Fighting Back - Junior Joe Ainslie - University of Minnesota Athletics

It’s the first game of the 2005 season and everyone is pumped up, the team, the coaches, and all the Golden Gopher fans in attendance or watching on national television. An entire off-season of getting ready for this exact moment and everyone is ready for the best from a highly-touted offense and spectacular running game. The first play from scrimmage for the Gophers is a hand off to Laurence Maroney and he’s gone, 67 yards to pay dirt. A few drives later every Gopher faithful’s heart stops when they see their starting offensive tackle Joe Ainslie walk off the field holding his right wrist in obvious pain. Ainslie knows that he is hurt, but he wants to play anyway. He will do anything he can do to get back on the field to help his team win. “I couldn’t move my hand, fingers, and it pinched off the nerve there so I didn’t feel that either,” the Minnetonka native said. “I went to the sidelines, got it x-rayed and iced up and sat out the rest of the game.” The x-rays told a different story, one that required the junior tackle to undergo surgery and rest for up to two months. Bad news like this would devastate any other player, leaving them with their head low, but Ainslie isn’t any player and he has taken it all in stride and kept the team and himself motivated throughout. Ainslie admits he was worried when he first hurt himself because he didn’t know what was wrong or the extent of his injury. “I kind of looked at the injury and thought well this game is done, but we’ll see if I can get back for the next game,” Ainslie said. “Then I went and saw the doctor and he said I couldn’t play for six to eight weeks. To lose that much of my season during the first game, my heart sank. But I knew I just had to keep my head up, work hard to get back as soon as I could without pushing it, because you don’t want any set backs.” For the first couple weeks, Ainslie wasn’t able to do much physically but anything he could do to help the team he did, including helping his replacement, Steve Shidell, become acclimated with the position by giving him tips and pointers whenever he needed them. “I’ve been doing as much as I can behind the scenes helping out. Mostly helping Steve and giving him little tidbits, getting him ready for the game on and basically helping out anytime he needs it,” Ainslie said. At first it was tough for Ainslie to get used to not being on the field. The junior had played in all 25 games, including 18 starts over the last two seasons. He was a key element in the Gophers’ record-setting offensive attack over the last couple seasons. It would be tough for anyone to deal with, and despite it all, Ainslie has remained upbeat and positive throughout the rehabilitation process and since he had the cast removed, doing everything physically to get back on the field. “At first I wasn’t able to do anything, the doctor told me to take it easy for the first few week,” Ainslie commented. “After that I was able to do some hand motions on my own, and after I got the cast off I’ve been able to start doing a little bit more. Soon, I will get the pins out and I’ll be able to go out there and do even more, the stuff I should be able do with a healthy arm.” There are a few games left in this season for the 6-3 Gophers and it is not without question that Ainslie could return to play a more prominent role if he keeps working as hard as he has, because he has already played a few downs in the Ohio State game, with pins still in his hand and wrist. “I’ve been taking more reps with the (second team offense). I’ve been trying to take as many reps as I can and I’ve been doing as much as I can in the weight room, and even doing more if my hand allows it,” Ainslie said. Being the kind of guy he is with a team first attitude, Ainslie knows he might not get back out onto the field in a starters role this season and he is fine with that. “I’ll do whatever I can to help this team win, and I’ll do that for the rest of this season and next if I have to,” Ainslie said. “Anything to help this team keep winning.” Story written by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant. It’s the first game of the 2005 season and everyone is pumped up, the team, the coaches, and all the Golden Gopher fans in attendance or watching on national television. An entire off-season of getting ready for this exact moment and everyone is ready for the best from a highly-touted offense and spectacular running game. The first play from scrimmage for the Gophers is a hand off to Laurence Maroney and he’s gone, 67 yards to pay dirt. A few drives later every Gopher faithful’s heart stops when they see their starting offensive tackle Joe Ainslie walk off the field holding his right wrist in obvious pain. Ainslie knows that he is hurt, but he wants to play anyway. He will do anything he can do to get back on the field to help his team win. “I couldn’t move my hand, fingers, and it pinched off the nerve there so I didn’t feel that either,” the Minnetonka native said. “I went to the sidelines, got it x-rayed and iced up and sat out the rest of the game.” The x-rays told a different story, one that required the junior tackle to undergo surgery and rest for up to two months. Bad news like this would devastate any other player, leaving them with their head low, but Ainslie isn’t any player and he has taken it all in stride and kept the team and himself motivated throughout. Ainslie admits he was worried when he first hurt himself because he didn’t know what was wrong or the extent of his injury. “I kind of looked at the injury and thought well this game is done, but we’ll see if I can get back for the next game,” Ainslie said. “Then I went and saw the doctor and he said I couldn’t play for six to eight weeks. To lose that much of my season during the first game, my heart sank. But I knew I just had to keep my head up, work hard to get back as soon as I could without pushing it, because you don’t want any set backs.” For the first couple weeks, Ainslie wasn’t able to do much physically but anything he could do to help the team he did, including helping his replacement, Steve Shidell, become acclimated with the position by giving him tips and pointers whenever he needed them. “I’ve been doing as much as I can behind the scenes helping out. Mostly helping Steve and giving him little tidbits, getting him ready for the game on and basically helping out anytime he needs it,” Ainslie said. At first it was tough for Ainslie to get used to not being on the field. The junior had played in all 25 games, including 18 starts over the last two seasons. He was a key element in the Gophers’ record-setting offensive attack over the last couple seasons. It would be tough for anyone to deal with, and despite it all, Ainslie has remained upbeat and positive throughout the rehabilitation process and since he had the cast removed, doing everything physically to get back on the field. “At first I wasn’t able to do anything, the doctor told me to take it easy for the first few week,” Ainslie commented. “After that I was able to do some hand motions on my own, and after I got the cast off I’ve been able to start doing a little bit more. Soon, I will get the pins out and I’ll be able to go out there and do even more, the stuff I should be able do with a healthy arm.” There are a few games left in this season for the 6-3 Gophers and it is not without question that Ainslie could return to play a more prominent role if he keeps working as hard as he has, because he has already played a few downs in the Ohio State game, with pins still in his hand and wrist. “I’ve been taking more reps with the (second team offense). I’ve been trying to take as many reps as I can and I’ve been doing as much as I can in the weight room, and even doing more if my hand allows it,” Ainslie said. Being the kind of guy he is with a team first attitude, Ainslie knows he might not get back out onto the field in a starters role this season and he is fine with that. “I’ll do whatever I can to help this team win, and I’ll do that for the rest of this season and next if I have to,” Ainslie said. “Anything to help this team keep winning.” Story written by Chris Jensen, athletic communications student assistant.

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Fighting Back - Junior Joe Ainslie

Players Mentioned

Joe Ainslie

Laurence Maroney

Steve Shidell

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University of Minnesota Athletics