FAU tight end Rob Housler and son Jackson enjoy a day at the beach. (Photo courtesy Rob Housler)
Extra motivation
When FAU tight end Rob Housler’s son was born two months early this spring, football had to take a back seat. But now that Jackson is doing fine, Housler is happy to be back on the field preparing for his senior season.
Originally published on
7/26/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON – After sitting out the 2009 season because of the logjam at tight end, Florida Atlantic's Rob Housler was looking forward to spring practices as a way to get back to the form he showed in 2008.
It didn’t turn out to be the return Housler had hoped for as he missed a good portion of the pre-spring drills to take care of his newborn son Jackson, who spent weeks in the hospital after being born two months early.
Housler spent many nights in the hospital with his wife, Bethany, as doctors worked to get Jackson well enough to come home.
“It was tremendously scary, because they didn’t know how developed he was,” Housler said. “It was traumatic.”
After four weeks, doctors had good news for the Houslers – Jackson could come home.
And since then, his son has been in good health, Housler said.
“It was about a month before the doctors let him go home but ever since then he's been A-OK,” Housler said. “Everything is fine now. He’s just trying to catch up with other kids.”
FAU tight ends coach Joe Corozza says Hosuler’s maturity showed during the rough time.
“I think he handled it as well as anyone could,” Corozza said. “Without having been through that myself, I can imagine that when that happens it can be easy to get distracted. ..I think he has a great deal of perspective of what's important and maybe what's not as important.”
And now that Housler is able to make it out to practice, he appreciates being on the field even more.
“I’ve changed,” Housler said with a laugh. “It’s a lot of fun being a parent and when I tell my parents or friends that, they laugh and say it isn’t supposed to be that much fun, but I enjoy it.”
The experience changed Housler, who will be the Owls’ starting tight end this season after choosing to sit out 2009. In addition to a new haircut (gone is the mane of black hair that hung out his helmet) Housler has new perspective on playing college football.
“That's what sports is about and I enjoy coming out and concentrating on getting better,” Housler said. “I’ve been playing Mr. Mom a lot so getting out here is a reprieve. But when I get back at home I spend time with him because I miss him so much.”