The timing seems too perfect to be real.
In TV movie fashion, there will be a joyful family reunion at Beaver Stadium Saturday. A brother and sister who rarely see each other will be reunited, a family will be complete.
Hold on. Stop the cheesy orchestral music. Forget the tears. You won't see a slow motion scene of two people running toward each other and embracing dramatically.
Rather, when siblings Jerry and Katie Schumacher meet at the Penn State-Illinois matchup, there will be some confusion. Jerry is a linebacker for the Fighting Illini, and Katie is an All-American on the Penn State women's volleyball team.
Their parents, Gerald and Catherine, chartered a bus to see Katie's match against Ohio State Friday night. Then she will join them as they travel to Happy Valley, and yes, she will sit in the Illinois fan section.
"I'm almost positive Saturday they'll be in orange and blue," Jerry said.
Well, he's in for a surprise when he sees his sister's attire.
"I'm going to try and stay neutral," Katie said.
Rivalries aside, the siblings are looking to Saturday with much anticipation. Always close as brother and sister, the Schumacher's athletic careers have put them at great distances.
Because their sports share the same season, it's rare that they see events in person. When Katie helped the Nittany Lions win the national championship in Hawaii, Jerry was preparing for the MicronPC Bowl in Champaign, Ill.
"It's a great feeling knowing she'll finally be able to see me play," Jerry said.
The fact that the sophomore is seeing significant time this year adds to his joy. He's played in each of the Illini's six games this season and leads the team with 55 total tackles.
"We're very excited about Jerry and the player he's going to be," Illinois coach Ron Turner said. "Before he's done, he's going to be one of the best linebackers in the country."
Despite his sophomore sensationalism, Jerry has some ground to cover before he's on his big sister's level.
Katie has been a part of Big Ten championship teams, Final Four teams and the ultimate -- a national championship squad.
"She's got the rings right now," Jerry said. "I've just got the MicronPC Bowl ring, but she's got the big ones. I just saw her ring and I was like, 'Wow, what an amazing thing.' "
Besides, jealousy just isn't in the vocabulary. As children, Jerry, Katie, older sister Karen and younger brother Brian formed a tight bond playing sports.
Raised on the South Side of Chicago, they played everything from whiffle ball to soccer in the streets and backyards of the city.
"It was tough," Katie said. "They were tough kids."
In that atmosphere, the Schumachers flourished. Karen won a state title in volleyball at Mother McAuley High School. Katie followed in her footsteps and also excelled.
At another Catholic school, Mt. Carmel, Jerry and Brian took up football. Though Katie was the first to make a significant mark on the volleyball world, earning a scholarship to powerhouse Penn State. A standout lineman, Jerry was about to do the same in football.
But he was stopped dead in his tracks.
Penn State lost interest in recruiting him, so Jerry chose Illinois. That's when the Schumacher family, which ate dinner together every night, began to scatter.
Gerald and Catherine try their best to get to their children's athletic events. They have been to the major events, such as the volleyball championship in Hawaii and the MicronPC Bowl in Miami.
Jerry and Katie, however, rarely get to see each other in person. But it hasn't prevented them from having a strong relationship based on mutual respect.
"I'm proud of him not only for athletics, but he's a good person," Katie said. "That's something to proud of."
Brother and sister keep in touch via phone, speaking three or four times a week. They also talk to their parents regularly, who miss their children's presence.
"I miss them tremendously," Gerald said. "But when you know they're happy, it makes it very worthwhile.
"And both are very happy."
