It is a scene all too familiar to senior men’s basketball player David Kummer. One leg in a cast and both arms holding onto crutches as he sits in a suit and tie watching DU play without him.
This is not the first time in his career this has happened or the second, but now it is yes, the third. It is not the brace and crutches that hurt the most this time for Kummer, yet it is the suit and tie. The veteran leader who had helped his team off to an impressive 7-9 start at the time of his injury last Sunday against Arkansas-Little Rock will now be regulated to cheerleader for the rest of the season, again.
“It is frustrating, it is frustrating, you kind of take it day-by-day and you look for little positives here and there to keep you going,” said Kummer as he watched the Pioneers defeat Arkansas State without him last Thursday.
The injury occurred midway through the second half as Kummer was doing what he does best, hustling and going after a lose ball. As Kummer was about to fall to the floor to grab the ball, a Little-Rock player landed on top of Kummer’s lower leg and the next thing you heard was a yell and saw pain. Kummer sat and watched the remainder of the game before being taken to the hospital where he was evaluated and it was determined surgery would be the next day.
“It was a spiral fracture in my right ankle so they put a plate and 10 screws in and got me out of there the same day,” said Kummer.
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native red shirted his freshman season before playing just 95 minutes the following season after a knee injury. Kummer finally got the feeling of a full season in 2005-06 when he played in every game and started 12. Last season Kummer was brought back down to reality when he missed every game with another knee injury.
As much as Kummer finally wanted to play another injury-free season, this may help his case with the NCAA to petition for one more season.
“I think it definitely improved the case. I think we were kind of assuming it was a long shot before, now having played only two-halves of a season I think it will be a definite strong point that they (NCAA) will recognize.”
The youthful Pioneer squad will now have to listen to their veteran leader’s advice from the bench as they continue to improve after dreadful four win campaign last season.
“It is a little frustrating especially after sitting on the sideline, but they played well so that is terribly encouraging. I am going to do my part and do whatever I can to keep them into it,” Kummer said.
As patience once again becomes a virtue for Kummer as he waits to hear from the NCAA, he will keep one hand on a crutch and the other pointing the Pioneers in the right direction.
