Simon to have knee surgery in California

"I've been out visiting and talking to doctors,'' said Simon, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of UT's 30-28 win over Florida on Sept. 18. "It's been like recruiting taking these trips.

"It was good that I did that, because it lets me know for sure I'm making the right decisions.''

Simon has elected to have Dr. Arthur Ting of Fremont, Calif., perform surgery on the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Simon is from Walnut Creek, Calif.

Simon visited with Tennessee's team orthopedic surgeons and nationally renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., before making his decision.

Simon said he's comfortable with Ting, who on Jan. 22, 2001, performed a similar surgery on his right knee.

Simon said he'll take the advisement of UT team orthopedist Dr. Greg Mathien and have the type of surgery in which the ligament from a cadaver is used to replace the damaged one.

UT's orthopedic team, headed by Dr. Bill Youmans, almost always performs the surgeries on the Vols.Former UT tailback Jamal Lewis had right knee surgery performed by Youmans in college, and after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for the Baltimore Ravens, returned to Knoxville to have Youmans operate again.

Simon's case is unique. He had major surgery performed before attending UT, and he found a comfort level working with Ting, who is the team orthopedist for the NHL's San Jose Sharks and has performed surgeries for the Oakland Raiders.

Simon said he'll return to Knoxville within a week of having the surgery and make up any class work he has missed.