After being out for a year, defensive end Schobel ready to get back in game
From a long line of TCU football players, Bo Schobel is determined to overcome his injury and follow in the footsteps of his father and cousins.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

Horned Frog football is a Schobel family tradition.

Sophomore defensive end Bo Schobel is just one in a line of Schobel men who have donned the purple and white.

Bo’s dad Bob played for TCU from 1969-71. Recently, Bo’s cousins Aaron and Matt played for the Frogs.

Aaron played defensive end from 1997-2000. A three-time All-WAC selection, he was drafted in the second round of the 2001 National Football League Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Matt came to TCU after transferring from Texas A&M. After his three-year career for the Frogs, the tight end was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of this year’s NFL draft.

Schobel had the opportunity to play with both of his cousins at TCU, and said it was Aaron who set the example for the other two.

“I always tell everybody that they set the bar for me,” Schobel said. “With Aaron going first, he set the bar for me and Matt. He’s accomplished so much in his career.”

Schobel, slated to start as a sophomore last year, was poised to continue the tradition of success. However, he had a setback when a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the opening game against Nebraska sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

But missing the games were not all that disturbed him.

“The main thing was missing a whole year of practice,” Schobel said. “You have practice to get better. If you miss a year that’s not only a year of conditional and physical strength training, but a year of practices helps you to get better. Coming back, it takes a while to get all of that back.”

The slow process of coming back resulted in Schobel being initially tentative when returning to the field. It was noticed by his teammates.

“When we started this season with two-a-days, I could tell he was kind of favoring it,” senior defensive tackle John Turntine said.

“People don’t understand what it takes to get back anymore,” head coach Gary Patterson said. “With the sizes of the bodies, it’s a tough deal.”

After the first couple of days, the team helped him to get back to his old form.

“We got together, and talked about it,” Turntine said. “We just said that if he’s gonna get hurt again, he’s gonna get hurt. Until then he was to come out and give 100 percent. Now he’s just let his guard down. He’s gone out there with trust in God and himself, and busted his butt for us.”

Patterson said he is also pleased with Schobel’s progress.

“I think he’s starting to get over that (his tentativeness),” Patterson said, “and get a lot more confident in what he’s doing.”

A petition for a medical redshirt gives Schobel the opportunity to regain a year of eligibility.

The possibility of having him for three years means a lot to the team.

“When you look over there and see No. 21, you know you’re not just getting a football player,” Turntine said. “You’re getting a good overall person. You get someone who comes out everyday, and you trust them in all aspects of life. You trust him with your kids, driving your car, in every situation in life.”

To Schobel, the three years allows him to achieve more than a successful football career at TCU.

“When it comes to that, I figure you have to look forward to school,” Schobel said. “Getting a master’s degree and graduating with six years of college, that’s getting something done.”