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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Enduring Tough Times
10/11/2005 | Football
Oct. 11, 2005
Amid varied fan speculation and wide media conjecture about Rebel football in 2005, the Ole Miss football senior class let not rumor cause distress. Displeased with a 4-7 record in 2004, the seniors portrayed the perfect picture of optimism about the 2005 arrival of head coach Ed Orgeron, whom they hoped would help turn around a program in need of a vivacious kick start. Their consistent diligence and proven success garnered them instant credibility from coaches and younger players. Leading the dynamic senior charge has been three-year letterman Brandon Jacobs, who understands that change is a matter of life and football and that making the best out of difficult situations is success in itself.
Jacobs shakes his head at the mere thought of what he has had to endure during the first month of this season, but he hasn't let the tough times get him down. Just as the Rebels' first game was approaching, a tiny tropical disturbance in the Caribbean morphed into Hurricane Katrina, which ripped her way across Mississippi and left a devastated Mississippi Gulf Coast in her wake. A native of Long Beach, Jacobs jumped to action when he first heard about the storm's projected path and opened his Oxford home to his family.
"Every year during hurricane season we are on the lookout for storms," explains Jacobs. "We live less than a mile from the water, and we have never taken chances. This time was no different. I had no problem having my family stay with me."
With his family safe and his hometown on his mind when the 2005 season opener kicked off, Jacobs faced the reality of the moment - the Rebels' first game would mark a fresh start for Jacobs who had missed all of spring practice and most of fall drills due to injury. Seemingly healthy, Jacobs played in the Rebels' 10-6 Labor Day victory over Memphis, but he has been sidelined since then.
For the past four weeks, stomach related ailments have limited Jacob's ability to play, but this setback has not curbed Jacob's enthusiasm for his football team or his passion for the game.
"Everyday I rehab and do what the doctors and trainers recommend," says a determined Jacobs. "I know what it takes to come back from injuries, and I will be back after this one, too. The rest of the seniors and I are focused on turning this season around, and I want to be out on the field to help them do that."
Perhaps the best way that Jacobs can help the Rebels is to return to his usual role as leader of the red zone. At 6-1 and 235 lbs, Jacobs is a bruising runner who is a force when the Rebels need a touchdown. With nine rushing touchdowns to his credit, Jacobs has been the most productive rusher in the red zone during the past two seasons, scoring six times from inside the 20-yard line.
"My biggest focus is on producing when I play," says Jacobs. "I enjoy my role as the go-to-guy in the red zone, and I try to get my teammates to understand their roles and that they have to make plays when they are in the game. Football is a team game. Everyone has to contribute in order to win, and I want to win every Saturday."
Jacobs' winning attitude is contagious. His younger teammates have heard him tell of how two seasons ago he and his comrades overcame early season mistakes to achieve success.
Jacobs was a sophomore on the 2003 Rebel team that overcame a 2-2 start to finish 10-3 overall after a thrilling victory in the 2004 SBC Cotton Bowl.
"We've talked about the 2003 season plenty" says a smiling Jacobs. "This year's senior class learned a lot from that season. Now, we are constantly telling the younger guys to stay focused because we can work out our kinks. We've got seven football games left, and I believe we can start making some progress."
This positive attitude makes Jacobs a clubhouse favorite. His jovial and charismatic disposition helps him communicate with his teammates and helps him influence the strong sense of camaraderie in the locker room. "During the course of a football season, the players and coaches get tired," explains Jacobs. "I think it's important to remember to have fun, and I try to keep my guys having fun when times are tough.
And the same thing goes for tough times outside of football. Life is fun, and people need to remember to laugh and be thankful for what they have." With the harrowing month of September behind him, Jacobs admits that he and his family are some of the lucky ones. Jacobs is living his dream of playing college football, and the Jacobs' family home somehow survived Hurricane Katrina with only minimal damage.
But Jacobs encourages his neighbors on the Gulf Coast to press on and rebuild their shattered lives.
"Football has helped me learn about leadership," says Jacobs. "But not just leadership on the football field. I've learned to make adjustments in life to help make my situation better. When times are tough, you can still make the best out of those situations. I just want my neighbors to know we are pulling for them just as they pull for the Rebels every week."
