Adding Insight to Injury

January 31st of last year Kalin Lucas was getting ready for Wisconsin after beating up on Northwestern. That same afternoon, I was in paralyzing emotional and mental pain from an achilles tendon rupture that ended my college career.

Fast forward almost two months and Lucas’ elastic band snapped like mine. Exactly the same injury with much different results. Mr. Lucas, please do not become offenned with this comparison to me,but it is only to bring awareness to your incredible recovery. This rupture is more common for middle-aged men who belong to your local tennis club than a twenty-something college kid in the best shape of their young life.
When my injury occurred, I was a senior shooting guard, standing 5’9” with shoes on I was trying to figure out how to get a low Division I team to a level of mediocrity. I’m female and not out of this world athletic, but I like to think I always played with heart.
That same heart and dedication is what drives the Spartans and their recovered star. (yet they lacked some of that last night) Lucas is a top-tiered athlete that has achieved historic status in Izzo’s school of hard-knocks.
Six months of surgeries, casts, crutches and physical therapy is what both Lucas and I went through. Beginning to jog was what I was finally doing after that time period, while by the end of that same stretch, Lucas was back to his old ways. While I still have yet to play a real pick-up game (my collegiate athletic clock hit its last tick in May) Lucas is back to averaging the the same amount of points for the 6-3 Spartans.
Although I’m not a die-hard State fan, I’ve always had a lot of respect for the program and understand not wanting to lose. I know the frustration as a fan you must feel after last nights loss, but try taking a step back and look at the big picture. Just Lucas being out there is amazing, let alone doing what he’s doing. So again, hats off to you Lucas, you have gained  fan with a similary diminutive left calf.