Tennessee sophomore center Wayne Chism was taken to the UT Medical Center emergency room Tuesday and was expected to be held overnight for observation following a hard fall at practice.
Chism took an elbow to the side of the head after colliding with senior guard Jordan Howell near the start of a team scrimmage around 5 p.m.
Chism was staggered by the blow and was knocked unconscious after falling awkwardly to the Pratt Pavilion floor.
Chism was placed on a stretcher with his head immobilized and transported by ambulance to the nearby hospital. Within minutes, UT team physician Dr. Chris Klenck arrived to confer with emergency room doctors, UT coach Bruce Pearl and associate trainer Chad Newman, who stayed closely beside Chism from the time of the injury.
"Preliminary examinations have been good and he's undergoing more tests," Pearl said, emerging from an extended stay at Chism's bedside. "He is awake, and he's getting more responsive. He's OK."
Pearl said a CT scan and an MRI test were performed and the results were "good.''
Howell, along with many other UT teammates, didn't leave the hospital until learning Chism was out of immediate danger.
"I was driving to the basket and he got pushed into me," Howell said. "He went down, unconscious. I didn't even know I hit him. When you're playing a game you don't notice the contact, you just play through it.
"It's a really bad feeling for everybody.''
Senior Chris Lofton echoed Howell's concern.
"When a teammate is down, the whole team is down," Lofton said. "We're here to let him know we've got his back."
The Vols held a team prayer after Chism's injury at the practice facility.
Sophomore Duke Crews said he would pray through the night for his close friend.
"Basketball is the last thing on my mind; I just want Wayne to be all right,'' Crews said. "When he went down, I went over to see him and I was hoping it was just a little nick.
"He was knocked out. He'd staggered a couple of steps and just dropped. I've never seen anything like that.''
Crews and Chism have been tight since they reported as freshmen last season. The pair split minutes and starts at center last season, with the 6-foot-9 Chism averaging 9.1 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game en route to unanimous All-SEC freshman honors.
Chism, who attended Bolivar Central High School in Jackson, is projected to start at center this season.
Practices have been closed to the public and the media due to the ongoing construction at the new $17 million practice facility.
The Vols open their exhibition season at 7:30 p.m. Friday against California (Pa.) at newly renovated Thompson-Boling Arena.
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Comments » 18
McIntireIMP writes:
oh no...this better not become a trend. we're praying for you Wayne.
McIntireIMP writes:
throw some cheese on it!
jhenson#377512 writes:
**many prayers**
ksteelescvol writes:
Hate to here about the injury, but love the physical practices. We'll keep you in our prayers Wayne.
Tellicovol writes:
Maybe we all need a group prayer. My first concern is his well being.
BigManVolFan writes:
Man I hate to hear of injuries in practice, especially one like this...Sounds like he may have a concusion.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Holy smokes -- players taken away from practices in ambulances...Pearl must be working them hard.
Be well, Wayne!
asleep#212036 writes:
Good luck Wayne. I wish Fulmer let his team practice hard enough to warrant medical attention. go Vols!!!
BuckeyeBenny writes:
I've read on a BTA sports message boad that Wayne is Nard...
kdawg001#591531 writes:
jUST GET bETTER biG mAN AND FINAL 4 HERE WE COME
DroopyDrawers writes:
switchmanellis, well said. The basketball team is exciting but Wayne's helth is more important.
GreerVol22 writes:
Give Howell some Pads and send him over to see Chavis.
CoverOrange writes:
First Tabb, now Chism. Is it legal to wear helmuts in games? You don't go to the emergency room in an ambulance for a mild concussion. Whiplash maybe.
budrhon writes:
The UT Defense was in the Bleachers taking notes for their next game, so I was told. All kidding aside we hope Wayne is okay.
inquiry writes:
Girls play basketball too.. he'll live
vol88 writes:
inquiry, you obviously don't have kids.
Get well Wayne.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
if any of you have ever played much bball, you know there is a ton of contact. I can just imagine that UT's scrimmages are intense, as you have 12-15 big, strong kids going as fast as they can go to the basket.
some of you are making some stupid comments. getting knocked out like that is no minor thing.
Chainsaw writes:
Our prayers are with you, Wayne. Rest up, heal up, and get back out there!
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