ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Bike riding and walking the family dog, Matt Bollig is out and about a month after suffering a critical spine injury.
There is no miracle. The Chanute native is a paraplegic as a result of the weightlifting accident he had during Ottawa University football team workouts July 18.
“No, there hasn’t been any change in my mobility but I’m moving forward. I’ve dealt with my situation with a positive attitude,” Bollig told the Register in a telephone interview from Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., Saturday.
“I can’t play football any more but I can still be involved in the game I love. I can still be in the field of study I was going into at college. I’m finishing college.”
Bollig was a Chanute High standout athlete. As a senior in 2009-2010, Bollig led the Blue Comets to the Southeast Kansas League title and a Class 4A district title. Chanute was 8-2 in the 2009 season.
He is the son of Valarie Bollig of Ottawa, Jim Bollig of Chanute and Doug Ligon of Iola. Bollig’s grandparents, Daryl and Janice Heslop, live in Neosho Falls.
Jacob Rhoads, a cousin, attends Iola High School and plays football for the Mustangs. Rhoads spent 10 days with Bollig recently in Colorado.
“I’m been here for him. We went riding on the handcycles and watching him work hard in his classes,” Rhoads said. “Matt is working hard learning how to transfer himself. We’ve been learning how to transfer him from place to place also.”
Bollig, a 6-2 quarterback, passed for over 2,000 yards with 13 touchdowns as a senior for Chanute. He rushed for more than 600 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bollig also played safety and punted for Chanute.
Bollig played in the 2010 Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football game. Then he reported to Fort Scott Community College.
As a freshman, Bollig played on the defensive side of the ball for the FSCC Greyhounds. Last year, he was the Greyhounds’ quarterback.
Bollig transferred to Ottawa University and signed a letter of intent to play football for the Braves this season. He was a quarterback.
“I’ve done the exercise many times,” Bollig said of his accident in the Braves’ weight room earlier this month. “This wasn’t the first time I did it and I just took a wrong step.”
Bollig said he was doing an exercise designed to strengthen his hamstrings, step-ups while lifting heavy weights. There were other OU players working out with him at the time of the accident.
Coaches and trainers called 911. Bollig was taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center where he under went immediate surgery.
