Photo by christaki.

Virginia Tech offensive lineman Greg Nosal got the game ball after the Hokies defeated Central Michigan by 24 on Saturday. It wasn’t because he led the team in pancake blocks, or in recognition of him making the game’s key play. No, it was because Nosal played nearly two-thirds of the game after having a half-inch of his left pinky cut off.

The Post has the gory details on Nosal’s best Ronnie Lott impression:

Turns out at some point during the first half, Nosal lost a half inch of his left pinky finger. According to head athletic trainer Mike Goforth, “the tip of his finger was exposed, leaving just the nail and bone there.”

Goforth said the finger had gotten lodged between two helmets during the game and somehow the impact tore off a “fat and fleshy” portion of the pinky finger. Nosal, a junior, actually played at least one more snap before noticing his bloodied glove and came to the sideline to consult with Goforth and Dr. Marc Siegel.

For a time, nobody could seem to locate the missing chunk. Goforth had some of his staff searching the field for it before they finally found it inside Nosal’s glove. Goforth said Dr. Siegel soon determined the lost tissue could be re-attached and Nosal went to the locker room ahead of all his teammates just before halftime. Once inside, Dr. Siegel presented Nosal with two options: ice the chunk and keep playing or fix it right away.

Nosal wanted to keep playing so Goforth “took the finger, put it on ice and saved it for when it was ready.”

Nosal is obviously planning on playing next week, despite the injury. FOOTBALL!