Septmber 14, 1998
GREENVILLE -- Furman University head football coach Bobby Johnson announced today that junior nose guard Luke Kosman is retiring from sport after being diagnosed with an acute herniated cervical disk in his neck.
"This is a tough blow for Luke and for our football program, because his loss comes in one of our least experienced areas and because he had prepared himself well to start this year and help our football team," said Johnson in making the announcement Monday. "The most important thing, however, is this condition was identified."
Kosman, a 6-foot-3, 267-pound native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and two-year letterman, started for the Paladins in the season opener against Clemson. In his first two seasons of play he registered 321 plays and 20 tackles, including 10 stops in both his freshman and sophomore years. He is the second Furman defensive player in two years to give up the sport due after being diagnosed with a potentially dangerous neck condition. Last year sophomore linebacker Jeff King retired after it was determined he possessed a similar medical condition.
Kosman was replaced in the starting lineup Saturday against South Carolina
State by senior B.J. Pate, who worked in the pre-season at defensive tackle.