Howard Schnellenberger’s hip was was hurting, so much that he had to abandon his team.

“Coach was uncomfortable from being confined and sitting in the bus,” said Katrina McCormack, media relations director for football.  “His orthopedic surgeon was with him and felt like, because of the confinement and coach’s discomfort, he would feel better if they took him for x-rays just to make sure nothing had moved.”

With his team traveling to Gainesville for Saturday’s first football game of the season versus the University of Florida, head coach Howard Schnellenberger had to leave the team bus. He had replacement surgery on his right hip on Aug. 12. He was taken by ambulance to get x-rays.

McCormack noted that Schnellenberger’s family was following the buses and after the x-rays Schnellenberger joined them. He’s now in the process of making his way to Gainesville.

“He’ll rejoin the team tonight, he’s fine,” said McCormack. “It was just for precautionary [reasons] from the hip replacement surgery.”