HEALING, HELPING HANDS UCLA'S CARTER, HARRISON WORK WAY THROUGH SERIOUS INJURIES TOGETHER.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The play was wing right, 18 zone. At least that's the way UCLA tight end Keith Carter heard it, but he wasn't totally sure. The run netted the Bruins three yards.

To nearly everyone, it was a barely noticed moment during the third quarter of Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State. To Carter, it was the first of five plays against the Cowboys and marked his return from a 17-month ordeal that once threatened much more than his playing career.

``It was probably the best five plays of my life,'' Carter said. ``I've been waiting for it for so long. When I was feeling good, and out there and really able to go after it, it was great. It was really cool.''

But even as Carter reveled in his return, he said he tempered his giddiness on the sideline so one of his best friends, tailback Jason Harrison, didn't think he was ``rubbing it in his face.''

Harrison and Carter formed a bond neither first wanted but now cherish. They were each other's motivation and inspiration. Sometimes, they used each other's shoulder to cry on during a grueling rehabilitation program that held no promise either would again walk without a limp, let alone play football again.

Carter dislocated and fractured his right hip in a motorcycle accident April 3, 2003. He rammed into the back of a car on the southbound Interstate-405 after a spring practice.

Harrison blew out his right knee during a hit against Washington State in the 2002 regular-season finale. He tore two ligaments in his knee, including the anterior cruciate, had a piece of his quadriceps tear from the bone and also damaged the joint capsule of the knee. Harrison is cleared to play, but he wasn't used in the opener.

The odds against Harrison and Carter coming back were overwhelming, but both say they could not have done it without the other. They went through pool work, weight-lifting sessions in small doses, massages and stimulation treatments and icing.

While sitting with UCLA trainer Debbie Iwasaki to clear the detailed release of their rehab programs, both were taken aback by how much they had gone through, and how much they meant to each other.

``We're always side by side, telling each other 'Good job,' and stuff like that,'' Carter said. ``We're trying to look at each other and smile every time we see each other doing stuff. It's tough that we had to do it, but it's been great having somebody else there going through (a similar) experience.''

Harrison's hit

Harrison's ordeal began Dec. 7, 2002. He was hit returning a kick against Washington State. It immediately became clear this was no normal knee injury.

Before Harrison could have his anterior cruciate ligament repaired, he underwent surgery to reattach the muscle ripped from the bone, to fix the joint capsule, and repair the lateral collateral ligament. That was mid- December, but his knee wasn't stable enough for the ACL surgery until Jan. 30, 2003.

Doctors used the middle third of his patellar tendon to repair the ACL, but the severity of the injuries brought on several problems.

Harrison spent four months on crutches. The inactivity caused severe atrophy in his thigh and calf muscles. That required Harrison to wear a custom-made brace, because the injury kept his regular brace from fitting correctly.

Once the painstakingly slow process of walking and jogging was complete, other injuries surfaced. Harrison was cleared to run by August 2003, but he quickly developed tendinitis in his knee, as well as shin splints.

``If you think about it, because he had one-third smaller patella tendon, the muscles were pulling on less tendon,'' Iwasaki said. ``It's really common.''

By mid-October, Harrison was cleared for full participation in practice, but his calf muscle remained noticeably smaller. He lacked explosiveness in his step. He limped and required a bulky brace.

Carter's accident

Meanwhile, Carter battled for his life before confronting his potential career-ending injury. A week after the motorcycle accident, Carter underwent surgery to repair his hip.

He needed special care because of the severity of the injury, which brought another dilemma. Carter is from Downingtown, Pa., and knew few people in Los Angeles. So he spent 10 days living in a guest room at the house of John Sciarra, Jr., a UCLA quarterback at the time, in La Canada. And Sciarra's family looked after Carter.

``They didn't know if he was going to be able to walk without a prothesis,'' said John Sciarra Sr., also a former UCLA quarterback. ``They didn't know if he was going to be able to walk without a limp. He had to get injections to keep the blood from clotting. He'd say, 'It's OK, Mr. Sciarra, I'll give myself a shot. You don't have to do it.' ''

It was another month before Carter could toss his crutches and walk on his own.

Iwasaki, UCLA's trainer who worked closely with both players, said the key to Carter's recovery was preventing avascular necrosis, or the decaying of the joint. For five months all was well, but by mid-October, he was having difficulties.

Avascular necrosis set in, and Carter underwent a second hip surgery Nov. 7. A hole of about 9 millimeters was drilled from the outside of the hip to head of the hip. UCLA team physician Dr. Gerald Finerman said it was to stimulate blood flow and promote healing.

``There was both hard-tissue and soft-tissue damage that occurred,'' Finerman said. ``It is remarkable he was able to come back and play.''

Carter spent the next month on crutches, then began another rehabilitation process that was equally draining on his body and mind. He wasn't cleared to jog for six months.

``You keep telling yourself it's going to happen, but everyday is a question mark'' because the steps were so small, and often slow to come. He admitted being cleared to walk the stairs at UCLA's Drake Stadium was cause for celebration.

But the big moment came June 29. A CT scan to check for necrosis was negative, and Carter was told he should be able to play in the upcoming season.

On Aug. 10, as UCLA began training camp, Carter was cleared for limited action, but with an individual program established. He would not practice on consecutive days and hitting would be at a minimum.

What now?

Carter said he thinks about the motorcycle accident ``at least 10 times a day. You never figure it out, but you ask yourself, 'What the hell?' You just want to take it back.'' But he added he will continue to ride.

Carter also has problems with his SI ligament, which connects from the hip to the pelvis. It often needs to be manipulated for him to practice.

``Whenever his SI is off, he has a lot more groin pain, muscle tightness, back pain,'' Iwasaki said. ``He has good days, but there are other days, too.''

Finerman said Carter likely will never regain the full range of motion in his hip. It is uncertain how the hip will hold up to the pounding of playing a full season, even if his time on the field is restricted. Finerman added that Carter, a blue-chip prospect in high school, probably will not play in the NFL. Now, 21 months after his injury, Harrison is fourth on the depth chart at tailback in a talented backfield.

During an examination June 9, he was told his knee was stable and he no longer needed to wear a knee brace. He is awaiting his on-field return, and UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said he is looking for a spot to use Harrison.

``When I get that first carry in the game, I'm going to be so excited,'' Harrison said. ``The toughest part was wondering if I'm going to be able to play again, wondering if I'm going to have to stop playing football, how strong is my knee. Getting hit in practice is not good enough. That's why that first game is very important.''

When it happens, Harrison and Carter will be able to share an unabashed embrace.

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) UCLA football players Jason Harrison and Keith Carter have helped each other get through severe injuries this past year.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

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UCLA at ILLINOIS