September 1, 2001

BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech running back Lee Suggs suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Saturday in the third quarter of the Hokies' 52-10 victory over Connecticut. The redshirt junior from Roanoke, Va., also suffered a tear of his medial meniscus.

"We're going to meet with his parents on Sunday and then we'll go in and scope his knee on Monday," director of athletic training Mike Goforth said Saturday afternoon, just moments after the results of the MRI were released. Suggs underwent the MRI at Montgomery Regional Hospital immediately following the game.

On Monday, surgeons will go in and repair the meniscus and then determine if the ACL tear is a new one, or a previous injury. If the tear is an old injury, surgeons will fix the meniscus on the spot. Suggs will then be outfitted with a brace and will be able to play as soon as he's able. The ACL will be repaired in January if that's the case.

If the injury is a new one, the ACL will be repaired immediately and Suggs will be out for the year.

"I think we operate on Monday and hope for the best," said Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. "Lee has put so much into this, we just hope it works out for the best. When you lose the best tailback in school history - whether it's for a few weeks or the season - that's a tough loss."

12/1 - Miami
Blacksburg, Va.
Injured