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Blaze wide receiver/kick returner missed nine games in 2008SALT LAKE CITY – For the first time in his football career – professional, college or high school – Utah Blaze wide receiver/kick returner Tom Pace had to deal with something he never had to before for an extended period of time – injury. “The time it (being out) bugged me the most was on game day because I would show up to the game not knowing if I would be dressing. It was really frustrating for me,” he said. In the 2008 season opener against the Arizona Rattlers, Pace (5-foot-10, 205 pounds, Arizona State) suffered a PCL tear in his right knee after being tackled on a kick return. “It was frustrating – almost depressing,” he said.
For the next four weeks he worked out, trying to avoid going on injured reserve. The knee didn't heal like he would have liked and he eventually did go on the IR. In all, he missed nine games before being re-activated on May 10 for a home game against the Colorado Crush.
Even though he was back, he wasn't.
Also in 2008, he tallied just five receptions for just 69 yards, one year after posting career highs in catches (111), receiving yards (1,198) and touchdowns (20).
Yoga for flexibility and weight lifting for strength has gotten Pace back to 95 percent so far this off season, but he still doesn't know how the knee will react when he starts heavy running and sprinting. He is confident, however, it will be much better because the majority of the pain in now gone.
ABOUT THE UTAH BLAZE
The Utah Blaze were recipients of the Best Support Staff Award for the 2006 and 2007 seasons as recognized by the Arena Football League. Tickets are available by logging onto www.utahblaze.com or by calling (801) 257-3111. The Blaze are owned and operated by the Ken Garff Automotive Group – www.kengarff.com.
