UT to add pad to wall after Paige gets hurt

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said there are plans in place to add a protective pad to the wall at Neyland Stadium in which receiver Ahmad Paige crashed into Friday night during practice.

Hamilton said he expects the padding to be in place by the start of the 2009 season.

“We recognize that there is a tight space there,” Hamilton said.

Paige was released from UT Medical Center late Friday night following a scary incident in which the sophomore was immobilized and transported to the hospital by ambulance, prompting the Vols to end practice early.

Paige was attempting to catch a fade route thrown into the corner of the end zone when he ran into the wall. There were concerns that Paige had neck injuries.

“Ahmad Paige was transported to UT Hospital for precautionary studies,” trainer Jason McVeigh said in a statement. “All tests returned normal; He was released from the hospital Friday evening and is expected to make a full recovery.”

Hamilton said the stadium renovation to the area completed last year added only a brick facade to the already tight southeast corner of the end zone. The wall was previously concrete and covered by a protective pad before the brick addition. The area was not covered by a protective pad last season.

Hamilton said UT will add a pad that matches the color of the brick.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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