Eric Lindros. Tim Connolly. Al Toon. Steve Young. What do all of these sports figures have in common? They have all suffered multiple concussions throughout their career. Sophomore forward on the woman's basketball team, Jamie Schiebner could also be added to this list.
Last season, while on her way to making the Mid-American Conference All-Freshmen team, Schiebner suffered her third career concussion, which held her out of the end of last season and the beginning of this one.
"I'm not going to lie, it sucked a lot (having to sit out)," Schiebner said. "But it's still nice to be there on the bench, and be supportive of the team in any way I can, and that's pretty much the adjustment that it was."
Before her injury, Schiebner averaged over seven points and seven rebounds per game. Her 7.2 rebounds per contest ranked her second in the MAC among freshmen. At six-feet tall Schiebner has become adept at hauling in boards, as five times last season she recorded a double-double with points and rebounds.
After missing the MAC Tournament last season due to the concussion, Schiebner couldn't wait to get back on the court for the beginning of a new season. However, more disappointment came when she was not ready to go by opening day, and missed the first six games of the season.
"It was frustrating," Schiebner said. "I'm not glad that it happened but I learned a lot from sitting on the side and watching, and helping out with the freshmen that came, and trying to still be a part of the team though I wasn't out there."
Since her return to the lineup 12 games ago, Schiebner has been coming on strong. She has three double-doubles in her last six games.
"You can't let (the concussion) enter your mind or else it's just going to hold you back, and you won't be able to perform the way you used to," Schiebner said. "I just block it out and play the way I used to."
Though it was not fun watching the team play without her, Schiebner says that watching the team play from the sidelines provided her with an interesting view, and knowledge of the game that she can now use on the court.
"I think I'm smarter," Schiebner said. "I think I see things better from being on the bench to going in there and trying to incorporate what I have seen, and help everyone else out."
Now that she is back on the court, Schiebner has gotten back into her old routine before games, a routine that her coach does not necessarily enjoy.
"Coach doesn't like it but I have to get my nap in, my good hour nap in (before every game), and read, and listen to music," Schiebner said. "First I listen to slower music that will put me to sleep, sometimes it's country. Then of course when I wake up it's always the usual rap. Not the dirty swearing rap, just the clean motivating rap."
Once properly motivated, Schiebner prefers to focus on the defensive side of the ball.
"I have a lot of favorite parts," Schiebner said. "But I really enjoy the defensive part of the game. I don't know why, but there's more energy I think."
Schiebner will get her next chance to get into her old routine on Jan. 24 in a match at Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
