Football: Barr’s injury hasn’t hurt his recruiting

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Anthony Barr’s season-ending ankle injury isn’t going to prevent the standout Loyola running back from playing major college football.

Lori Barr, Anthony’s mother and the principal at St. Paul High, said her son has received assurances from USC Coach Pete Carroll and coaches at UCLA and Notre Dame that his scholarship offers are intact.

‘They all extended their well wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery and said whether you can play tomorrow or two years from now, the scholarship is yours,’ Lori Barr said. ‘I think that set his mind at ease a little bit.’

Lori Barr said her son is still considering USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Michigan and California. He is scheduled to visit Notre Dame--his father’s alma mater--in early October.

Barr’s injury is not considered career-threatening, Lori Barr said. The doctor who performed surgery on her son’s broken ankle was a renowned specialist who had also operated on President Ronald Reagan and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and told the family that Anthony should be ‘200%.’ In fact, there’s a chance Barr could be cleared to play again if Loyola makes the playoffs, but Lori Barr said she and her son probably would not risk a return in 2009.

Lori Barr described her son as ‘incredibly disappointed’ about his injury. Barr has been resting at home since undergoing surgery Sunday and is scheduled to return to school Thursday.

‘He’s worked so hard for this and this was really his moment to shine and it’s hard for a 17-year-old to wrap his head around why things like this happen,’ Lori Barr said.

--Ben Bolch