Lost Leader
Penn State's Lee Searches For New Role
By Jay Skapakac

Penn State University has earned the moniker Linebacker U, and in recent seasons players like Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor have certainly helped the Nittany Lions live up to that title.

This year, it was Sean Lee's turn. Much as Posluszny handed the torch to Connor, Lee was expected to fill the void left with Connor's graduation and subsequent entry into the NFL. All of this changed on April 11, during spring practices when Lee tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Lee had surgery on the injured right knee on April 28, and according to Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State Director of Athletic Medicine, Lee's rehabilitation will take approximately nine months.

While Lee was preparing for a shift into the lead role defensively, one that would have brought with it promise to be a finalist for accolades such as the Chuck Bednarik and Dick Butkus Awards, it is now a different kind of transition Lee will be making.

"I have a responsibility to the team to help do everything I can this year in what might be a non-conventional way," Lee said.

It will be difficult, however, for someone with the competitive nature of Sean Lee to be absent from the field when the first game of the season rolls around. Sean Lee's brother, Conor, a junior kicker at the University of Pittsburgh, thinks that that mindset will aid in his brother's ability to make a quick return to the field.

"He'll be ready as soon as he's able to be," Conor Lee said. "He's psycho, man, he'll work the rehab like crazy and he'll be back."

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley feels as though Lee will be able to take advantage of his relationship with Paul Posluszny, who has experience with rehabbing torn knee ligaments.

"He's [Posluszny] been in touch with Sean. They talked about the rehab Paul had to do here and his rehab in Buffalo," Bradley said. "Paul should be able to help Sean mentally to get through this whole thing."

According to Lee, that rehab began the day after he had the surgery. The initial rehabilitation includes ice, gentle knee motion, straight leg raising, and protected weight bearing. The early stage of this recovery is designed to guard against the new ligament pulling loose from the screws that hold it in place.

Regardless of how well that rehab goes, Lee will likely miss the entirety of the 2008 season. Lee played as a true freshman in 2005 and does have a redshirt year available. According to Lee, he is planning to return for the 2009 season as a fifth-year senior.

In the interim, as for the pending season, Lee's absence will obviously create a difficult gap to fill. Lee has recorded double digit tackles in 10 of his last 11 games, and his138 tackles last season ranked second in the conference behind teammate, Dan Connor. Lee does not necessarily feel the team's struggles will be overwhelming in his absence.

"I'm excited about the team we have and the kind of season we can have," Lee said. "It's a great opportunity for a young guy."

Thanks to recent recruiting classes, there are many candidates. This last class alone boasts three nationally renowned incoming freshmen at the linebacker position -Michael Zordich, Mike Yancich and Michael Mauti. According to Steve Jones, the Penn State's play-by-play announcerl, Josh Hall is going to be a key player in filling the void left by Lee's injury.

"Josh Hall is a small town player, and what happens often times is small town players get overlooked in the recruiting process, and that could be the case with Hall," Jones said. "What he gives you is a guy that can step up."

The situation will also put an added burden on Tyrell Sales to become a productive player on every down, according to Jones.

While Lee's void will have to be filled on the field, it seems that he will continue to be a leader off of it. Lee made it quite clear that he intends to be with the team while he rehabs and was even named an honorary team captain for the 2008 season.

"It's an honor to be a captain and join the list of players that have been a captain prior to me," Lee said. "I've always dreamed of being a captain at Penn State. It's a great responsibility, but we have a great senior class with a lot of leadership."

Lee promises to stay strong mentally throughout his rehab and will make this injury a challenge.

"It's a bump in the road," Lee said. "I have to turn this into a positive."

And if his career is any indication as to how well Lee deals with challenges, he will be back on the field in no time.