"It made me focus a lot more on my career," Gilbert said.
Gilbert’s focus will be on St. Olaf Saturday when Concordia travels to Northfield, Minn., for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Cobbers are looking to keep their record perfect. But Gilbert’s memories of his knee injury still remain.
The injury occurred while Gilbert, who played long snapper last year, was covering a punt in the fourth quarter of Concordia’s game with Gustavus Adolphus.
The Belgrade, Mont., product recalls lunging to make a tackle. As his legs flung around, he was hit in the upper thigh – causing his leg to wrap around the player who hit him.
"I was hit on the outside of my leg, but it hurt on the inside of my knee," Gilbert said. "I knew something was wrong."
Gilbert’s premonition was right. He tore knee ligaments and his junior football season was over. Gilbert said the trainers were able to move the lower part of his leg below the knee side to side. A normal knee joint doesn’t allow for lateral movement.
It was tough to take for Gilbert, who was just beginning his second year as starting strong-side linebacker.
"It was frustrating," Gilbert said. "To go from having pretty good success to starting all over."
Gilbert wondered if it was worth starting from scratch, especially over the summer, when he was an intern at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Mont., as an independent health care contract consultant.
In past summers, Gilbert said preparing for the upcoming football season was always his main objective. But his knee injury limited his usual workouts. Instead, Gilbert had to find other ways to pass his time. Fly-fishing and kayaking were on the top of his list.
Gilbert said spending more time at non-football activities was a refreshing change.
"Before it was always ‘I’ve got to get ready for football,’" Gilbert said. "But I found out there are other things to do out there that are fun too."
Kayaking, Gilbert said, proved to be a good workout for him. Maneuvering the kayak through raging rapids was not an easy task.
"It’s like a roller coaster ride on water," Gilbert said. "It’s just a rush. ... It’s a great way to kill two hours and you don’t have to pay the $65 to get into the amusement park. "
Gilbert said his decision to return to football was somewhat of a roller coaster ride too. He wasn’t able to sprint at full speed until June and even then he wasn’t sure a return to football would be worth it.
"One week I would say ‘I wasn’t playing for sure’ and the next week I would say ‘I wasn’t sure what I was going to do,’" Gilbert said.
Finally, his roommate in Missoula told Gilbert to take another shot at football. So Gilbert decided to return.
"I figured I would better take advantage of the opportunity while I still have the chance," Gilbert said.
His chance came sooner than later. In the Cobbers’ season-opening victory over Moorhead State, starting weak-side linebacker Jamie Aanenson went down with an injury on the first play. This forced Gilbert back on the playing field earlier than he expected.
"There was a lot of adrenaline," Gilbert said. "At that moment my leg felt fine and I was back in the swing of things."
Last Saturday’s Gustavus game was Gilbert’s first start since the injury, which was the same opponent Gilbert faced when the injury occurred in last year.
But Gilbert made it through injury free and the Cobbers rolled to a 28-7 triumph.
"I’m sure he breathed a sigh of relief after getting through that game," Concordia coach Jim Christopherson said.
Gilbert said: "It was in the back of my mind. It was good to get that game under my belt."
Gilbert’s long-snapping days are under his belt too. He said he told the coaching staff he would like to be relieved of those duties.
"I’m a little superstitious," Gilbert said.