His emotions wanted to tell him that it didn’t happen. But deep down, during training camp last season, Travis Carrie knew his fate. A torn labrum and fractured right shoulder left the cornerback dejected, disappointed and unsure of what would come next for him in his college career.
But three days later, relief was found by way of a medical redshirt that allows Carrie another year of eligibility and the ability to suit up for Ohio this season.
“I know I took the first two days and I was kind of out of it,” he said. “I came back the third day around the team. … We explained some things that were going on and from there it was pretty good.”
Although the sidelines weren’t exactly where Carrie, a redshirt senior, wanted to spend his 2012-13 season, it gave him an early start on his desired career path, given that the coaching staff allowed him to fill a role as a team mentor.
Carrie, who is pursuing a master’s degree in coaching education, takes a secondary role as an educator on the gridiron and in the locker room, helping his teammates from an experienced players’ perspective.
“This is something that I’ve planned on doing,” Carrie said. “I’ve enjoyed it, working with kids and players and things like that, just teaching them knowledge.”
Before Carrie retires his helmet and pads for a clipboard, he’ll return to an Ohio secondary that also features redshirt senior Jamil Shaw, who played only several snaps before suffering a season-ending injury during last year’s season opener against Penn State.
Solich said he is eager for Carrie to return to game action and that he can make an impact for Ohio right from the get-go.
“Travis is a tremendous athlete,” Solich said. “I’m really pulling for him. He’s had some bad luck injury-wise over the course of his career. I think all of that is behind him.
“He’s poised to have a great season.”
Carrie said that after watching from the sidelines last season, simply getting back into the routine of training camp feels right.
“Everything has been going great as far as practices and understanding with coaches and learning the plays,” he said. “It’s exciting.”
First-year defensive backs coach James Ward said that although no defense’s success can depend on one player, Carrie’s return to the field will greatly contribute to the Bobcats’ advantage.
“Someone who has that experience is hard to replace,” Ward said. “It’s been good to get him back and healthy and playing and his future will be determined by how he plays.”
But no one is as excited to return to the field as Carrie, whose last game action was during the Bobcats’ 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory against Utah State.
And with the season opener against No. 9 Louisville just days away, no one is more eager to run out of the tunnel than Carrie.
“It’s more emotions than I can explain,” he said. “I’m humbled and I’m ready to play. I’m glad to (be) back with teammates and laugh and things like that. It actually feels a little different to travel again. I’m ready to play the game.”
ch203310@ohiou.edu
