HiCat
07-29-2005, 10:43 AM
Bell back after 'crazy' time
Cat returning to form after lung infection
By Charles Durrenberger
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
07.29.2005
Attention Pac-10 defenses: Arizona running back Mike Bell is alive and well.
Nearly back to full strength after a scary hospital stay last month, Bell has regained weight, strength and confidence with the start of fall training camp less than a week away.
"It's like my body is still recovering," said Bell, who spent a week at University Medical Center battling bacterial pneumonia in both lungs.
"It was crazy," Bell added prior to a recent 7-on-7 workout at the Jimenez Practice Facility on the UA campus.
Bell felt ill while driving home from campus June 9, nearly passing out at the wheel from what he thought at the time was a severe migraine.
Doctors finally diagnosed the problem, treating the infection with antibiotics and an inhaler.
Bell has bounced back ahead of schedule, catching swing passes out of the backfield and displaying the shifty moves familiar to Wildcat fans.
"Same ol' Mike," said a smiling UA safety Darrell Brooks.
The senior from Phoenix has put on 16 of the 20 pounds he dropped while bedridden.
"I can do the full weight workouts, but my recovery time is slower than the other guys," Bell explained. "I've been pushing myself because I don't want to give the trainers any reason to hold me out."
One thing all of Arizona's runners have focused on this summer is catching the ball out of the backfield.
Arizona has tweaked its offense to put backs into the pass pattern similar to what the Indianapolis Colts do with Edgerrin James and the Jets with Curtis Martin.
Bell had 19 catches last year to match his career total, and he is looking to cap his workmanlike Wildcat career with a bang.
The All-Pac-10 performer led the team with 950 yards and five touchdowns, bringing his three-year total to 2,211 rushing yards - eighth best in school history.
Bell is the incumbent starter with sophomore Chris Henry and senior Gilbert Harris nipping at his heels.
"Our medical staff told me to be careful, but I jumped back in there full speed a little earlier than they had planned," Bell said. "I didn't want to get out of shape.
"The big thing isn't the weight. I've got my strength back, and that's the main thing."
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/wildcats/86264.php
Cat returning to form after lung infection
By Charles Durrenberger
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
07.29.2005
Attention Pac-10 defenses: Arizona running back Mike Bell is alive and well.
Nearly back to full strength after a scary hospital stay last month, Bell has regained weight, strength and confidence with the start of fall training camp less than a week away.
"It's like my body is still recovering," said Bell, who spent a week at University Medical Center battling bacterial pneumonia in both lungs.
"It was crazy," Bell added prior to a recent 7-on-7 workout at the Jimenez Practice Facility on the UA campus.
Bell felt ill while driving home from campus June 9, nearly passing out at the wheel from what he thought at the time was a severe migraine.
Doctors finally diagnosed the problem, treating the infection with antibiotics and an inhaler.
Bell has bounced back ahead of schedule, catching swing passes out of the backfield and displaying the shifty moves familiar to Wildcat fans.
"Same ol' Mike," said a smiling UA safety Darrell Brooks.
The senior from Phoenix has put on 16 of the 20 pounds he dropped while bedridden.
"I can do the full weight workouts, but my recovery time is slower than the other guys," Bell explained. "I've been pushing myself because I don't want to give the trainers any reason to hold me out."
One thing all of Arizona's runners have focused on this summer is catching the ball out of the backfield.
Arizona has tweaked its offense to put backs into the pass pattern similar to what the Indianapolis Colts do with Edgerrin James and the Jets with Curtis Martin.
Bell had 19 catches last year to match his career total, and he is looking to cap his workmanlike Wildcat career with a bang.
The All-Pac-10 performer led the team with 950 yards and five touchdowns, bringing his three-year total to 2,211 rushing yards - eighth best in school history.
Bell is the incumbent starter with sophomore Chris Henry and senior Gilbert Harris nipping at his heels.
"Our medical staff told me to be careful, but I jumped back in there full speed a little earlier than they had planned," Bell said. "I didn't want to get out of shape.
"The big thing isn't the weight. I've got my strength back, and that's the main thing."
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/wildcats/86264.php