When Kris Luchsinger went down with a high ankle sprain three weeks ago, coach Frank Solich wasn't worried about how long the defensive end would be out.
After all, the junior, a former rugby player, has experienced his fair share of injuries while playing the popular European sport in high school.
He's an amazing guy. I've seen him come off injuries that the average guy wouldn't come off of
Solich said. He said he's had a lot of experience with ankle injuries and he says he comes off them quickly.
Luchsinger said he is ready to play this weekend against Western Michigan after missing only two games with the injury, which can take many weeks to heal.
I think I wanted to be ready more than I actually was he said.
Luchsinger began playing rugby because of his brother.
With his older brother already on the team at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus when he entered high school, Luchsinger opted to go out for rugby, too, and found great success.
In 2006, he was invited to join the under-19 U.S. rugby team and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in the International Rugby Board U-19 World Championships.
The tournament was held in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates, which gave him the opportunity to experience a culture unlike anything he has ever seen in Ohio.
It was the opportunity of a lifetime
Luchsinger said. Playing (rugby) took me a lot of places where I couldn't have gone with football.
While in Dubai, Luchingser also had the chance to experience a brand of rugby against international powers such as Scotland and England and the rabid fan bases that follow the teams.
They brought big crowds and had people drinking beers and waving their flags up ' the whole nine yards
Luchsinger said. It's like what you would see on TV.
Following the World Championships, Luchsinger had the chance to play rugby professionally for Trinity Ireland, a club team. He declined this offer, though, opting to continue his career in football and accepted a scholarship with Ohio.
It was between that and here
and I was thinking Ireland was a long way from home
Luchsinger said.
Having played both sports, Luchsinger said he has noticed many similarities, from the positions of both sports to the shape of the balls.
The most severe difference between the two sports is the lack of protective pads and helmets in rugby, making the chance of injury much greater, he added.
In rugby you definitely take a few more shots in sensitive areas
Luchsinger said.
Because of the lack of protection, Luchsinger has seen his fair share of severe injuries, including seeing a player tear every ligament in his knee.
Despite the bumps and bruises, Luchsinger added that such injuries are few and far between.
The one thing that everybody thinks is that in rugby there are huge hits
he said. There are big hits in rugby
but there are not that many big hits and collisions. Nobody really gets a running start and clocks someone.
When his football career is over, Luchsinger said he could see himself returning to rugby.
You can only put on the pads for so long
he said. You get to the certain age where your body starts giving out or your best isn't good enough anymore. I can always go back to rugby
