If former Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke wasn't already a legend at Indiana, if not the college football world, he is now. It has been reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that Rourke is set to undergo ACL revision surgery next Wednesday to repair his ACL that he reportedly re-tore not recently, but back in August 2024.
You read that right, 2024, meaning that Rourke played with a torn ACL for the entire 2024 season and didn't even miss a game because of it. He missed more games because of a thumb injury that he did with a torn ACL.
Rourke was a big reason for Indiana's magical 2024 season and now with this new information, fans are ready to build statues for the sixth-year senior outside Memorial Stadium.
Kurtis Rourke led Indiana to a much deserved College Football Playoff bid on a TORN ACL??!! https://t.co/92G3y5kfTP
β Tanner Haworth (@TannerHaworth) January 3, 2025
We all had the same reaction, complete and total shock.
I remember being shocked that Elijah Sindelar played in a bowl game with a torn ACL in 2017 but Kurtis Rourke made it an entire season? That's wild.
β Dustin Schutte (@SchutteDustin) January 3, 2025
A torn ACL is no joke and this just proves the toughness of Rourke and the mindset that he had playing this season.
Kurtis Rourke is forever an Indiana legend! The legend grows daily. Gonna miss him and everything he did for the program in one season. Gonna be big at the next level too!
β Forever a Hoosier (@N3V3RDAUNT3D) January 3, 2025
But fair to wonder what happens if he was 100% ππ#iufb #Hoosiers
No one is better, and a lot of people will stand behind that. It is fair to wonder how different the season would have been if he had been healthy because this clearly hindered his mobility.
Kurtis Rourke will forever be on Indiana Mount Rushmore.
β μμ΄μ (@hoosiercommish) January 3, 2025
Really impressed with the staff for not having this leak at all.
This should also have us even more excited for Mendoza and the future considering what Rourke did with limited mobility and a broken thumb. Letβs ride. https://t.co/VVebihQekc
It is crazy that this never came out before now, especially with Indiana losing before Christmas, just speaks volumes to Curt Cignetti and his staff.
If he didnt have it before, Kurtis Rourke has now earned legendary status in Bloomington for having the year he had playing with a re-torn ACL #NeverDaunted
β Ashley (@aaoneil84) January 3, 2025
Rourke already had legendary status for coming to Indiana for one season and helping pull off a complete turnaround for this program. This information just adds to his legendary status in Bloomington and all of college football.
Kurtis Rourke played the whole season with a Torn ACL and the second half of the season without being able to grip the ball with his throwing hand thumb, and led us to an 11-1 season. Build the statue. #IUFB
β Hoosiers Fanbase (@hoosiersfanbase) January 3, 2025
The plans better be drawn up as we speak.
Kurtis Rourke deserves a statue outside of Memorial Stadium. Hoosiers Legend. #NeverDaunted
β Hunter Smith (@huntersmith_) January 3, 2025
If there isn't a Kurtis Rourke statue outside Memorial Stadiums, there will be riots.
Toughness is scared of Kurtis Rourke. Sheesh. https://t.co/NsCTdMFwqd
β Carlo Barone (@CarloBaroneTV) January 3, 2025
Very true statement, Rourke will forever not just be a legend at Indiana, but a college football lesson for accomplishing all he did with this injury that no one knew about.