The XFL is trying to build something special. The reboot football league is getting creative and wants to the fill the void for fans during an empty spring. However, that doesn't mean injuries won't happen, even to coaches on the sideline.
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That's unfortunately what took place during the second quarter of the matchup between the Dallas Renegades and Houston Roughnecks in Arlington, Texas. As Houston running back Cameron Artis-Payne was forced out of bounds, he ran into Renegades offensive coordinator Hal Mumme.
As a result, the 67-year-old Mumme — a former Kentucky head coach and one of the founders of the Air-Raid offense — suffered a broken leg, but still coached the rest of the game.
Renegades OC Hal Mumme's Broken Leg
The @XFLRenegades confirm that OC Hal Mumme broke his leg last night on this collision with Cameron Artis-Payne. That means he spent 2.5 quarters calling plays from the sideline with the injury. @SportsDayDFW pic.twitter.com/S3mg0NgxFh
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) March 3, 2020
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The sideline collision had to hurt. In fact, getting ran over by a 210-pound running back, who played college football at Auburn, would never feel good. Mumme is one tough dude, though, and coaching the rest of the XFL game with a broken leg is proof of that.
Although Mumme won't be pacing the sidelines anytime soon, he still plans on coaching and will do so from the safety of the press box against the New York Guardians.
How’s this for Texas tough? Offensive coordinator Hal Mumme suffered a broken leg in a sideline collision in the second quarter, and still finished calling the game.
He’ll be coaching from the booth this Saturday vs. NY. #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/U4kf301UZM
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) March 2, 2020
Sadly, Mumme wasn't the only person injured in Sunday's loss. Renegades quarterback Landry Jones aggravated a left knee injury and is expected to miss at least two weeks.
The Renegades will likely turn to quarterback Philip Nelson, who started in the season opener for Jones, against the Guardians and DC Defenders, and potentially the Tampa Bay Vipers.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the sport, and it's even more unfortunate when it involves a coordinator and the team's starting quarterback.
Thankfully, it sounds like both Mumme and Jones will make a full recovery.
