For Koni Dole to make his way onto the Montana State football roster after having his right leg amputated was an achievement all its own, but the Bobcats' linebacker reached an even higher goal last week: He played in a game for the team.
"It was pretty emotional for me, coming up on three years since the amputation," Dole told the Billings Gazette. "I mean, I just never thought I'd be here, looking back."
Dole saw action late in Montana State's 45-14 win over Fort Lewis, and WIAT posted video of his performance:
In 2012, Dole was playing for Huntley Project High School when he suffered a compound fracture requiring six surgeries, according to the Gazette report. He eventually chose to amputate below the knee, but continued to play with a custom prosthetic.
Reportedly, the redshirt freshman is known as the "excuse eliminator" around the program.
That's appropriate, because he's obviously made none of his own.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
