The horrifying weight room accident that crushed the neck and larynx of USC tailback Stafon Johnson earlier this week spurred concern among the Pac-10’s coaches.

Johnson was bench pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat on Monday morning. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was in surgery for some seven hours.
Oregon State coach Mike Riley called the incident both scary and sad.
“It makes everybody in the weight room revisit their procedures and we obviously will talk about ours just to make sure,” Riley said. “It’s an accident, but whatever you can do to help prevent it, you’ve got to look at it.”
One of Johnson’s doctors said he may not have survived if he did not have such a muscular physique. The senior’s USC career likely is over, but he’s expected to make a full recovery that could allow him to play pro football.
Johnson, a senior who scored No. 7 USC’s go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago, was the Trojans’ second-leading rusher with 157 yards and five touchdowns as the team’s short-yardage specialist this season behind starter Joe McKnight. He had 705 yards rushing and nine touchdowns last season for the Trojans.
Johnson had a spotter when the accident happened — an assistant strength and conditioning coach was standing over him.
“You know, I can’t tell you how many times that he’s been in the weight room working hard and knowing what to do. He could teach our program as well as anybody and all of that,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “So it’s just an unfortunate occurrence, so that’s it.”
First-year Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian had worked with Johnson as USC’s offensive coordinator.
“It’s a reality check to our kids that you need to use proper technique and need to have spotters and all the things that go into weightlifting because it is a very serious situation right now,” Sarkisian said.
Among the seventh-ranked Trojans — who visit No. 24 Cal this Saturday — there was relief that it wasn’t worse.
“It’s very serious stuff, and if anything, it’s something we can use,” offensive lineman Jeff Byers said. “Play every play like it’s your last, because you never know. Stafon had no idea that might be his last game. Guys have every reason now to come out and refocus on why you love the game, because you never know when it can be taken from you.”