Illinois player carted off field on backboard

Oct 18, 2009 - 3:55 AM BLOOMINGTON, Ind.(AP) -- Illinois safety Donsay Hardeman was placed on a backboard, carted off the field and taken to a local hospital after feeling numbness in one of his arms during the first half of Saturday night's loss at Indiana.

Coach Ron Zook did not say which arm was numb. But tests indicated that the injury might not be as serious as first feared.

"They've done a couple of tests, and everything so far has come back good," Zook said. "The big thing was that he had some numbness in his arm, and because of the previous situation, it was more of a precautionary thing."

A school spokesman said Hardeman was moving his arms and legs but was hospitalized because of his injury history. Hardeman had neck surgery late last year.

Hardeman was injured while trying to tackle Darius Willis with 8:26 left in the first half.

After the play, Illinois trainers quickly called for a golf cart and carefully strapped Hardeman to a backboard. Towels were placed over his shoulders and hands, and his face mask was removed.