Bacarri Rambo: ‘It’s like . . . I was deaf, paralyzed and blind’
ATHENS – Sidelined since a scary collision that knocked him unconscious late in a Nov. 14 victory over Auburn, Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo finally returned to full-contact practice the past two days.
He still doesn’t remember the play that brought a hush to Sanford Stadium, still doesn’t remember being carted off the field, still doesn’t remember the ambulance ride to the hospital.
“It’s like when I was down on the field I was deaf, paralyzed and blind,” Rambo said Thursday.
Teammates and trainers have told him that he spoke to them before being removed from the field and that he inquired about the score of the game in the ambulance, but the first thing he recalls is coming out of a late-night CAT scan at St. Mary’s Hospital.
“That’s when I really came back to myself,” he said.
He repeatedly has watched video of his jarring hit on Auburn’s Mario Fannin, trying unsuccessfully to stir the memory.
“I look at it and I’m, like, ‘I still don’t remember that play.’ I’m, like, ‘What happened?’” Rambo said. “It’s just crazy, really.”
He said he recalls everything that happened in the game before the fateful play on which he broke up what might have been a game-tying touchdown pass.
Extensive tests revealed that Rambo suffered a concussion but no other injuries. He said headaches, which he experienced for two-plus weeks, have gone away. Just this week, he was cleared for full contact.
Pleased with his practice-field performance Wednesday and Thursday, he expressed confidence he’ll play in the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl against Texas A&M.
“At first, I was kind of scared of contact because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Rambo said. “But after these two days of practice I’m making contact and not having any problems with my head, so I [am] very comfortable getting back to the feeling of playing and the speed of the game.”
Although he doesn’t remember the Sanford Stadium crowd chanting his name as he was carted off the field on Nov. 14, he does recall and appreciate the concern of Bulldog Nation the next day.
“That Sunday morning when I woke up, I looked at my phone and I had probably 150 [Facebook] friend requests, 50 [e-mail messages] in my inbox, 30 or 40 missed calls,” he said. “Everybody was trying to see how I was doing. They were praying for me and stuff, and I was just thankful for all that.”
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91 comments Add your comment
brucemac
December 17th, 2009
3:39 pm
Great player, great heart. I wish they all had this man’s guts and tenacity. God Bless you Mr. Rambo and we all are hoping you never revisit that Concussion thing again.
dvj
December 17th, 2009
3:42 pm
http://dawgsvsjackets.blogspot.com/
flagboy's #1 fan
December 17th, 2009
3:43 pm
I bleed red and I make love to bulldogs just to prove how much I love this team!!! My flaming homosexuality does not discourage me in the least from framing pictures of the UGA football “team” on my walls and sending them goodies that they think are from women!!!
UGAgrad
December 17th, 2009
3:45 pm
Thank you AJC for this great follow-up story.
Rambo – we love all of our Dawgs but you have a special place in the hearts of the Bulldawg Nation now. Looking forward to seeing you on the field in the bowl game and next year. Get ready for a lot more Rambo chants at Sanford – which you will actually hear and remember!
Colonel Trautman
December 17th, 2009
3:55 pm
You’re talking about a man who’s the best…..with guns, knives, with his bare hands. A man that’s trained to ignore pain…Ignore the weather. To live off the land…..to eat things that would make a billy-goat puke. In Vietnam, his job was to kill….Period!!
alldawgsgotohell
December 17th, 2009
4:00 pm
SHREVEPORT!!!! SHREVEPORT!!!! SHREVEPORT!!!!
SHREVEPORT!!!! SHREVEPORT!!!! SHREVEPORT!!!!
SING IT WITH ME!! OOO, TO SHREVEPORT WE GO!! TO SHREVEPORT WE GO!!! HI HO A CRAPPY BOWL TO SHREVEPORT WE GO!!!!
brucemac
December 17th, 2009
4:10 pm
Thank you for all the good wishes “alldawgsgotohell”. You are quite a class act, we wish you good luck in your BCS bowl.
alldawgsgotohell
December 17th, 2009
4:25 pm
really, really.
southga
December 17th, 2009
4:25 pm
Sesame G is finer than Bradley G and Bryan G!!!!!!!!!!!!
30-24!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny DangerDawg
December 17th, 2009
4:43 pm
Bacarri, you’re the man. We’re all so glad you’re healthy again. And so happy you’re in a Bulldog uniform. Have fun dominating in Shreveport!
bulldog72
December 17th, 2009
4:53 pm
where were all you yeck fan when we were going to major bowls over the last 4 years, oh yea you went to Bosie and played on the blue turf, you have lost 4 bowls to small schools in a row. You people are so jellious of UGA and it domanation of Yeck.
Dogbyte
December 17th, 2009
4:56 pm
ATL D used to call himself Saint Simons. 30 -24 HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa
oakhurstdawg
December 17th, 2009
5:04 pm
Bacarri,
If you’re reading through this…man, you won that game for the Dawgs. And that was a big game to make a play like that…people will be talking about that for years.
We’re all glad you’re back up and hitting again. Contrats on an exciting freshman year!
shane#1
December 17th, 2009
5:20 pm
I am glad that Rambo is {almost} back to full speed. He and Jones could be a pair of search and destroy DBs that UGA has missed since the days of Thomas Davis and Greg Blue. I hope the new DC will use Rambo in an aggressive way. I also hope Jones stays for one more year.
VolinSuwanee
December 17th, 2009
5:30 pm
GREAT to here you are back on the field. Football is a violent sport played by MEN! As an almost 50 year old man the game is much more violent than in my playing days and seems to have outpaced the equipment but then again many years ago they never wore helmets. Best of luck in your recovery and next year (except for one Saturday).
VolinSuwanee
December 17th, 2009
5:35 pm
flagboy’s #1 fan, that is one weird comment. I have no idea if you are serious or not but if you are is there a NCAA violation in players receiving gifts?
FL Dawg
December 17th, 2009
5:36 pm
Classy post by VolinSuwanee. Welcome back Rambo. Take care of yourself and lets get ready for some football. Glad you are O.K. and look forward to seeing you on the field again.
red helmets please!
December 17th, 2009
5:58 pm
Best hit all year long. It showed alot of heart. That hit saved the game…..I am so glad your doing better.. Wide recievers look out. he is back. go rambo
red helmets please!
December 17th, 2009
6:07 pm
I HONESTLY BELIEVE WM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT HIT.
Georgia Sux
December 17th, 2009
6:55 pm
How I remember how some of you posters here cheer and made crude remarks about the Tebow kid getting ko.Stay classy ball lickers.
UGADAWG
December 17th, 2009
7:13 pm
First off, the Tech fans on this page talking trash need to take their sorry a@@es on somewhere. This is a great story about a man who made a great play while sacrificing himself. Second, this is the first major bowl Tech has been in since like the 60s. If y’all get one just every 45 years or so, then that is fine by me. We run this state, and just because y’all have a good bowl showing nearly half century doesnt mean sh@@. Oh, and do you really want to talk about All-Americans? The freaking heisman is named after y’all coach and you cant even manage to get one.
30-24!
fan
December 17th, 2009
8:11 pm
30-24
fan
December 17th, 2009
8:12 pm
hey tech fans, dog our bowl all you want because the scoreboard still reads 30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glenn
December 17th, 2009
8:20 pm
Why is it that people these days cannot understand the difference between using the word “your” and “you’re”? “Your” is possessive; “you’re” is a contraction for “you are”. Pay attention in school and learn proper grammar before you type something!!! Typing “I’m glad your ok” is incorrect grammar!!
glad he's ok
December 17th, 2009
8:26 pm
Thanks for the update. We are so glad that Rambo is doing well. Give the other drivel a rest, this article was about Rambo. Leave the other crap out of it.
Yogi
December 17th, 2009
8:38 pm
Glad to hear ya back at full strength Goo. We’re all behind ya back in Seminole County.
dawglover
December 17th, 2009
8:46 pm
Rambo, Rambo, Rambo…so glad you are on the mend! Continued prayers from the Dawgnation for your FULL recovery…can’t wait to see you in Sanford Stadium next year!!! HBTD!
Iwasthere
December 17th, 2009
8:57 pm
Rambo, I’m an Auburn fan (who pulls for UGA every time they play anyone other than Auburn) who turned to my UGA colleagues when you were injured and declared that the game should be called at that point. Collectively the entire stadium was in prayer for you. As a mother, I have to comment that the worst nightmare we can experience is the pain and suffering of our children. I have been there, I have lost a child, I know.
However, if there are any UGA fans out there reading this please realize that there was a faction of UGA students in the end zone that were chanting, while Rambo was down, “F*** you Auburn!” over and over again. This group was very close to the Auburn band and student section, all of whom seemed to be too horrified to respond. I was sickened at this lack of class and actually believed that the rivalry between the two schools rose above this class-less-ness. Rambo, I believe that you could and would tell anyone…even those without class….that your injury was a result of what you risk in any given game against any given opponent.
Please, please, please admonish the student body that lowered themselves to a level that is not representative of the overall UGA student body.
Chaps
December 17th, 2009
8:58 pm
Best of luck to this courageous young man. I hope he is back at full strength next year to get beat by Tech in Athens.
Ben
December 17th, 2009
9:34 pm
Bacarri,
From the biggest Dawg fan in Kentucky, I’m thankful to get the update on
you’re health. We’ll keep praying for you. Merry Christmas and best
wishes for the IB on the 28th. You’re one of our rising stars!!!!!!!
Joe Coxs' shadow
December 17th, 2009
9:37 pm
Rambo you are the man…..i was there and if not for you we would have went to overtime……Go Dogs!!
BuLLdawg
December 17th, 2009
9:51 pm
Orange Bowl NOT SOLD OUT. Independence Bowl for UGA, is SOLD OUT.
1990 Georgia Tech did NOT play in any MAJOR BOWL game.
Georgia Tech has NOT even played in a MAJOR BOWL game in 43 years.
43 years.
And, you cannot sell out the Orange Bowl.
Pitiful Georgia Tech fans (both of you.)
Georgia Tech has played in 13 Consecutive Bowl Games, but Tech has LOST more than HALF THE GAMES, 7 losses, 5 wins.
5-7 last 13 bowl games for Georgia Tech.
1955 is the last time Georgia Tech WON A MAJOR BOWL GAME.
56 YEARS SINCE GEORGIA TECH WON A MAJOR BOWL GAME.
22-15-0 Georgia Tech All-Time in Bowl Games – MOSTLY CRUDDY BOWL GAMES.
25-16-3 UGA All-Time in Bowl Games.
UGA WON MAJOR BOWL JUST 2 YEARS AGO, SUGAR BOWL to end up Number 2 in the Final AP Poll.
UGA also in MAJOR BOWL just 4 years ago.
UGA ALSO WON ANOTHER MAJOR BOWL JUST 7 YEARS AGO.
UGA has been to EIGHT (8) MAJOR BOWL GAMES SINCE GEORGIA TECH LAST WAS IN A MAJOR BOWL GAME.
.602 Winning Percentage in Bowl Games for UGA.
.595 winning percentage in bowl games for Tech.
13th Bowl Game in a Row for both UGA and Georgia Tech.
5-7 Georgia Tech is 6-7 in these 13 consecutive bowl games.
10-2 UGA is 10-2 in these 13 Consecutive Bowl Games.
Don’t give me this crap that Georgia Tech is great in bowl games.
There is NO COMPARISON.
1990 ORANGE BOWL COLORADO BEAT NOTRE DAME. Georgia Tech was NOT EVEN INVITED.
Georgia Tech has NEVER BEEN RANKED NUMBER ONE (1) IN THE FINAL AP POLL.
Georgia Tech has had SEVEN (7) SEASONS IN WHICH GEORGIA TECH LOST EVERY GAME.
UGA HAS WON THE ORANGE BOWL MORE RECENTLY THAN GEORGIA TECH HAS.
Georgia Tech has played 6 games against teams NOT EVEN IN A BOWL GAME.
FAR AND AWAY THE STINKIEST SCHEDULE OF ANY TEAM IN AMERICA.
10 hours 668 miles to Shreveport Louisiana. I-20 West. UGA has been in The Independence Bowl 1 time and we Won 18 years ago. Georgia Tech has never been in The Independence Bowl.
Louisiana Boardwalk on the Red River known for its 5 Riverboat Casinos, films, Blues Music, and Classic Southern City Charm was the last stronghold of The South in the War of Northern Aggression. Sea level 40 to 60 degrees, and rain.
What would Georgia Tech fans (both of you) know about The Independence Bowl when Tech has never been there.
5-7 Bowl Record Georgia Tech last 13 bowl games in a row now.
10-2 Bowl Record UGA last 13 bowl games in a row now.
Even if Georgia Tech wins your bowl game this season, you will be 6-7 LOSING RECORD.
So quit all this B.S. about Tech being in a bowl game 12 years in a row before this year.
LOST 2008 Chick-fil-A 12/31/08 lost to LSU 3-38
LOST 2007 Humanitarian 12/31/07 lost to Fresno St 28-40
LOST 2006 Gator 1/1/07 lost to West Virginia 35-38
LOST 2005 Emerald 12/29/05 lost to Utah 10-38
-WON 2004 Champs Sports 12/21/04 beat Syracuse 51-14
-WON 2003 Humanitarian 1/3/04 beat Tulsa 52-10
LOST 2002 Silicon Valley 12/31/02 lost to Fresno St 21-30
-WON 2001 Seattle 12/27/01 beat Stanford 24-14
LOST 2000 Peach 12/29/00 lost to LSU 14-28
LOST 1999 Gator 1/1/00 lost to Miami-Florida 13-28
-WON 1998 Gator 1/1/99 beat Notre Dame 35-28
-WON 1997 Carquest 12/29/97 beat West Virginia 35-30
Georgia Tech has LOST 4 BOWL GAMES IN A ROW.
Georgia Tech has LOST 7 OF YOUR LAST 10 BOWL GAMES.
Shreveport pays $1.2 MILLION.
Humanitarian pays $750,000 only and you have been to it TWICE (2 TIMES) since Coach Richt starting kicking your butts, including again this season 30-24.
Houdawg
December 17th, 2009
10:30 pm
ATL D …… pretty much labeled yourself as the MASTER of Tech Idiots out here …….. congrats you stupid F%@% …..
Houdawg
December 17th, 2009
10:38 pm
Thanks BuLLdawg ……. love it ! As I told someone recently …… I never , ever , ever expect to lose to TECH , ANY YEAR ! No matter the records ….. it’s incredulous the arrogance of these idiot GT posters ….. they win a game once every 7 yrs & spew ” dynasty ” BS. Completely dillusional …….
Can ya imagine if they lose to IOWA ??!! C’Mon Hawkeyes !!!!
BuLLdawg
December 17th, 2009
11:25 pm
ATL D
December 17th, 2009
2:08 pm
“HAHAHAHAHA the only ALL AMERICAN UGA had was a punter…great job CMR on player development”
Excuse me ATL D, Georgia Tech has 1 guy ranked All-America is 2 All-America rankings who played his games on DEFENSE that COULD NOT STOP UGA 1 TIME and who otherwise looked great playing 6 teams not even in a bowl game. Against 5-Loss UGA, he got his brains beat in. Every play. All day long. And, before the game you bragged that UGA would PUNT the ball 20 times for 1,000 yards. Pardon me, we PUNTED NOT ONCE. But that punter averaged 6 yards per punt MORE than the guy YOU SAID was better than the ONLY CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA player in the State of Georgia.
Player development ?’
Coach Paul Johnson hired as his DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT little Joey Hamilton, who promotly took his 1st CPJ paycheck, bought drugs, got drunk, hit and run and found guilty of all 3. Perhaps that is why Tech in an 11-2 season, could not develop a high school offense OR DEFENSE or Special Team or DC or other coaches to beat a 5-Loss Team, and instead LOST 24-30.
Friday 18Dec Links « Leather Helmet Blog
December 18th, 2009
2:27 am
[...] Rambo back at practice [...]
AU
December 18th, 2009
1:14 pm
Glad to hear he’s OK. WAR EAGLE!
Dawg fan
December 18th, 2009
2:43 pm
@iwasthere: very sad and sorry to hear that those students were yelling profanity at Auburn. I expect better from UGA, but then again we all did some pretty immature and stupid things during college, yet there’s no excuse – ever – for that kind of behavior.
Glad to hear Rambo’s on the mend. Be safe…this is the scary thing…Once you get one concussion you are prone to them.
@Glenn: I agree. It’s scary to me that so many people considered literate do not know that you are equals you’re.
Dawg in Augusta
December 18th, 2009
3:28 pm
Tech fans are exactly like South Carolina fans. Every year, they will be national champions and turn out to be chumps. Dillusional fans are the norm at both schools. They win ONE game in 8 and they think they can chest beat, and claim superiority. If UGA was in the ACC, UGA would be the ACC champs this year…and most every other year for that matter. Tech is an afterthought in the entire State of Georgia. Their campus is home to some of the ugliest college-aged women in the nation, and their men coudn’t hook-up with the opposite sex in a monkey prison holding stalks of bananas. They make roadtrips to Athens to get mental material for their intimate evening activities with themselves.
The Other St. Simons
December 23rd, 2009
8:28 am
It seems as though some of you nerds are missing out on your daily dose of 30-24.
Please remember:
Our worst team in years beat your best.
Our horrible ex- Def. Coordinator owned your “Offensive Guru”.
Nobody cares about your team, including you, as evidenced by the time you spend commenting on our blogs.
UGA owns St. Simons. Come on down to Brogen’s this Saturday night and see.
Colonel Trautman
December 25th, 2009
12:22 pm
If you’re gonna send out 200 men for Rambo, you better have one other thing…….a good supply of body bags!