Injury and Academics Claim the Career of Irish DTs Derrell Hand and Pat Kuntz (Respectively)

Bad news out of South Bend today, as an already-thin Irish defensive line appears to have lost another body. This time it's (I think we can now officially use the adjective "much-maligned") Derrell Hand, who was diagnosed with a "hereditary disease in his spinal cord" that would effectively make playing football far too dangerous for the possibility of aggravation and long-term injury. Hand, you'll probably remember, made some headlines last offseason, albeit for completely different reasons. Hand is getting a second opinion, but it looks like there will be a sad ending to an altogether hard-knock football career for what I've heard is a pretty good kid.

Meanwhile, the woes on the DL continue as returning starter Pat Kuntz was ruled ineligible for this semester due to academics (same article). Kuntz has this semester and the summertime to get his grades in order, but it's still anyone's guess if he'll be back on the Irish come football season. Here's hoping he can hit the books and pull through.

In the meantime, Irish fans can relieve their pain by checking and rechecking the measurables of the top-ranked incoming recruiting class.

Oh, right, and forgive me for not making the obvious joke about "Kuntz" and "Hand" sharing the spotlight. You sophomoric types can probably write your own.