Back troubles derail Roger Heinz

Posted Apr 7, 2006

Disc degeneration, a common disorder of the lower spine, is a normal part of aging. It will affect most people and is generally not a problem by itself. Roger Heinz wishes his prognosis was as simple. There are days when Heinz, a junior at North Carolina, suffers from severe back and leg pain, has difficulty standing or walking and experiences weakness or numbness in his legs while sitting in class due to rapid disc degeneration. "I am 21 with the lower back of a 70-year-old," Heinz said. (Tallahassee Democrat)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

Video: IC Podcast - Blown Chances Sink UNC Football vs. Louisville
Buck Sanders, Jason Staples, and Tommy Ashley from Inside Carolina break down UNC Football's 16-14 loss to Louisville in Kenan Stadium on Saturday night. The...
Sun Nov 15, 2026

UNC Football Offensive and Defensive Snap Counts vs. Louisville
Snap counts provide a closer look at how UNC distributed playing time, particularly following an injury to starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. that forced Travis...
Sun Nov 15, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Heartbreak For UNC Football vs. Louisville
UNC Football falls to Louisville 16-14 in a frustrating loss filled with missed opportunities. The Tar Heels had multiple chances deep in Louisville territory but...
Sun Nov 15, 2026

North Carolina vs. Louisville Postgame Notes
This is the Tar Heels’ 100th season in Kenan Stadium. Louisville defeated UNC, 16-14, Saturday evening in Chapel Hill. With the loss, Carolina drops to...
Sun Nov 15, 2026