Bowling Green State University Athletics
Feature Story on Andrew Hart
August 15, 2003 | Football
Aug. 15, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Some goals in life are simpler than others.
Andrew Hart would just like to make it through an entire Bowling Green football game this season.
A 6-foot-5, 302-pound junior, Hart has not played past Bowling Green's opener in either of the last two seasons. Now he's back after two knee separate surgeries, getting ready for drills in full pads, which start today.
"It's been very frustrating," Hart said last week during Bowling Green's preseason media day at Perry Stadium. "I've never really doubted playing ... I just had to get through it.
"It's been a little rough, I'm a little rusty," he added.
Hart's comeback has been an inspiration to his teammates, according to Greg Studrawa, BG's offensive coordinator and line coach.
"I've got 18 or 19 offensive linemen ... when they feel beat up or tired and they look at that kid (Hart), they know they had better pick themselves up and go," Studrawa said. "He's taught such a lesson to all those other kids about surviving through tragedy. It's been a blessing for this whole team." In 2001, Hart earned a starting spot on the offensive line for the opener against Missouri as a redshirt freshman. He tore three ligaments in his knee during an extra-point attempt in the game and was unable to play again that season.
Following surgery and rehabilitation, Hart came back and served in a backup role in the 2002 opener against Tennessee Tech, seeing action in the second half.
However, pain in the knee led to another examination and it was discovered that the anterior cruciate ligament which had been replaced by one for a cadaver, had disintegrated, a 1 in 100,000 chance, Hart said.
"I was the one," he said.
The injury forced more surgery and rehabilitation.
"The kid's mind-set was really down after he found out he had to have the second surgery," Studrawa said.
Many people would not have been able to return from one knee surgery, let alone two. But Hart is gearing up to win a starting spot for the Aug. 28 opener against Eastern Kentucky.
"I'm trying to challenge him to be a starter," Studrawa said. "Two years out of football is difficult for anyone, but two years out of football for an offensive linemen is even more difficult. The skills and techniques we do every day are not natural, it's not running, catching, throwing."
Hart is hoping to get the nod from Studrawa to start at right guard. "He (Studrawa) knew that I won't want to stop playing," Hart said. "He's a big reason why I'm still playing. And the guys on the team are my best friends in the world. I don't want to get separated from them."
Hart is part of an offensive line that for the first time in recent years has some depth.
"We held our breath with the five guys we had the past couple of years," Studrawa said. "If one of them went down it was a tragedy. "We are not as solid with experience ... but we have competition and I think competition will breed those guys into becoming better players. "They have to practice hard each day and if they don't, they'll be out of a spot. That's what's going to help us now."
Andy Grubb, a converted defensive linemen, has been added to the mix with Studrawa's group and the 6-4, 284 junior has made an early impression.
"Andy Grubb has been a pleasant surprise ... he's been doing a tremendous job," Studrawa said.
Scott Mruczkowski, 6-4, 315 junior, is the veteran of the group while Rob Warren and Jimmy Williams are coming back from injuries along with Hart. Robert Haley, Ryan Lucas and Vardan Mkhitarian are others who will be factors on the line.
"We finally look like an offensive line," said BG head coach Gregg Brandon. "I looked over the other day and it was like a head of cattle around him (Studrawa) and he looks small around them. He used to tower over them. "Now we've got a real Division I offensive line. I'm fired up about that."
