Tuesday, September 15, 1998

Cooper quarterback knows exactly how Troy Aikman feels

By Al Pickett / Sports Editor

Jeremy Janssen and Troy Aikman now have something in common, although it is a comparison that neither would prefer to have.

When Janssen saw a replay of the Dallas Cowboys star quarterback go down with a broken left collarbone Sunday, he knew exactly how Aikman felt.

"It looked familiar," said Janssen, who had been expected to battle for the starting quarterback job at Cooper this fall.

The 6-4, 210-pound Janssen broke his left collarbone in the Cougars' season-opening victory over Killeen.

At least Aikman got to play 11/2 games this year. Janssen was hurt on his first play of the season.

Aikman broke his collarbone when he was tackled and landed on his left shoulder in the second quarter of Sunday's 42-23 loss to the Denver Broncos. Janssen broke his collarbone while trying to throw a block on a kickoff return on just the second play of the game.

Killeen returned the opening kickoff of the game for a touchdown, so the Kangaroos then kicked off to Cooper. Janssen was on the kick-return team.

"I was going to block a guy," Janssen said. "His helmet hit right on my collarbone. It just broke. I thought it was a stinger, but as I was coming off the field, I felt it with my hand. I could feel the bone sticking up."

The team doctors on the sideline quickly confirmed what Janssen already knew. His collarbone was broken.

The prognosis is the same for both Janssen and Aikman. Both are expected to be out for 6-8 weeks.

"I'm thinking six weeks," said Janssen, who is wearing a figure-8 harness 24 hours a day to help pull his shoulders back and help the broken bone heal faster. "I'm moving my (left) arm pretty well, but I can't lift anything."

Janssen hopes to be able to start throwing a football in the next few weeks to get his arm back in shape. He hopes he will be able return in time for the final two or three district games - and hopefully the playoffs.

"I go to meetings and learn all the new plays," he said. "I watch practice every day. But there really isn't anything I can do except sit around and hope it heals."

With Cooper's starting quarterback Dowell Loggains sidelined with a pulled groin muscle, Janssen shined in the Cougars' preseason scrimmage against Wichita Falls Rider, completing 15 of 20 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns.

Loggains was healthy for the season opener, so he started the game but Janssen was to play quarterback in the second quarter. He never got to take a snap, however, getting injured before he had the opportunity.

"I've been looking forward to my senior season my whole high school career," Janssen said. "To have it taken away in the first play is disappointing."

Aikman should be back for the second half of this season. And, of course, there is always next year.

For high school athletes like Janssen, however, there is only one senior year. All he can do is hope that he will get his opportunity to contribute later this season.

Al Pickett can be reached at 676-6772 or picketta@abinews.com.