USC RB Stefan Johnson in critical condition after Bench Press accident

MusclesMarinara · 09-29-2009, 12:04 PM

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson is unlikely to play again this season after a falling weight bar crushed his neck and larynx.
The senior who scored the No. 7 Trojans' go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago was bench-pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat.

Johnson was in critical but stable condition late Monday night after more than seven hours of surgery, said Katreena Salgado, a spokeswoman for California Hospital Medical Center.

He was treated for crushing injuries to his neck as well as severe injuries to his larynx, said the hospital's trauma medical director, Dr. Gudata Hinika.
Hinika said through a hospital spokesperson that extensive surgery was needed because Johnson's airway was threatened.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a source close to the family said surgeons worked to realign Johnson's larynx in hopes he will be able to use his voice.
It's unlikely Johnson will be able to play again this season, but his prognosis is good and doctors expect him to make a full recovery, Hinika said in a statement released by the hospital.

"It hit him with a lot of force, and it hurt him," coach Pete Carroll said after the Trojans' brief practice Monday night but before the surgery was finished. "No broken bones as far as I understand, but he's got some damage in there somewhere, and they're working it out, trying to figure out what it is. ... It is serious. He did get hurt, so we don't know exactly what it is, and they're not going to know until they go through the surgery."
Immediately after the accident, Johnson was coughing up blood, a source close to the USC football program told ESPN's Shelley Smith.
Carroll said Johnson "was OK," but couldn't speak, when he left the weight room for California Hospital Medical Center. Johnson's family and friends gathered at the hospital on Monday to await word on his surgery.
Carroll tweeted his concern later Monday evening. "Please keep Stafon Johnson in your thoughts and prayers ... still in throat surgery after weights accident this AM," it read.
Earlier, Carroll said that weight room incidents are not entirely uncommon.
"That happens sometimes when you're doing bench presses, but this one just hit him wrong," Carroll said. "You can miss the rack or something. This was right at the end of his set, and he wasn't putting the bar down on the rack yet."
An assistant strength and conditioning coach was standing over Johnson at the time of the accident.
"I've seen players have the bar slip and fall onto their chest, but never in my 25 years of coaching have I heard of someone dropping a bar on their throat," said head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was standing 10 feet away at the time of the accident. "We're fortunate he was being spotted."
Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior from Compton, Calif., is the Trojans' second-leading rusher and goal-line specialist. He's rushed 32 times for 157 yards this year and leads the team with five touchdowns. He entered the season with 1,395 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Johnson's absence likely means more carries for 235-pound junior Allen Bradford or perhaps 225-pound sophomore Marc Tyler when USC plays California on Saturday.
Information from ESPN.com Pac-10 writer Ted Miller and The Associated Press was used in this report.

GENESIS · 09-29-2009, 12:14 PM

video?

landrum · 09-29-2009, 12:18 PM

That coach must not have been paying very close attention when he was "spotting" him...sad story

Mike Hunt · 09-29-2009, 12:19 PM

Thats fucked up.I wonder how much weight he was pressing?

MusclesMarinara · 09-29-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landrum

That coach must not have been paying very close attention when he was "spotting" him...sad story

yeah being 10 feet isnt spotting someone, idk what they were talking about.

Biggie973 · 09-29-2009, 12:24 PM

Where's the spotter? You should always have a spotter regards so accidents won't happen like this.

MusclesMarinara · 09-29-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Hunt

Thats fucked up.I wonder how much weight he was pressing?

ESPN just reported he was benching 275lbs.

He is in stable condition but is still breathing through a tube.

Swede · 09-29-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Hunt

Thats fucked up.I wonder how much weight he was pressing?

middle 200's

Swede · 09-29-2009, 12:36 PM

thats what you get fopr benching with a suicide grip!

partsRheavy · 09-29-2009, 12:44 PM

You'd think the football team would have a rule "Always use a spotter except for warm-up reps."

Swede · 09-29-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by partsRheavy

You'd think the football team would have a rule "Always use a spotter except for warm-up reps."

wouldn't have made any difference.

You cant catch a falling bar that fast with 200+ pounds on it by yourself.

partsRheavy · 09-29-2009, 12:51 PM

Sounds like his grip failed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swede

wouldn't have made any difference.

You cant catch a falling bar that fast with 200+ pounds on it by yourself.

Big Barry · 09-29-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swede

thats what you get fopr benching with a suicide grip!

Exactly...Let my avatar be a lesson to all people with retarded thumbs.

airagee23 · 09-29-2009, 01:20 PM

Ouch that had to hurt.

Aaron Singerman · 09-29-2009, 02:32 PM

I wonder if they'll fire the guy who was supposed to be spotting him...

landrum · 09-29-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusclesMarinara

LOS ANGELES -- Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson is unlikely to play again this season after a falling weight bar crushed his neck and larynx.
The senior who scored the No. 7 Trojans' go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago was bench-pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat.

Johnson was in critical but stable condition late Monday night after more than seven hours of surgery, said Katreena Salgado, a spokeswoman for California Hospital Medical Center.

He was treated for crushing injuries to his neck as well as severe injuries to his larynx, said the hospital's trauma medical director, Dr. Gudata Hinika.
Hinika said through a hospital spokesperson that extensive surgery was needed because Johnson's airway was threatened.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a source close to the family said surgeons worked to realign Johnson's larynx in hopes he will be able to use his voice.
It's unlikely Johnson will be able to play again this season, but his prognosis is good and doctors expect him to make a full recovery, Hinika said in a statement released by the hospital.

"It hit him with a lot of force, and it hurt him," coach Pete Carroll said after the Trojans' brief practice Monday night but before the surgery was finished. "No broken bones as far as I understand, but he's got some damage in there somewhere, and they're working it out, trying to figure out what it is. ... It is serious. He did get hurt, so we don't know exactly what it is, and they're not going to know until they go through the surgery."
Immediately after the accident, Johnson was coughing up blood, a source close to the USC football program told ESPN's Shelley Smith.
Carroll said Johnson "was OK," but couldn't speak, when he left the weight room for California Hospital Medical Center. Johnson's family and friends gathered at the hospital on Monday to await word on his surgery.
Carroll tweeted his concern later Monday evening. "Please keep Stafon Johnson in your thoughts and prayers ... still in throat surgery after weights accident this AM," it read.
Earlier, Carroll said that weight room incidents are not entirely uncommon.
"That happens sometimes when you're doing bench presses, but this one just hit him wrong," Carroll said. "You can miss the rack or something. This was right at the end of his set, and he wasn't putting the bar down on the rack yet."
An assistant strength and conditioning coach was standing over Johnson at the time of the accident.
"I've seen players have the bar slip and fall onto their chest, but never in my 25 years of coaching have I heard of someone dropping a bar on their throat," said head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was standing 10 feet away at the time of the accident. "We're fortunate he was being spotted."
Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior from Compton, Calif., is the Trojans' second-leading rusher and goal-line specialist. He's rushed 32 times for 157 yards this year and leads the team with five touchdowns. He entered the season with 1,395 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
Johnson's absence likely means more carries for 235-pound junior Allen Bradford or perhaps 225-pound sophomore Marc Tyler when USC plays California on Saturday.
Information from ESPN.com Pac-10 writer Ted Miller and The Associated Press was used in this report.

...he was being spotted according to the report which makes it that much more fucked up...

F.K.M. · 09-29-2009, 02:43 PM

when your wrist flips from a suicide grip the only way a spotter can save you is if his hands are touching the bar in some way...and still it's 50/50 chance that you can die or wind up seriously hurt.

God gave you opposable thumbs for a reason. Use them.

Mouse9 · 09-29-2009, 03:06 PM

Update:

http://www.usctrojans.com/blog/

MusclesMarinara · 09-29-2009, 05:17 PM

Glad to hear hes going to be ok.

LayItDown · 09-29-2009, 05:31 PM

thats sad! i hope he turns up well. accidents happen, you can only learn and be more cautious next time.

Baldiewonkanobi · 09-29-2009, 09:17 PM

I am die hard USC. I went to USC in the 50s and still sleep under a fucking USC blanket. Bodybuilding and USC football is my 'thang'.

The Asst. Strength Coach ought to be thumbing a ride off campus heading outta town. Unfortunatly Pete will see it different. He sticks with his staff to a FAULT.

WTF is a running back doing benching 275 (reported by a team mate)? WTF kind of spot was that? Idiot lifting and idiot coaching in a machoism filled atmosphere. How many ways can you spell STUPID.
Stefan may never speak again....GOOD GRIEF Pete!!!!!!!

Baldie

trap · 09-29-2009, 09:24 PM

please no video

Manavs · 09-29-2009, 09:44 PM

Are steroids to blame? lets throw some federal dollars at this make sure that they remove all the dangerous free weights from the training facilities and replace them all with rubber bands that are affixed to the floor by an ncaa official that is qualified to do so.

seriously, i hope he gets better - scary situation

MusclesMarinara · 09-30-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

I am die hard USC. I went to USC in the 50s and still sleep under a fucking USC blanket. Bodybuilding and USC football is my 'thang'.

The Asst. Strength Coach ought to be thumbing a ride off campus heading outta town. Unfortunatly Pete will see it different. He sticks with his staff to a FAULT.

WTF is a running back doing benching 275 (reported by a team mate)? WTF kind of spot was that? Idiot lifting and idiot coaching in a machoism filled atmosphere. How many ways can you spell STUPID.
Stefan may never speak again....GOOD GRIEF Pete!!!!!!!

Baldie

Whats wrong with a running back benching 275, idk where your going with this?

chris mason · 09-30-2009, 08:29 PM

Yeah, lol at the benching comment. WTF??? Are running backs supposed to be weak pussies? Wait, how about power cleans, maybe they should do them...

I hope the young man recovers fully.

jacshelb · 10-01-2009, 02:50 AM

I think I'm going to be using wrist straps for declines tomorrow after reading this... Just for extra extra safety's sake! I'd actually prefer to bench in a power rack, but that's not always an option. But, believe me, when I have had to bench alone it was always in a safety rack with the bars set so my damn neck didn't get crushed!

Hope the guy makes a full recovery. We're all reminded one more time of what can happen!

Baldiewonkanobi · 10-01-2009, 07:41 AM

275 bench? The NFL boot camp criteria is how many reps you can rep 225. That includes lineman candidates. 275 DURING the season IMO is yes...stupid for a running back. Off season go for it!! But hey...I am an old 70 year has been old fool....WTF do I know anyway.

Better idea...if Stefan can ever talk again lets ask him....was that smart?

Baldie

DJTree · 10-01-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Singerman

I wonder if they'll fire the guy who was supposed to be spotting him...

Probably not, but there will likely be a movement to ban bench pressing in all high schools, colleges, professional sports, amateur sports, and gyms of any kind. Before this blows over we're all going to be on the bowflex.

-Dave

MattyH7688 · 10-01-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

275 bench? The NFL boot camp criteria is how many reps you can rep 225. That includes lineman candidates. 275 DURING the season IMO is yes...stupid for a running back. Off season go for it!! But hey...I am an old 70 year has been old fool....WTF do I know anyway.

Better idea...if Stefan can ever talk again lets ask him....was that smart?

Baldie

275 is high school numbers.. id hope a top d1 player could do it for a couple

*RedStar* · 10-01-2009, 08:52 AM

whats a suicide grip?