I've posted here before regarding my kid, but nothing since February.

She signed to play soccer at Texas Tech back then and two weeks later had a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a poorly reffed High School game. Things got out of hand - crosstown rivalry, etc. HS soccer is something that is a distant second to club soccer, where young men and women are scouted for college. She'd actually skipped it her junior year but decided to play - senior, last year, etc.

On April 2nd, a surgeon replaced the ACL with tendon between the kneecap and tibia - the gold standard these days in regard to this kind of surgery. The procedure went perfect, the rehab has been intense, and her emotions - everyone's really - have been all over the map.

The people at Tech have been a class act. She retained her full ride and took the red shirt. She's worked her ass off and it shows - leg definition and mass have come back. A fairly severe contusion (minimal meniscus damage, amazingly) prolonged back-to-impact date, but was released to run again two weeks ago. She was ecstatic. Her trainers, therapists, and especially her coach are pretty happy too. The red shirt doesn't prevent her from playing in an informal spring season - 5 games - and she can barely wait.

Back to the emotional part - her tenacity, commitment, and courage in the face of losing something she loves, albeit temporarily, have been nothing short of inspirational.

Oh, and on the other kind of "football" she say's the Tech campus is just insane right now. She's having a pretty great time up there.