Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Spirit of ‘Shalieve’
Plantation High standout and Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier stirs support as he battles spinal injury
“To see the love that the city of Pittsburgh has for that kid, words can’t even describe it.” Steve Davis, Ryan Shazier’s coach at Plantation High
The hit that stopped Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier in his tracks and clouded his future in uncertainty resonated from Pittsburgh to South Florida.
Aside from immediate family, no one has felt the impact of the serious spinal injury suffered earlier this month by the talented Pro Bowl player more than Steve Davis. The Plantation High coach is, well, as close to family as one can get.
Shazier was not only a prep standout for him with the Colonels, Davis recalls him as a ball boy when he coached Blanche Ely High to the Class 5A state championship in 2002. The little boy’s father, Vernon Shazier, was defensive coordinator for that team and one of Davis’ closest friends since they were high school teammates at Boyd Anderson.
So it has been heart-wrenching for Davis to see a young man and player who always moved with lightning quickness immobilized after spinal stabilization surgery.
“I’ve actually known Ryan since he was a toddler. So he’s not just like a former player to me, he’s almost like a second son to me also,” Davis said this week. “So it really kind of hit me hard. There were a couple of dark days that I had when it first happened.”
Shazier was injured in the opening minutes of a Dec. 4 game at Cincinnati while attempting to tackle Bengals receiver Josh Malone. The crown of his helmet drove into Malone’s hip area, and he remained on the ground clutching at his lower back.
He was transported to the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center two days later and underwent surgery. Official information about his condition has been limited to a statement by the medical center that Shazier has begun physical rehabilitation as part of the recovery process.
“Right now he’s progressing every day and it’s going to be a slow recovery,” Davis said, “but he is showing a lot of progress.”
Amid those dark days following the injury, Davis traveled to Pittsburgh and was in Shazier’s hospital room when he celebrated the Steelers’ AFC Northclinching victory over the Baltimore Ravens with his teammates via FaceTime. About 20 family members and friends were crowded around the hospital bed during the emotional exchange.
“When I went to Pittsburgh right after it happened and spent a few days with him I felt like Ryan was trying to comfort everybody else and tell everybody it was going to be OK and ‘I’m going to get through this.’ So I felt really good about his spirits and how he was going to bounce back from this injury,” Davis said.
Within 24 hours of the incident, Shazier tweeted: “Thank you for the prayers. Your support is uplifting to me and my family. #SHALIEVE”
Shalieve has become a rallying cry of hope for the Steelers, and it is likely to gain widespread attention if they advance in the playoffs. Numerous Steelers have been wearing colorful cleats bearing the term and Shazier’s likeness the past couple weeks.
If love is the foundation of hope, Shazier has a solid base for his recovery. The outpouring of support has been pervasive in Pittsburgh. There is an oversized get-well card on display in an information center in the city that will continue to gather signatures through Jan. 5.
Shazier made a surprise appearance at Heinz Field for Sunday’s game against the Patriots, and the biggest roar from the home crowd came when he was shown on the scoreboard waving a Terrible Towel from the owner’s box. Even New England quarterback Tom Brady looked up to see what they were reacting to.
Shazier weighed in with an explicit tweet about the controversial call that negated a would-be gamewinning touchdown catch by Steelers tight end Jesse James.
“To see the love that the city of Pittsburgh has for that kid, words can’t even describe it, just the outpouring of support that he has up there,” Davis said.
Understandable in a football-loving town that reveres its team. Shazier has had a significant impact on the Steelers defense since they drafted him in the first round in 2014. He was having a breakout season, recognized this week with his first Pro Bowl selection (he was an injury replacement last year).
At the time of the injury, the Steelers were allowing 5.17 yards per play with Shazier on the field, and 6.02 yards per play with him off the field, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
It’s a similar gamechanging impact Shazier had for Plantation and later Ohio State.
“He was always one that would cause a fumble. We played him on special teams. He even blocked some punts for us,” Davis said. “You were always waiting through the game for him to make those two or three impact plays.
“He was as fast as all running backs and receivers, and we had him playing defensive end and linebacker for us.”
Shazier was always wiry with exceptional speed, and he showed aptitude for the highest level when he ran a stunning (for a linebacker) 4.3 in the 40 at his pro day.
During his recent visit to Pittsburgh, Davis learned that Shazier was best known for his work ethic, regularly arriving at the Steelers complex hours before most teammates to watch film and early workout.
The prognosis for Shazier’s chances of continuing to play the sport he loves is not publicly known. For now, the young man known for moving so fast for Plantation — and as a ball boy for Ely — is aiming for slow, steady progress in the spirit of #shalieve.
His parents have taken time off to aid his recovery in Pittsburgh, and friends and former teammates in South Florida have been asking about him and sending best wishes.
“I just want [the injury] to not impact his life. He’s got a fiancée, and I know they want to start a family. So that’s really my main concern and probably [of ] his parents and everybody just to get him back to where he can be just a normal person,” Davis said.
“Just keep him in your prayers because he a special young man, not even just a football player. He really is a special kid.”