Prince injury throws shadow over final scrimmage

The final open practice of a fall camp that has been vocal and intense fell eerily quiet late on Thursday aftenroon. For about ten minutes, senior cornerback Munir Prince lay motionless on the field after being knocked unconscious by a block during punt return drills.

As an ambulance carried Prince to the hospital, a subdued Gary Pinkel updated reporters.

"Being precautionary. Hopefully he's going to be okay," Pinkel said. "We'll have to deal with that when he gets to the hospital. He got knocked out and hopefully he's going to be okay."

"He was moving," Kendial Lawrence said. "He's a strong player. He'll make it through. Just keep him in our prayers."

Medics removed Prince's facemask and moved him to a backboard, then on to a stretcher. Team spokesman Chad Moller said the team will release an update on Prince when they get one from the hospital.

At about 6:15, Moller released the following statement:

"Coach Pinkel called at about 6:10 p.m. from the hospital to report that Munir has feeling in all of his limbs, so that is obviously outstanding initial news. The medical team at University Hospital is still treating and assessing him, and when we get further reports I'll pass them along as appropriate."

At 8:29, Moller sent another update:

"University of Missouri senior cornerback Munir Prince, who was injured in Thursday's football scrimmage is resting comfortably in the Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital.

Team Physician Dr. Pat Smith indicated that Prince has gone through a battery of tests, and that he is doing well and resting comfortably after being diagnosed with transient quadriplegia, a temporary loss of sensation and movement in the upper and lower extremities.

"Munir's neurological status is improving and will continue to be monitored closely over several days," said Dr. Smith. "We believe at this time that his prognosis is favorable," Smith said."

As for the practice, Missouri's final fall scrimmage was overshadowed first by the news of Derrick Washington's suspension and then by the injury to Prince.

"We got a lot out of today," Pinkel said. "It just ended the wrong way."