Linebacker Aaron Adams is part of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s crutches crew. He, running back Bryan Fitzgerald and defensive tackle Nick Craig are all on crutches right now for various reasons.

Adams and Craig have foot injuries — Craig will be out at least until next week and Adams could be out as many as four weeks — and Fitzgerald is recovering from knee surgery and is out for the year.

The three were on the sideline near the end of Thursday’s practice at Finley Stadium, after doing rehab work in the locker room, and Adams, an Energizer Bunny-type who isn’t prone to sitting still, decided to show off his skills on the aluminum crutches.

He did some spins and what looked like dance moves for a while before walking only on the crutches — neither his healthy right foot nor his booted left foot touched the ground — as far as he could.

It was a pretty impressive display of both balance and upper-body strength, which wasn’t a surprise since Adams is one of the strongest guys on the team.

Everyone looking on was getting a kick out of it, including head trainer Todd Bullard, who challenged Adams to walk on the crutches from where they were standing to the nearest water cooler, a distance of about 20 yards. Adams eagerly accepted and after one false start set off at a fast pace.

He was going well for the first 15 yards or so, but right before he reached the cooler, his left crutch caved under the pressure. Instead of looking like a lowercase “l,” it bent under the weight of Adams’ 225 pounds and suddenly looked like a lowercase “j.”

The crowd of about 20 people watching immediately broke out laughing hysterically. Sports anchor Rick Nyman of WDEF 12 was there but didn’t have his camera rolling — unfortunately, because it was a moment that deserved to be on YouTube.

A few minutes later Adams tried to straighten out the crutch by bending it the other way, but that only resulted in the thing breaking in half, which drew another round of laughter.

One of those enjoying the show was wide receiver Blue Cooper, who is out with a torn ligament in his left elbow. Cooper will miss Saturday’s game but hopes he’ll be back in time for next week’s Southern Conference opener at Furman.

Cooper has been fitted for an elbow brace, similar to the one he wore two years ago when he suffered the same injury. It should arrive early next week, Bullard said.

For more Mocs coverage, see Friday’s Times Free Press.

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Five questions with tight end Todd Pitman, a 6-foot-4, 256-pound junior from Marietta, Ga.:

1. What’s been the best moment of your athletic career?

I think the most exciting moment was when we beat Georgia Southern here two years ago. That was a big game and a big win.

2. If you could sit down to any meal, what would it be?

Fried chicken — I’m all about fried chicken, mashed potatoes and Coke. I love a good Coke.

3. What living person would you most like to meet?

George Bush. He’s a big-time guy. If you’re the president of the United States, you’re a pretty important guy, so I’d like to meet him.

4. What movie can you watch over and over again without getting tired of it?

I can watch “Slingblade” and “Anchorman” over and over again. That voice (Billy Bob Thornton’s in “Slingblade”) just kills me, I love it.

5. What sports team has the best uniforms?

I like Notre Dame’s uniforms. I don’t know why, I just do, and I’m a big Tennessee guy, so I love that orange and white.

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