By BRYAN APP
After an ACL tear and false internet rumors of his kidnapping in Argentina, Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle attempts to overcome past woes and lead the Tide to prominence.
HOOVER, Ala. - Smashed shoulder, crushed knee, kidnapped and shot, Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle has never felt better.
That's because Croyle will return as the Crimson Tide quarterback despite rumors of his kidnapping in July in Argentina.
Now, disciples of Bear Bryant can rest easy.
Before Croyle could become the next Natalee Holloway, the senior dispelled the myths at Southeastern Conference Media Days on Friday.
Internet rumors began to swirl shortly after Croyle embarked on a four-day dove hunting excursion with his father and friends in rural Argentina.
With no cell phone service, Croyle's crew could check in with relatives back home only at night. But when the quarterback called home one night, his mother notified him of his terrible fate.
"My mother said that I was dead," Croyle said. "Another one of my buddies called his mom, and she heard that I'd been shot. And then another one called, she heard we had been kidnapped. I don't know how or where it all got started."
Being the center of gossip is commonplace for a starting quarterback at such a tradition-rich program. It's a burden Croyle said he can handle until his family becomes involved.
"[My mom] had to sit there for six hours and not know whether we were dead or alive. That was one of the cases of when it went too far," Croyle said. "I guess it's good people don't want to forget about football even though it's the summer and spring. But at some point, enough is enough."
But with a promising season on the horizon and Croyle healthy for the first time in nearly two years, it's understandable why Alabama diehards are a little on edge.
As a sophomore, Croyle impressed then-rookie head coach Mike Shula, playing through shoulder injuries to gain 2,303 yards - the second most in school history - and tying a school-record 16 touchdowns set by Shula in 1985.
"[He] never said a word about it, never," said Shula, who's entering his third season with the Crimson Tide. "Nobody is tougher than Brodie as far as injuries go."
During his junior year, however, Croyle's threshold for pain couldn't conquer a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee, suffered a mere three games into the season.
After a successful surgery in September, Croyle has made the long road to recovery while answering an estimated 50 to 75 questions per day regarding his health.
And sometimes the answers varied, depending on who was asking.
"I'd mess with them every once and awhile," Croyle said. "I'd tell them that I'm done playing, that they actually didn't fix my ACL."
Now, Croyle might actually be able to provide the answers Alabama fans want to hear.
"He's pretty much out of the rehab mode," Shula said. "He's into increasing his strength and conditioning and really looks as good as he ever looked since he's been here. We have got to monitor him, [but] he's at full go right from day one of practice."
This season, Croyle plans to stay that way.
When asked what he's learned from his ordeal, Croyle responded, "Slide."
"I wasn't raised that way," said Croyle, whose father was a defensive end for Bryant at Alabama. "My dad always told me, ?You get every yard you can get when you can get it. And if you can't get off the field, you're season is done one way or the other.' I got the OK from Big John to slide. I'm good to go now."
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