, Residence Director,
and Student assistants in pro
viding a quality environment
for both HEP and University
students living in the residence
halls.
2. Building relationships
with students in the High
School Equivalency Program
which facilitate social emotion
al and academic growth.
SWIMMING POOL MANAGER
& LIFE GUARD POSITIONS
Part-time positions available this
summer and for the 1980-81
academic year. Applications
available at the Abel South desk
Applications must be returned
by Sunday, April 21, 1980.
Salary $3.20 per hour for life
guard and $3.35 per hour for
pool manager.
AAEEO
DATA PROCESSING PEOPLE
WITH COMPUTER SCIENCE
DEGREE
$14,000 to $18,000. Fee paid
by employer. Please call Corn
husker Placement Service. 475
0744. Ask for Betty.
3. Responsible for all admin
istrative procedures assigned by
the Residence Director.
4. Work closely with the
other areas of the High School
Equivalency Program to en
hance the chances of academic
success for each student.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Sophomore standing or
above.
2. 2.5 average or above.
3. No outside employment,
4. Must live in the residence
halls.
5. Willing to work at least 25
hours per week.
6. Must be willing to work
evenings and weekends.
BENEFITS:
1. Room and board.
2. Hourly pay 4or weekend
activities.
Persons interested may pick
up an application at the High
School Equivalency Program at
501 North 10th Street, Lincoln,
NE, 68588.
For more information con
tact: John McVay, HEP Direc
tor, 402472 -3477.
Applications to be consider
ed must be received at HEP no
later than 5:00 pjn. April 18,
1980.
The High School Equivalen
cy Program is an Equal Oppor
tunity Employer.
Although Porter was injured severely, he has no ani
mosity for football or the UNL program. In fact he is one
of UNL's strongest supporters.
"1 have nothing against UNL or football at all," Porter
said. "Both Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne have been
super to me. 1 don't think what happened to me should
deter from the game at all. I still believe strongly in organ
ized athletics. What happened to me was just a freak in
jury." Since Porter's injury was so serious, it brought out
questions concerning the risks involved in playing foot
ball. However, Porter said he thinks the violence factor
is overrated in college football.
"In high school you can have guys go after each other.
But in college football, where the athletes are more ma
ture, you don't have that type of aggression," Porter said.
"The injuries that occur in college are due to bigger,
stronger, faster players. But you also have improvements
in the equipment, and the conditioning to prevent
injuries. Boyd Epley. (UNL weight coach) told me if my
neck hadn't been so strong from lifting weights, the blow
I took could have killed me."
Husker netters drop
three important duals
Nebraska's men's tennis team began its Big Eight sea
son on a low note, dropping three dual meets in Law
rence, Kan. during the weekend.
The Huskers lost to Kansas 54, Missouri, 7-2, and Ok
lahoma 9-0 to drop the Huskers' dual record to 16-9.
The Huskers' best performances came from number
four singles player Kent Lysgaard and the number two
doubles team of Hal Koch and Scott Klaus, who both won
two out of three matches.
Men's tennis coach Jim Porter said the weekend was a
"disappointing one."
Since every match wort in a dual meet-this season is
added to the points scored at the Big Eight meet to deter
mine the team champion, Porter said it was important to
win some of the close matches the team lost this weekend.
RAMADA INN
Manager trainees, part-time
night auditor and evening cooks.
Apply in person.
2301 NW 12th
GODFATHER'S PIZZA
Part-time waitress wanted.
Apply in person to Terry or Bill.
12th & Que
PART-TIME POSITION
Excellent opportunity
for university student to
learn management in sales,
service and collections work
ing with young people,
parents and customers. Must
be available by 2:30 p.m.
and have auto with mileage
expenses paid.
We offer vacation and
holiday pay plus other bene
fits and the opportunity to
advance within or outside
the Company.
Contact Mr. Genrich for
appointment, 473-7361.
JOURNAL STAR
PRINTING COMPANY
JOURNALISM
ADVERTISING
Creative individual wanted
for part-time summer and
fall employment. Must have
exceptional layout and
graphic skills. If. you want
practical, on-the-job experi
ence, call: Glenn Prettyman,
Advertising Director, Water
bed World, 4744902 (call
between 11 a.m.and 5 p.m.)
Visiting Instructor looking
for 1 bedroom sublet 2nd ses
sion mid-July-mid-August. Call
collect 372-3869.
mM ads
SUMMER SUBLET
May thru Aug. New 1 -bedroom
apt., dishwasher, ac,
parking, laundry, security, 12th
& G. 475-3655 (evenings) 472
1950 (days) leave message.
Attention Upperclass Men:
Next semester DONT PAY
RENT, invest your money in
Near-South real estate. $150
sharemonth. Room and board
furnished. Call for a guided
tour: 476-2583. Brown Palace
Inc: Because there's no future in
paying rent.
4228 HUNTINGTON
Special Rent Summer Students
Large new 2-bedroom, air.
477-2986, 489-8694
v SUMMER HOUSING
Rates: $24week-Single
$17.50week-Double
Located: Acacia Fraternity
2255 Vine St.
Call 475-2242
Steve Morse
Summer Housing Opportunity
Will sublet beautiful 4-bedroom
house. Furnished. Lots of room,
ornate woodwork and plants.
Rent break if you care for
plants. $225250. Call Debb:
435-1137 eves. Dave: 472-1267,
days.
Large 3 bedroom townhouse
3 minutes north of City Campus
1702 Knox. 1 14 bath, carport.
$273month. Monthly lease.
475-6144.
SUMMER HOUSING
Apartment style rooms
Variable rates
Alpha Gamma Sigma
4001 Holdrege, 464-0901
Don't haul all that stuff homel
Security Storage, 10 X 20'
units, $25month. Share this
space with your friends.
475-6144.
2 & 3 bedroom houses near
university. Clean. 476-7774.