Division II football players like Pittsburg State's Joe Windscheffel don't always have it as easy as major college players are perceived to. Many of them hold down jobs, in addition to their full-time school schedule and a practice schedule that isn't a whole lot different from their big-time brethren.In the case of Windscheffel, the need to get some work done off the football field has cost him any chance of playing this season.
Windscheffel is a redshirt freshman defensive back/linebacker for the Gorillas of Pittsburg (Kan.) State University, a powerhouse program in Division II that annually produces All-American players and makes regular appearances in the Division II playoffs.
Yes, a zebra.
Windscheffel, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker/safety from Smith Center, recently had to move three female and a male zebra to paint a fence along a pasture line.Sounds like Windscheffel might be a bit injury-prone, as he missed the 2008 season with an Achilles' injury.
But the male charged him, bit his arm and would not let go. The animal was dragging Windscheffel by his arm when two of his fellow farm hands finally freed him.
... He was left with a compound fracture on his forearm that required a plate and six pins.
As for the zebra, which is obviously a fan of rival Northwest Missouri State, there's no word on if Bill Snyder would like to know more about its athletic background.
(Pat on the butt: Deadspin)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-22-2009 @ 5:48PM
Kelly said...
Ouch! This is the second student athlete I've read about in the last few days that has had a strange job related injury and I've probably missed a few others. Hope he is okay and that the zebra doesn't get into trouble.
Reply
7-22-2009 @ 9:09PM
comtox said...
Injury prone?? This thing bit the $#iT out of him. Luckily zebras don't strictly go for the neck, like the tiger with Siegfried and Roy--which reminds me, maybe the zebra was trying to "help" him . .
7-22-2009 @ 9:36PM
Kelly said...
Probably thought he was after the 3 females. A strange male comes into an area and starts to come near the females, what is a male zebra to do? Maybe this will help the guy respond better on the field.
7-22-2009 @ 10:07PM
comtox said...
That was a joke, see .. when the tiger almost killed Roy, they said it was trying to "help" him, see, instead of maybe trying to kill him . .
7-22-2009 @ 5:53PM
Mark Hasty said...
It's a shame ESPN doesn't cover DII ball more; I'd love to see a crawl that said "PSU: OUT: Windscheffel (bitten by zebra)."
Reply
7-22-2009 @ 8:39PM
exalted leader said...
damn
Reply
7-22-2009 @ 11:16PM
igomofeddenfedex said...
wow
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 2:31AM
jredelfs said...
The morale is: Never bite a zoo attendant, you just never know what you'll get!
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 3:01AM
gonzo1 said...
it was really a ref he pissed off last season .
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 9:26AM
alfalfacat said...
HAHAHA! :-D
7-23-2009 @ 10:30AM
roy said...
Personal foul! 15 yds. for unsportsman-like conduct!!
7-23-2009 @ 4:38AM
Bill said...
Damn, a zebra that strong is called "Ed Hocules"
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 6:46AM
Steph said...
lmfao
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 8:41AM
Ray said...
Maybe Budweiser should sign the Zebra up to try to block extra points in one of their Clydesdale commercials.
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 8:55AM
Lynda and Ron said...
lisabellerpod4 said...which means your sorry poor ass is out of luck! And what the hell does THAT have to do with this subject? Freaking morons will use any blog to get their 2 lousy cents in, at best if they have any 'sense' at all!
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 9:15AM
Johnston Family said...
The feeling I get from reading this article is an attempt at humor. What is funny about that kid's injury and the fact that if he is not playing football he might lose his scholarship. (if he has one)
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 9:21AM
wweashley10 said...
they should not shoot him
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 9:31AM
pinus1 said...
The end of the beginning of a great career. Decades from now, sitting on his front porch, he can tell his grand children the zebra story; how it destroyed his winning the Heisman..........Play this in Texas and let the cheerleaders jump.
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 9:46AM
3rd force said...
An Aggie was asked "What's a zebra?" His answer: "25 sizes larger than an A-bra".
Reply
7-23-2009 @ 10:02AM
thomasecw said...
Actually, he probably will never play football again. The fear factor would surely set in when he sees those referees running up and down the field in their black and white shirts. Worse yet, he could take revenge and actually bite a ref.
Reply