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Former SU Football Player Sam Heckel Reveals Injuries and Talks Future Former SU Football Player Sam Heckel Reveals Injuries and Talks Future

By Andrew Rubino

In an N-C-C News exclusive, former Syracuse University football offensive lineman Sam Heckel revealed he retired early because of concussions.
The football training staff forced him to do so, a decision he agreed with.
Back on January thirty first, Heckel announced on Twitter that he would not play out his final year of eligibility due to injuries.
“So I got one in camp and then one in the first game.
So at that point, at that point, that was the point where it was no return and I couldn’t really recover from it.”
20-19’s season opener against Liberty was Heckel’s last time in an S-U uniform.
Heckel said he was rehabbing every day during the season to try and come back.
He said he came to a mutual agreement with the training staff about his retirement shortly following the end of the season.
He said he misses the camaraderie with his teammates more than anything.
“It’s not like I don’t, as soon as I stop playing football they stop being my friends, it’s just, it’s, it’s a different relationship now.
“Heckel said he used to spend a lot of time here in the S-U weight room.
But with more free time, he said he can focus on his studies”
Heckel is an earth science major.
He is set to graduate next fall and says he plans to earn his masters’ degree in education and potentially coach a high school team.
Heckel has stayed around the game by helping out the other Syracuse lineman with offseason training.
“Trying to help coach out this spring, or, we have field work right after we’re done with this.
I think that’ll help me become a better coach and a teacher.”
Heckel understands his concussions could have consequences down the road.
But if he could go back in time, he’d still choose to play football at S-U.
“I love football so, I love playing it, and its gotten me everything that I’ve needed so far.”
Reporting for N-C-C News, I’m Andrew Ra-bean-o

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Former Syracuse University football offensive lineman Sam Heckel revealed the team’s training staff forced him to retire with a year of eligibility remaining in an NCC News exclusive interview. Heckel suffered two concussions in a short period of time last season, and agreed with the training staff’s decision.

“So I got one in camp and then one in the first game. So at that point, at that point, that was the point where it was no return and I couldn’t really recover from it,” said Heckel.

Heckel played SU’s season opener against Liberty, but left in the first half with an unspecified upper body injury. On Jan. 31, Heckel announced on Twitter that he would not play out his final year of eligibility due to injuries. The season opener was Heckel’s last time on the field.

“It’s a different relationship now that I can’t play anymore. Because I used to be a peer with my teammates and doing all the things that they were doing,” Heckel said. “Lifting and doing the workouts, and now it’s just, there’s a portion of the relationship that’s gone.”

Heckel plans to finish his undergraduate earth science degree at Syracuse and then earn a masters’ degree.

“Trying to help coach out this spring, or, we have field work right after we’re done with this,” Heckel said. “I think that’ll help me become a better coach and a teacher.”

Heckel said he understands the potential consequences of head injuries, but is glad he still played football in college because of the opportunities it has provided him.

When asked about where he sees himself in five years, Heckel had two things in mind.

“I would be happy teaching back home in Wisconsin or continuing to coach,” Heckel said. “Either one I’d be very happy with.”

 

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