Troy University Athletics
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome
10/28/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
As I sit in my office, polishing off the final sips of my liquid lunch, a grande white chocolate mocha - lunch of elite athletes and champions - I am looking at 12 treatment tables, all of which are full. Full of bodies: big ones, small ones, tall ones and short ones, able bodied and not so able bodied, alike.
And injury does not discriminate by sport: football, soccer, softball, and men's basketball are all involved, just to name a few. This can only mean one thing: we're busy around here in the world of athletic training. Whether we're busy getting people well or getting people hurt has yet to be determined.
At this point in the season, with the Troops of the Walking Wounded multiplying exponentially by the game, we actually have an athletic training student poised on the bench with an eye to the stands looking for any of the following: A) snipers on the roof, B) voodoo queens (particularly of interest this coming weekend) and/or C) scary clowns.
So far, I'm happy to report, we've seen none of the previous. This can, of course, only mean that the injuries occurring on the field are actually the direct result of grown men - some of them, very large - clothed in somewhat protective gear, hitting each other as hard as they possibly can for about three hours. Either that, or we're not very good at identifying the potential risks in the stands. I'll use some flash cards for the bus trip to
Although things are undoubtedly becoming a bit more challenging as the numbers of injured and uninjured bodies continue to increase and decrease respectively, we are managing. The old adage of the Athletic Training Education Program is 'Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome.' This may or may not be an original saying, but it is definitely applicable in times like these. We will continue to do our part until December 6 on the football front, at least.
Improvising and adapting student-athlete's treatment schedules, staff's work schedules, injury protocols, and daily routines. Overcoming obstacles of conflicts in class schedules, work schedules, and injured players not being cleared to play on game day, with all the recourse that comes along with those decisions.
We as athletic trainers are in a profession that supports and advises coaches who ultimately get paid to win, while preserving the health of future moms, dads, and professional athletes. It's a challenge to say the least.
What happens between now and the Trojans' date with Arkansas State is one of the great mysteries of life at this point. I wish my crystal ball would hurry up and get out of the shop! They're not making them like they used to. Maybe the crystal ball and my private jet will be ready at the same time and I'll be able to make the trip to LSU...
Can you tell from my tone that I've been reading peer-reviewed journal articles lately? I have some literature on the failure rates of meniscus injuries and the results of aggressive surgical treatment of Grade III syndesmosis ankle sprains if anybody is interested in some light, recreational reading. It may be one reason why some of my down time is dedicated to reading the works of Nicholas Sparks, Betty Smith, and Donna Tartt and the like.
Maybe it's a subconscious effort to compensate for the horror of a blog last week which was fully intended to mimic poetry and elicit laughter.
Maybe it's due to my mental status and the fact that I'll be covering some of each of football, volleyball, and men's basketball practices until 10 p.m. tonight. Talk about getting around...
So, what about Athletic Training Room Player of the Week unofficially sponsored by Powerade, you ask? In last week's sadness of not traveling to
This week...drum roll, please...we are proud to announce Dion Gales as Powerade Player Of the Week. It has been suggested that since the weather has taken a turn for the cooler, we switch sponsors to Nestle' Hot Chocolate with lots of Marshmallows, but that just doesn't roll of the tongue like Powerade does.
Dion had a little thumb incident last week in practice that had us all questioning our own pain tolerance, while at the same time admiring his. He had a massive game against
If you've ever seen Dion up close...you'll understand. And that is ever the compliment, Mr. Gales...not to be deciphered with the least bit of sarcasm.
So, the motto of the Athletic Trainer: Improvise! Adapt! Overcome! The pressure's on...
Here's to more W's on the bulletin board, a six-hour bus ride, and fewer bodies in the athletic training room,
Ever the optimist...
GO TROJANS!
Alyson
