Down The Drive - Walter Stewart InjuredA Cincinnati Bearcats blog for the moderately intelligenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48741/downthedrive-fave.png2012-10-30T02:04:38-04:00http://www.downthedrive.com/rss/stream/32940872012-10-30T02:04:38-04:002012-10-30T02:04:38-04:00Injury Will Force Walter Stewart's Retirement
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-0RBZfqJiKv3jR93ENBKOPj0t6c=/0x480:2667x2258/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2293275/20120915_jla_af7_087.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Leifheit-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Walter Stewart's Injury Against Fordham Revealed A Congenital Spinal Defect. </p> <p>Bearcat Lair <a target="_blank" href="http://cincinnati.247sports.com/Article/Injury-Ends-Career-for-Stewart-98565">with the report</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Bearcat Lair has learned that Cincinnati’s star defensive end, <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Walter-Stewart-7344">Walter Stewart</a>, will no longer be able to play football due to a congenital defect in his spine. Stewart’s foster father, Keith Fields, told BCL on Monday night that Stewart was born without a "posterior C1 arch" and the problem surfaced after the Fordham game on October 13.</p>
<p>"Walt was injured on the fourth play of the game," said Fields. "But he continued to play the rest of the game. The acute fracture of the front part of his arch revealed the problem with the C1."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And thus ends, officially, the career of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35741/walter-stewart">Walter Stewart</a>. Losing Walt for the year sucks for the team. But hearing that Walt will never play the game again just sucks in general. His life has not been easy. At the age of 14 he was taken from his mother and placed with foster parents. If that wasn't a big enough of a shock to his system the transition from the bustle of Columbus to tiny Ashville, Ohio must have done the trick.</p>
<p>His foster parents, now parents, insisted that he do an extra curricular activity. He chose Football, a game for which his many gifts were obviously suited. Now, on the verge of what could have been a long and productive NFL career its over for Walter Stewart. That's a hard thing to wrap your mind around. But there is little doubt that Walt has a career in coaching ahead of him, Butch Jones is expected to add Walt to his staff going forward.</p>
<p><i>Follow Down The Drive on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-The-Drive/176774075676914">Facebook</a></i><i>/<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/downthedrive">Twitter</a></i><i> and check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://custom.gamedaydepot.com/sbnation/SB_Nation_College_Down_the_Drive-Products/19880">DTD Store</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2012/10/30/3574756/walter-stewart-to-retire-due-to-spinal-defectMatt Opper2012-10-22T15:47:44-04:002012-10-22T15:47:44-04:00Walter Stewart Out Against Louisville
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nEtNmxsG_TC2Pvz2qe_zAjOXe-k=/175x0:4000x2550/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1823291/20120915_jla_af7_091.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Leifheit-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Walter Stewart is out, and will be for a long time by all appearances. Still, Butch Jones refuses to give up hope that Walt can make it back before the end of the season, Bowl Game included. </p> <p>This much became clear during today's Big East teleconference. Here are the relevant quote from Butch Jones, courtesy of the <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/38214/jones-wont-rule-out-stewart-for-season-yet">Big East Blog</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Right now the day to return is yet to be determined. He's actually still going through getting a second opinion. I don't know when that will occur. I believe it's at end of this week. He doesn't want to give up, as you can imagine, he's a competitor, so we're going through that process right now in getting a second opinion on everything."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Its hard to tell it by looking at the box score from Saturday night, but this team does miss Walt immensely. Not just his production, but his leadership. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35743/brandon-mills">Brandon Mills</a> answered the bell against the Rockets. But Walt is the heartbeat of the team. There is still no official word on the injury that Walt suffered, nor do I expect to hear anything from Butch on the matter.</p>
<p><i>Follow Down The Drive on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-The-Drive/176774075676914">Facebook</a></i><i>/<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/downthedrive">Twitter</a></i><i> and check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://custom.gamedaydepot.com/sbnation/SB_Nation_College_Down_the_Drive-Products/19880">DTD Store</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2012/10/22/3539798/walter-stewart-not-ruled-out-for-the-season-wont-play-againstMatt Opper2012-10-20T11:33:51-04:002012-10-20T11:33:51-04:00Mills and Mouhon Have A Big Spotlight to Fill
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A4MUxrYShgxoC8bzLpdIJIiTjgQ=/1110x194:3168x1566/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1704833/153100047.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jonathan Ernst</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>September 12th 2009. That was the last time a Cincinnati Bearcats defense stepped onto the field <em>without</em> Walter Stewart in the starting lineup. In between that day, where the Bearcats hung 70 on Southeastern Missouri State, have come 41 games, and 41 starts for Walt. His loss is big, to say the least. </p> <p>But the Bearcats do have a capible back up, two of them actually. Brandon Mills has 16 career sacks, and 28 TFL. He has played in every game since early in the 2009 season. This is not a guy who will be shocked by anything that he sees tonight. That being said, this has not been his best season. Just 1 sack and 1 TFL on the season.</p>
<p>The other option to start in Walts stead is Silverberry Mouhon, a redshirt Freshman from Norcross, Georgia. Mouhon has as much talent as any young defensive linemen in a Bearcats uniform over the last half a decade. Defensive line coach Steve Stripling loves Silverberry, and his potential, and he <i>has</i> seen plenty of live, relevant reps this season. But as with Mills, the production isn't great. Mouhon has 5 tackels on the year with no TFL's or sacks, though he does have a pass breakup and hurry on the season.</p>
<p>Coming into the season I thought that the Bearcats depth up front would be even better than it was last year. So far that has been true, sort of. By that I mean that the rotation is even deeper, UC routinely plays 9 guys in the rotation, which is more than last year. But this injury will be the first really big test of the theory. Brandon Mills and Silverberry Mouhon are going to have big spotlights on them. That spotlight is so big because the guy they are playing so routinely fills it. Its a big space to fill.</p>
<p><i>Follow Down The Drive on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-The-Drive/176774075676914">Facebook</a></i><i>/<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/downthedrive">Twitter</a></i><i> and check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://custom.gamedaydepot.com/sbnation/SB_Nation_College_Down_the_Drive-Products/19880">DTD Store</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2012/10/20/3530058/with-walter-stewart-out-the-spotlight-will-be-on-brandon-mills-andMatt Opper2012-10-20T10:52:43-04:002012-10-20T10:52:43-04:00Cincinnati Defensive End Walter Stewart Out
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cgdU2wgpjLgaWP8NyAh0u8MK7E8=/0x400:2667x2178/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1702973/20120915_jla_af7_087.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Leifheit-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Bearcats defense takes a huge hit today as Walter Stewart will be out of the game. Stewart picked up an injury in the Fordham game. </p> <p>By most statistical measures the Cincinnati Bearcats defense is playing at a much higher level this season than in years past. Yards per game and passer rating allowed are hovering at around the 2008 defenses numbers. But in this safe, supportive environment known as the internet I think Bearcat fans can admit something to themselves: UC hasn't really played a good offense yet. That changes tonight, but this defense will have to get it done <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcincinnati.com%2Fblogs%2Fuc%2F2012%2F10%2F20%2Fucs-stewart-will-not-play-tonight-vs-toledo%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.downthedrive.com%2F2012%2F10%2F20%2F3529974%2Fwalter-stewart-out-against-the-toledo-rockets" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">without Walter Stewart.</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Senior defensive end Walter Stewart will not play due to an undisclosed upper body injury that he suffered in last week’s game against Fordham. Stewart continued to play after sustaining the injury.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Walt's production will be missed, dearly, against an offense as talented and explosive as the Rockets. The glass half full part of me would like to think that the coaches are playing it safe so that Walt can go against Louisville. But I don't know if I am that optimistic.</p>
<p><i>Follow Down The Drive on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-The-Drive/176774075676914">Facebook</a></i><i>/<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/downthedrive">Twitter</a></i><i> and check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://custom.gamedaydepot.com/sbnation/SB_Nation_College_Down_the_Drive-Products/19880">DTD Store</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2012/10/20/3529974/walter-stewart-out-against-the-toledo-rocketsMatt Opper