Livas: Hurt, but still dangerous
Despite painful turf toe, Tech junior remains a return threat
, buddy@rustonleader.com
10-28-2009
There are days when Phillip Livas feels like he might not be able to walk to his next class at Louisiana Tech University.That’s what a turf toe injury can do, make the basic and probably taken-for-granted body movement turn into a monumental chore.
“I tell people now I hope they never have to deal with something like this,” Livas said. “It’s nothing like anything I’ve ever had. It’s the first time I’ve experienced it and I don’t wish it on anybody. It’s very painful.”
But thanks to what Bulldogs’ head coach Derek Dooley terms as “voodoo magic” administered by team physician Billy Bundrick, Livas is able to run on Saturdays and that’s what matters the most in the midst of this 2009 season.
Apparently, the “magic” is working just fine.
Livas may be dealing with turf toe, but his feet are still fleet when it comes to returning kicks.
In a 23-21 Western Athletic Conference loss at Utah State last weekend, the Houma native tied a school record by returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
It was also the sixth return (kickoff or punt) of his career that finished in the end zone, thus establishing a new Tech standard that had stood since the 1970s (and set by former Super Bowl record-setter Larry Anderson.
When the kick came to Livas in the second quarter, he was about five yards deep in the end zone.
“There were some who probably thought I might choose not to run it out, but I don’t get that many chances now to return a kick, so I immediately went with it,” he said. “I didn’t even hesitate. I just feel like every time I touch the football, I have a good chance and the confidence to go all the way.”
Laughed Livas about hearing he had tied a Tech record: “I thought they would give me those five other yards, but they said in college, they count it as 100 yards.”
A bundle of quiet, but productive energy, Livas ranks No. 1 in the WAC and No. 11 in the country for kickoff returns with a 30.23 average.
And that’s on a bad toe.
“Because of it, he’s limited in our practices,” Dooley said of the 5-8 and 175-pound junior. “That’s the biggest challenge of all because you can’t use the ‘voodoo magic’ every day. So he’s out there limping. In our Monday through Wednesday practices, he’ll catch a lot of footballs. We try and make one day a week the ‘Phillip Livas Day,’ but overall his reps have been limited.”
But it’s better than the alternative. He could be shelved permanently.
“I’d rather have a limited Livas than no Livas at all,” Dooley said.
Indeed, a Livas at half-speed is better than so many other returners at full speed.
He returned kickoffs for a 25.6 average and punts for a 15.3 average last year in helping Tech go 8-5 overall and win the Independence Bowl. In that 17-10 victory over Northern Illinois, he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.
The WAC leader for all-purpose yards (155.0 ypg) in 2008, Livas is a modest and reserved individual who prefers to let his production do his talking.
But when asked earlier this week how he perceives himself among all kick returners in the country, he says, “I believe I am the best.
“I just try and make every return better than the last one. If there’s a little space out there to run through, then I am going to do my best to find it and run as far as I can until anybody stops me.”
While opposing teams have limited their kickoffs and punts in Livas’ direction, there are still some willing to take the chance.
“Honestly, it kind of surprises me,” he said. “I know it did Saturday when Utah State kicked it to me. Even though I was about five yards back in the end zone, I was going to take a chance because I figured I might not get another one for a while.”
The turf toe has made it tough on Livas contributing more for the Bulldogs, especially on offense where he has had 14 rushes (for 124 yards) and 16 receptions (for 175 yards).
“It’s been real tough because I want to be out there helping out more,” he said.
The toe injury makes it difficult for him to sometimes take a simple step.
“When you put pressure on it (the toe), it’s very painful,” he said. “The medicine they give me works good, but once it wears off, it returns to being very painful. But right now I have to deal with it and move on.”
And opponents of the Bulldogs have to deal with finding some way to keep Livas from reaching the end zone.
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Livas award
For his school record-setting kickoff return against Utah State last weekend, Louisiana Tech University’s Phillip Livas has been chosen as the special teams’ Player of the Week for the state.
The award was voted on by members of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Livas became the first Western Athletic Conference player since 2007 to return a kickoff 100 yards for a TD. He also set a new Bulldogs’ mark for most kick returns in a career with six.
Prior to the game against Utah State, Livas had returned a kickoff 97 yards for a TD in last year’s 17-10 Independence Bowl win over Northern Illinois.
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