My mother had a similar surgery last year so our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Tarkanian and his family.

Spinal-cord operation on Jerry Tarkanian was declared successful today, and the former UNLV basketball coach is resting in intensive care at Scripps Memorial Hospital near San Diego.

Tarkanian, 79, had a bone spur that was compressing his spinal cord and inhibiting his ability to walk. The bone spur was removed during the 2 1/2-hour surgery. “The doctors said surgery went very well,” his son Danny Tarkanian said.