We all love the gladiatorial nature of football, but injuries like the one sustained by Andrew Gonnella are a harsh reminder of just how physically gruesome the game can be. The senior offensive offensive linemen dislocated his knee during Maryland’s 21-16 loss against Georgia Tech this past Saturday and had to be carted off the field in an ambulance after a nearly 15-minute delay in the action. One of the Terrapins’ captains, Gonnella will undergo surgery at a later date.

You want to talk about toughness? Gonnella’s teammate Eric Franklin said that he had been told that bone broke through Gonnella’s skin. One can only imagine how much pain he was in. Yet, apparently Gonnella refused anesthesia at an Atlanta-area hospital until he found out whether his teammates had completed the comeback against the Yellow Jackets.

Sad news for Gonnella, whose college career is effectively over. The lone senior on the Terps’ offensive line will likely be replaced by sophomore Pete White. Whether it is White or someone else, they’ll be tested immediately when the undefeated Clemson Tigers come to town to face Maryland on Saturday afternoon.