newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

In October 2010, junior defensive tackle Eric LeGrand had a collision with an Army kick returner, suffering spinal cord damage, two fractured vertebrae and paralysis. Most doctors felt LeGrand would be on a respirator for the rest of his life.

By Oct. 29 of this year, LeGrand, 21, was able to lead the Scarlet Knights onto the field in a snowstorm at Rutgers for their game against West Virginia.

The Daily Targum reports that the cover of the final Sports Illustrated of the year showing the magazine’s Best Moment of 2011 features this scene, with LeGrand in his motorized wheelchair and teammates Khaseem Greene and Scott Vallone.

This was the first time in Sports Illustrated’s 57 years that the magazine invited fans to do the voting. According to CBSSports.com, LeGrand received the most votes from fans in 178 countries in a Facebook vote. He won out over 14 other potential moments, including the St. Louis Cardinals, the Boston Bruins, soccer’s Lionel Messi, surfer Kelly Slater and Yankees Derek Jeter.

Spain made a late drive to get Messi on the cover. LeGrand's mother Karen said, “It was Rutgers against the world.”

LeGrand offered a special thank you to his fans from Rutgers. He said, according to scarletreport.com, “Having them support me through this whole thing ... I thank them for all this support. I take this as a responsibility, my whole injury. If I can get back up on my feet, I think it’s really going to show the world.”

According to SI.com, LeGrand posted on Twitter after his appearance at the Rutgers game in October: "So I left tire tracks in the snow yesterday as I led my team out next time will be footprints."

The issue will arrive at newsstands on December 26.