Subscriber Services |

Rutgers' LeGrand attends Sixers game

Eric LeGrand (left) is presented with a 76ers jersey by team official Michael Preston. (MARC NARDUCCI / Staff)

By Marc Narducci, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: May 18, 2012

Eric LeGrand went home from Wednesday's 76ers-Celtics game with some great memories and a new jersey.

LeGrand, a football player for Rutgers who was paralyzed in a 2010 game, attended the game at the Wells Fargo Center as the guest of the 76ers. He was presented a jersey with his No. 52 on it by Sixers director of public relations Michael Preston.

"This is great," LeGrand said during halftime.

He said that he has been a longtime fan of Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, but that he had no rooting interest.

"I'm just enjoying NBA basketball," he said.

He recently signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are guided by LeGrand's former Rutgers coach, Greg Schiano.

The signing of LeGrand was a symbolic gesture by Schiano, because this would have been the year LeGrand would have been eligible for the NFL draft.

"Signing with Tampa Bay was a dream come true," LeGrand said. "This would have been my draft year, and I really appreciated it."

LeGrand let his more than 60,000 Twitter followers (@ericlegrand52) know that he was attending the Sixers game.

He is an analyst for Rutgers football games and also is beginning a career as a motivational speaker. Anybody who spends time with him would truly be motivated.

"I am doing really well," he said. "The doctors are starting to see muscle activity below the level of injury and I will also keep a positive attitude about things."

Contact Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225, mnarducci@phillynews.com,

or on Twitter @sjnard.