Off the Ball with Jamie Zimmerman
10/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 8, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama senior midfielder Jamie Zimmerman began her collegiate career miles away from Tuscaloosa, at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Throughout her college recruitment, Alabama always showed interest in her services but never received any attention from the White Hall, Maryland native. After one year of duty with the Spiders, Zimmerman decided to part ways with Richmond and transfer elsewhere.
"Soccer wise, Richmond wasn't exactly where I had always dreamt of playing when I was younger," Zimmerman said. "When I was looking to transfer, I decided on a whim to come to Alabama for a visit and thought the campus was beautiful and it just felt right."
Although she saw plenty of playing time as a true freshman, Zimmerman wanted to play against the best that the collegiate ranks have to offer. With that in mind, she turned her attention towards the Southeastern Conference.
"I wanted to play at level where I would be playing against schools like what the SEC had to offer. The level of soccer was a big part of it. I wanted to be at the highest level of competition in college."
With such a desire to compete against the best, it is no surprise that Zimmerman is also a valued leader to the Crimson Tide's squad. Entering her third full season with Alabama, she carries with her the distinction of being voted team captain by her teammates. Head coach Todd Bramble attributes the honor to her hard work and sacrifice.
"The fact that Jamie was voted captain this year says a lot, because that's a vote that comes from her peers, so she obviously has their respect," Bramble said. "When you earn a groups respect like that, to be named captain, it's not just because you speak up and what's coming out of your mouth, it's obviously from actions as well. She's a leader by example because she's willing to sacrifice so much and work so hard for the program."
After suffering an injury that forced her to sit out all but four minutes of the first four games this season, Zimmerman was forced to take on an entirely different leadership role. Since she could no longer encourage her teammates alongside them on the field, she adapted her leadership style and made sure her presence was still felt.
"Even though it wasn't that bad of an injury, it was obviously really hard on me," Zimmerman said. "I try to look at everything with a positive outlook. Since I couldn't play I would try to be a vocal leader and try to help my team that way.I always wanted to make sure I could stay involved in everything we were doing."
With her injury behind her, Zimmerman is playing close to 100 percent and wants to focus on achieving some goals. Although she has her sights set on making it to the SEC tournament, she believes this team is capable of making it even further.
"I want to go to the NCAA tournament really bad and I think we can," Zimmerman says. "I would be disappointed if we didn't go to the SEC tournament, but I think we have the ability to go to the NCAA. We just have to be a team and play as a team."
Since coming back to full speed the minutes on the pitch has gone up and so has the productivity out of the 5-3 midfielder. After getting eased back into the lineup Zimmerman recorded assists in back-to-back contests, including the helper on the game-winner against Wright State in double overtime. This past weekend Zimmerman looked to be back to 100 percent as she played the full 90 minutes against Ole Miss and 74 minutes in the win against Mississippi State.
Despite the missed time in the beginning of the season Zimmerman has come on to set a career best in assists in a single season with two. With Zimmerman now back to form look for the senior to continue to help guide the Tide to Orange Beach and beyond.
