"I'm thankful for the doctors and trainers who made everything possible." (HA)
About his painful stinger and shoulder injury in 2007, Blaze said:
"I couldn't even lift my arm." (HA)
HA Note: "Then last year, on the second day of training camp, he suffered torn ligaments in the base of his left calf. The doctors gave him two choices: 1) undergo surgery, or 2) undergo intensive physical therapy. Both would require him to miss the rest of the season, with no assurances he would ever be able to play again."
About how he often questioned his decision to not have surgery, Blaze said:
"I had a lot of doubts. Some weeks I made big gains. Some weeks I'd make no gains. It was very frustrating. I tried to keep a positive mindset. And I put my trust in the man upstairs." (HA)
About how Blaze did not participate in spring training and only made occasional appearances during their offseason conditioning program, Mack said:
"We didn't even count him as a starter coming back because we didn't know if he was going to be able to play." (HA)
About how Blaze played hurt earlier this year and is now playing like himself, Mack said:
"He had to suck it up to play this year. He played hurt early, and now he's playing Blaze style." (HA)
HA Note: "Soares has been instrumental during the Warriors' four-game winning streak. In that span, he has amassed 37 tackles, including 12 in the past Saturday's 24-17 victory over Navy."
Praising how Blaze played against Navy, Mac said:
"Blaze played a particularly good game. He was an inspiration." (HA)
About how Blaze played all 57 of their defensive plays and fell to a knee after making the game-ending sack, Mack said:
"He was so exhausted. He left everything on the field. He's been through so much. I'm really happy for him." (HA)
About how this has been his first healthy season since his senior year at Castle High school, Blaze said:
"You can never take anything for granted. I'm thankful for all of the blessings the Lord gave me." (HA)
About how Blaze's career is like how their season has gone, Mack said:
"He's sort of symbolic of this football team." (HSB)
Happy to be able to play again, Blaze said:
"I'm just blessed having this opportunity. Just playing ball, I'm just so lucky to be out here again. As of that day (last year), my season was done. Everybody doubted the fact that I would come back. But I've got somebody up there watching me and I'm very thankful for that." (HSB)
About being named WAC Defensive Player of the Week, Blaze said:
"This award is supposed to go to our defense because as a team we played awesome. It was such a team thing, that's why I was kind of shocked I got this award this week. Our defense just played well and I hope we can play this week the same way." (HSB)
HSB Note: "After a year away from the field, the Castle graduate hasn't missed a start this season and enters the week leading the Warriors with 96 total tackles, including two sacks, and logged his first career interception against New Mexico State on Nov. 14."
About Blaze playing after his Achilles' injury, Cal Lee said:
"Some athletes cannot play after they tear their Achilles'. What he's done is close to a miracle. The doctor and the trainers and the guys who worked on him to get him ready for this year, they have to be congratulated. I know it killed him not being able to play last year. He wanted to play two weeks after he got hurt, but he just couldn't go. I'm happy for him, that he's feeling good about himself, his senior year and playing like he is." (HSB)
About how their team stuck together even after their 6-game losing streak, Blaze said:
"People could have been individuals and gone their separate ways. But it's awesome to see that this class pulled everybody together and kept everybody focused on the main goal ahead." (HSB)
About their struggles early in the season and looking forward to facing Wisconsin's power game, Blaze said:
"It's a different mentality, a different mind-set now. I feel like our defense is going to rise to the occasion and is going to come out fired up. They're just going to pound the ball down your throat, but for me I love it because we're going to bang." (HSB)
http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20091201_Blaze_ready_to_bang_in_finale.html
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