As the fall sports season begins, and games take place, fans only see what appears on the field before them. Not many people take much notice of those athletes on the sideline in a boot or on crutches while they watch their team compete.
Every year injuries take a toll on every competitive sports team in one way or another; injuries just come with the territory of fully-grown people running toward each other at full speed. Some injuries are more severe than others, and some can even sideline players for an entire season.
Having only four years of eligibility to compete at the college level means that a single injury can have devastating effects on a player's career. Junior soccer midfielder Pat Reineke and junior football safety Phil Ganser have both sustained what are to be likely season-ending injuries.
Reineke is an outside midfielder for the men's soccer team. His toe fracture injury could mean missing the entire 2013 season. Reineke started the preseason as a legitimate contender for either first substitute off the bench or even a starting position for the Tigers.
During a training session, Reineke was clearing the ball out from the back of defense, and followed through, connecting with the bottom of a teammate's foot, causing his toe to fracture.
"It's a bummer because I'm probably out for the season," Reineke said. "Obviously I'd rather be playing but it helps me to see the team do so well, my teammates have been really helpful."
In addition to a two-inch pin in his foot, Reineke is currently in a boot to immobilize his foot.
"I have another three to four weeks before the boot comes off and I can start my recovery, but support from my teammates has really helped me stay positive," Reineke said. Although Reineke is likely out for the remainder of the season, he maintains positivity despite possibly missing the season.
Similarly, Ganser fractured his toe at the ball of his foot during a drill at training camp and will also likely miss the entirety of the season. Ganser was a candidate for the starting safety position.
"I've played sports my whole life, and I had never been out for more than three weeks due to injury," Ganser said. "This is the first bone I've ever really broken, so at first I was sort of in denial that it happened."
The injuries are strikingly similar in nature and can have a negative affect on both teams. Despite Ganser and Reineke's injuries, both athletes' teammates have been vital in keeping their fellow athletes positive during the recovery process.
Injury in collegiate athletics is an unpleasant and damaging aspect of sports. Four years is a short time, and injuries can hinder a player's ability to enjoy those four years.
Although preseason injuries are, for the most part, unavoidable, how a team responds to losing a potentially key player for the season speaks to the character of that team. Whether or not the soccer and football teams enjoy successful seasons remains to be seen, but how teams deal with injuries can define that team's season.