USF Kicker To Recover After Plunge From 35 Feet

Sports Betting News - July 21st, 2009 - Written by Jimmy

Though very scary at first, things should end well for University of South Florida kicker Maikon Bonani, after he dropped 35 feet, from a ride at Busch Gardens, on Saturday. After injuring his T12 vertebra, an injury which is non life threatening, Bonani is expected to make a full recovery, all though the 20 year old sophomore is still in much pain.

"He's fine. The main thing here is that he didn't die," USF Head Coach Jim Leavitt told the St. Petersburg Times. "He isn't paralyzed. The most important thing is his health."

While working his last day at Busch Gardens, as a Gondola operator, Bonani injured himself, in an attempt to make sure passengers on the Skyride were safe. Fearing that the door may not have locked on the Gondola, Bonani sprang to make sure the door was shut, but held on to the door, as the ride left the platform. Sources say Bonani hung on to the ride for a brief time then let go over a landscaped area which was 35 feet below him.

As for Bonani's football career, things will have to be on hold. It is expected that Bonani can redshirt his sophomore year, and then return in 2010. Bonani won the job last year, and finished the season with a 15 for 21 mark on field goal attempts. Should Bonani face a long recovery, it is most likely that Senior punter Delbert Alvarado would resume place kicking duties, a job which he lost to Bonani, in the second game of the 2008 season.