Dec. 16, 1999

PROVO -- A second bout with kryptonite hasn't debilitated Superman just yet.

Brigham Young University's Luke "Superman" Staley, after re-aggravating a knee injury in practice last Friday during preparations for the team's Motor City Bowl matchup with No. 12 Marshall, received good news Monday.

According to BYU head trainer George Curtis, Staley suffered a "pivot shift" in the knee he initially injured against San Diego State on Nov. 6, which forced him to miss the Cougars' final two games of the regular season.

Staley is officially listed as day-to-day, leaving the possibility for his return for the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 27 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

Since Staley's injury, BYU coach LaVell Edwards has discussed on numerous occasions the freshman running back's importance to the Cougars' offensive cohesiveness.

The team's performance, particularly rushing the football, backs up Edwards' claims.

In the Cougars' final game vs. Utah, they rushed for 20 yards on 28 carries. They weren't much better against Wyoming one week earlier, rushing for 29 yards on 29 carries.

Staley, who was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and The Sporting News Freshman of the Year, scored 13 touchdowns in eight games.

He scored a touchdown in every game in which he played for the Cougars.

"We had a feeling these guys were going to be good football players, but we were pleased with how fast they came on," Edwards said about Staley and his backup, freshman Fahu Tahi.

Curtis said the results of Sunday's exam were encouraging, but it will take an additional three to four days in order to determine if Staley will be able to play in the Motor City Bowl. Curtis went on to say that Staley will be re-evaluated on Friday or Saturday.