Sept. 19, 2002
Georgia Tech standout defensive end Greg Gathers will not play Saturday against Brigham Young, head coach Chan Gailey announced Thursday.
Gathers is being treated for minimal change disease, a kidney ailment that has limited his strength, conditioning and stamina.
“Greg has decided at this point to not play Saturday, and he is looking at applying for a medical hardship for this year because of his situation,” said Gailey after Thursday’s practice.
Gailey said that Gathers came to that decision Thursday afternoon.
“He was at a crossroads in terms of having to make a decision in order to be able to apply for the medical hardship,” said Gailey.
“I think everybody could see that he was trying, but as he continued to play, he was getting weaker, not stronger. He was trying to fight through it, but it was just too much.”
Gathers, a fourth-year senior from LaPlace, La., is a two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a second-team all-America who is Tech’s career leader in sacks (31) and tackles for loss (57).
Gailey said that Gathers’ position at defensive end would likely be filled by senior Fred Wright (Immokalee, Fla.) and redshirt freshman Eric Henderson (New Orleans, La.)
“We’ll have to rotate people in and play end-by-committee for right now,” said Gailey.
