Nearly three years after San Jose State University football player Neil Parry was injured during a game and had to have part of his leg amputated, he returned to the gridiron. On September 18, he took the field with about 13 minutes left to play as part of the Spartans' punt return coverage.

For most people that would have been enough of an achievement. But not for Parry.

"The first play was obviously a game we lost and the defense didn't play very well," he said. "It took until the fourth quarter to get me out on the field, which is never a good sign. It felt good to be out on the field. I was just mad I didn't hit anybody."

Parry, 23, suffered a compound fracture of his right leg October 14, 2000, during a game against the University of Texas at El Paso. Within a few days, an infection developed and he had to have the lower portion of his leg amputated.

But through 25 surgical procedures, countless hours of rehabilitation and trying numerous prostheses until he found just the right one that would allow him to play football, Parry never game up on his dream of returning to the football field.

"I never said 'Forget it, I'm done,' but there were thoughts running through my head like, 'Oh man, should I even be doing this and can it actually be done,' " he said. "There were thoughts like that, but I would just tell myself that's not the way to get it done, and I'd call my brother and talk to him and he'd keep me going."

Neil's brother, Josh Parry, is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad and a former player at San Jose State. He was at the game where his brother was injured, and because of an Eagles' bye week, was able to be there for his return to football.

"I just feel blessed to have been there and be part of something special," Josh Parry said of watching his brother play football last month. "I'm just glad I could share it with him. I can't put it in words -- it's just something I'll never forget for the rest of my life."

Neil Parry said there were some doctors who tried to dissuade him from playing football again, because if his knee was injured it could be serious. He also had to wait for the NCAA and its insurance carrier, Mutual of Omaha, to agree to modify the benefits and allow him to play.

But, he said, friends and family were always supportive.

"They all know if they said something (negative) to me, they'll just maybe have a black eye or something like that," Parry joked.

San Jose State football coach Fitzgerald Hill wasn't at the school when Parry was injured, but said watching his player work hard to come back and insist on making the team based solely on his abilities has been inspiring.

"He worked himself onto the football field. Is he the greatest athlete? No. But he is an example of what America is all about," said Hill. "He wanted something and he wanted it so bad that just because he had one and a half legs, that wasn't going to keep him from what he wanted. If I could get everybody to play with that type of intensity and that type of desire, there's no telling what type of program we'd have."

Hill said he's received numerous calls and e-mails from people whom Parry inspires and what he's accomplished.

"He's hope to a lot of people who have no hope," Hill said. "Neil took a setback and he made a comeback. That's what comebacks are made of, they're made of setbacks and that's why I admire him so, because it could have been real easy for him to say, 'Hey, I played and my football career was over after I got my leg amputated,' but that's not his story."

Josh Parry said his brother is the type of person people, especially kids, have always looked up to.

"Maybe God thought he could help other people with what happened to him and he's definitely trying to do that and take advantage of his opportunity," he said.

Neil, who played free safety before the accident, describes himself as an average football player who never got much attention. But at his first game back, there were cameras recording his every move and reporters anxious to document his first steps back on the field.

"I've never had much attention, and then to have all these cameras in your face and taking pictures and stuff, it was weird," he said.

But that's not the only thing that's changed since the accident. Parry said his outlook on life and his view of the future are entirely different than they were three years ago.

"Before the accident I was just in college, living a regular college life. I was in a fraternity, played football, went out with my friends all the time. I never really saw much after college, I was just living to be in college," he said. "But this definitely opened up my eyes. I think I have a lot more motivation to get things done and I can see the future. I'm not just looking at everything for the moment, cause you never know what can happen."

Parry is a fifth-year senior majoring in public relations and is on track to graduate in the spring. While he's not sure what his future holds, coaching with his brother and motivational speaking are two possibilities.

But his immediate goals are more football-centered than that.

"I want to get in on kickoffs, I want to make some tackles," he said. "I love to tackle."