Brad Ebner lives for sports. He continues to find ways to make his love for football part of his life-even if he can’t play on the field anymore.

When Ebner sustained a massive brain injury on the football field in 2006, his dream of a football career didn’t end. It took a new turn.

He came to City College through the Transitions program, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara School Districts, which help special needs students make the leap from a high school to a college setting to continue their education.

“Football was his life,” said Shelly Fitzpatrick, Ebner’s helper who is one of the workers at the transitions program. She keeps him on track through his classes and other appointments on campus, making sure he gets where he needs to go without any drama.

Fitzpatrick sat across from Ebner in an interview with The Channels, helping him stay focused.

“She helps me remember things I don’t remember,” Ebner said.

He suffered the massive brain injury when he was a running back for the Dos Pueblos High School football team in Goleta.

“I was running and two people hit me,” Ebner said, trying to recall the accident. From there, his memory becomes unclear. He said he remembered getting into the ambulance that was stationed next to the field, but little beyond that.

“After (the injury), they weren’t sure he would live,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was six months or so before he was able to speak or move. It was more than a year before he was able to walk again.”

Ebner was transferred from Cottage Hospital to a local rehabilitation institute, where he said he learned exercises to regain coordination and brain function. He used sports like badminton to help with movement, and began speech therapy.

Ebner graduated from Dos Pueblos last spring, a year after he had planned. But even before his injury he had set out to play for the Vaqueros.

In the fall, Ebner attended every game and offered support for the team along the sidelines.

“He cheered them on and gave inspiration,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick said that because his math skills are reasonably intact, Ebner will be taking classes like algebra in the future. He said he’s always liked math, more so than reading or writing.

In addition, Ebner will be working on strengthening the parts of his brain damaged in the accident. Every month he goes to a “brain gym” on campus, where he and a teacher work on coordination exercises. In the morning he goes to a “walk-jog” class, which gets him and other transitions students moving around to strengthen their mobility.

Fitzpatrick said his personality has changed since the accident.

“He used to be more shy and less outgoing,” she said. “Now he can’t control himself.”

Ebner’s customary greeting is, “Hey big guy, what’s your name?” And he never tires of a fist-bump.

What hasn’t been diminished is his love for sports.

While he enjoys all sports, having tried his hand baseball before his injury and now playing badminton twice a week, as well as testing the waters with swimming, his face lights up at the very mention of football.

Ebner said he hopes to be involved in football in some way in his future, possibly as a coach.