Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144988
! ! # " # y the final game of the 2012 season, Ben Kline's right shoulder was heavily wrapped, encased in a black brace and then mummytaped in order to keep it secure. He also sported a white neck roll that resembled the thick protective collars that players wore in the 1980s. It was quite the throwback look for Kline. But as long as the extra gear kept him on the field and playing, it was fine by him. Throughout his redshirt freshman season – a season in which he played special teams and backed up Gerald Hodges at outside linebacker – Kline was hindered by a series of stingers that he experienced during practices and in games. Stingers, which are also known as burners, cause a temporary numbing or tingling sensation in the shoulder or spinal nerves after a collision. Kline felt them in his neck. "A lot of guys get stingers," he explained. "It's not a huge thing. It's just one of those things that you deal with." When the stingers persisted, the medical staff became more cautious. And READY FOR ACTION Kline was bothered by shoulder and neck problems last year but expects to be ready for preseason practice. Tim Owen while the doctors and trainers were looking for ways to remedy the problem, they discovered an even bigger issue. "At first I was getting just stingers," Kline said. "Then I ended up tearing my labrum in the shoulder. "The stingers were more in the neck, but they just kinda weakened my shoulder." It's unclear when exactly he tore the cartilage, but he opted to have surgery in the winter. Kline spent most of Penn State's winter workouts in a sling, confined to the exercise bike. He did onearmed, left-handed lifts and made re- peated visits to the trainer's quarters to rehab the shoulder and prevent future stingers. "The guys in the training room really took care of me," Kline said. "They gave me the best treatment that they can, and [that's so] everything goes well. But there were times when it was definitely frustrating." Kline's frustration grew when spring practice began. Hodges' graduation meant that there was a starting spot open at Linebacker U, and there's no better time to show the coaches' your potential than during spring ball. Un-