Colorado State University Athletics
Toby McBride Soaks in the Moment of His Return
9/4/2019 7:01:00 PM | Football
Junior back after long recovery from injury
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Joey Guarascio didn't want to hear it any more.
As Toby McBride walked onto the turf at Broncos Stadium at Mile High last Friday evening, he had to take in the entirety of the moment.
It wasn't the NFL stadium, or the boisterous crowd starting to fill the seats, it was the fact the junior defensive lineman as back on the field. In uniform. Ready to play. As a team captain.
"During pregame warmups, I mean … I kinda broke down a little bit, had some tears," McBride said. "I shared a moment with Joey, kinda reflected on the past two years. I just thanked him, and he told me to not do that before a game, because he was getting a little emotional too.
"It was a good moment for both of us."
In reality, it was a perfect setting for a lot of people. Family, friends and the Colorado State football program which supported him.
After playing all 13 games as a true freshman, starting in the bowl game, McBride's career was put on hold four games into his sophomore season. A back issue developed, one serious enough to threaten his future. Not just on the field, but the ability to pick up his kids later in life, walk normally.
It worried him, but he sought opinion after opinion in pursuit to keep his dream alive. If everybody would have told him no, he would have stopped.
As it was, Guarascio – the head strength and conditioning coach, but an assistant at the time -- found the proper training to get McBride back in line to play after surgery. He not only strengthened the back, but everything around it, giving McBride hope.
There were still delays. He returned to the field for spring camp, only to have it shortened by a knee issue. In fall camp this year, the Rams closely monitored his plays in an effort to have him ready for the opener.
In the past, McBride said he would have just tried to soldier through, admitting that's probably what triggered the onset of his back issue. Now, if he needs to ramp it down in practice, he's alerting the staff about how he's feeling.
"I think he's being smart now," head coach Mike Bobo said. "I think he's being honest about where he is and telling us if he needs a blow in a day in practice or a period in practice. I think he's mature enough to be honest. You tell kids to be honest, but sometimes they want to show that they're tough and going to push through, but he's in a different situation where he's got to be honest with us. It's not so much getting to game time you're not going to do anything, but we have to be smart during the week."
The Rams know the payoff can be tremendous for the defensive front. As a true freshman, he posted 32 tackles, including seven for a loss. Four of those were sacks to lead the team.
A lot had changed since then, including his brother, Trey, joining the program as a tight end. They had joked about getting to beat on each other in practice, a reenactment of living room days growing up together. Now that Toby is playing in the interior, they don't get the chance.
As emotional as Toby was, the staging didn't escape Trey, either.
"I mean, that was huge," Trey said. "I know he's had a hard recovery and a long process coming back, but it was huge for him and my family for him to get back on the field and get ready to play again."
Toby posted six tackles in the game, and Bobo said he played more than they anticipated he would heading back to the spring.
There was rust the coach could see, and the player felt some too. At first, he had to catch up with the speed of the game, but once he gained a rhythm, it felt normal again. Better yet, he feels good with where he's at, physically and in terms of confidence.
"The thing about him, he's a workhorse type of guy that is just going to give great effort and plays with great pad level," Bobo said. "He's a smart kid. I feel he feels comfortable. I think he'll continue to improve as the season goes."
The scoreboard didn't make it the complete storybook return everyone had hoped for, but the reality of the evening wasn't lost on anybody.
Toby McBride was back and feeling strong. It took a long time to get to that point, and now the goal is to settle into for a long ride to come.
"I mean, I'm only one game in, but it's everything I wanted it to be," Toby said. "If anything, I get more of a rush being out there now, because I know how much work has gone into it. Everything it means to me has amplified everything."
As Toby McBride walked onto the turf at Broncos Stadium at Mile High last Friday evening, he had to take in the entirety of the moment.
It wasn't the NFL stadium, or the boisterous crowd starting to fill the seats, it was the fact the junior defensive lineman as back on the field. In uniform. Ready to play. As a team captain.
"During pregame warmups, I mean … I kinda broke down a little bit, had some tears," McBride said. "I shared a moment with Joey, kinda reflected on the past two years. I just thanked him, and he told me to not do that before a game, because he was getting a little emotional too.
"It was a good moment for both of us."
In reality, it was a perfect setting for a lot of people. Family, friends and the Colorado State football program which supported him.
After playing all 13 games as a true freshman, starting in the bowl game, McBride's career was put on hold four games into his sophomore season. A back issue developed, one serious enough to threaten his future. Not just on the field, but the ability to pick up his kids later in life, walk normally.
It worried him, but he sought opinion after opinion in pursuit to keep his dream alive. If everybody would have told him no, he would have stopped.
As it was, Guarascio – the head strength and conditioning coach, but an assistant at the time -- found the proper training to get McBride back in line to play after surgery. He not only strengthened the back, but everything around it, giving McBride hope.
There were still delays. He returned to the field for spring camp, only to have it shortened by a knee issue. In fall camp this year, the Rams closely monitored his plays in an effort to have him ready for the opener.
In the past, McBride said he would have just tried to soldier through, admitting that's probably what triggered the onset of his back issue. Now, if he needs to ramp it down in practice, he's alerting the staff about how he's feeling.
"I think he's being smart now," head coach Mike Bobo said. "I think he's being honest about where he is and telling us if he needs a blow in a day in practice or a period in practice. I think he's mature enough to be honest. You tell kids to be honest, but sometimes they want to show that they're tough and going to push through, but he's in a different situation where he's got to be honest with us. It's not so much getting to game time you're not going to do anything, but we have to be smart during the week."
The Rams know the payoff can be tremendous for the defensive front. As a true freshman, he posted 32 tackles, including seven for a loss. Four of those were sacks to lead the team.
A lot had changed since then, including his brother, Trey, joining the program as a tight end. They had joked about getting to beat on each other in practice, a reenactment of living room days growing up together. Now that Toby is playing in the interior, they don't get the chance.
As emotional as Toby was, the staging didn't escape Trey, either.
"I mean, that was huge," Trey said. "I know he's had a hard recovery and a long process coming back, but it was huge for him and my family for him to get back on the field and get ready to play again."
Toby posted six tackles in the game, and Bobo said he played more than they anticipated he would heading back to the spring.
There was rust the coach could see, and the player felt some too. At first, he had to catch up with the speed of the game, but once he gained a rhythm, it felt normal again. Better yet, he feels good with where he's at, physically and in terms of confidence.
"The thing about him, he's a workhorse type of guy that is just going to give great effort and plays with great pad level," Bobo said. "He's a smart kid. I feel he feels comfortable. I think he'll continue to improve as the season goes."
The scoreboard didn't make it the complete storybook return everyone had hoped for, but the reality of the evening wasn't lost on anybody.
Toby McBride was back and feeling strong. It took a long time to get to that point, and now the goal is to settle into for a long ride to come.
"I mean, I'm only one game in, but it's everything I wanted it to be," Toby said. "If anything, I get more of a rush being out there now, because I know how much work has gone into it. Everything it means to me has amplified everything."
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