Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Focus: Jelani Jordan
September 01, 2005 | Football
Sept. 1, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - Senior cornerback Jelani Jordan prepares for his final season with the Falcons. He has started 21 career games, including 11 last year. Last year, he led the MAC in pass deflections with 15 and had 64 tackles and two interceptions.
He started nine games as a sophomore and had a career-high 84 tackles. He also forced a fumble that year at Ohio State. Jordan played in all 12 games as a true freshman and started at Northern Illinois.
He is a 2002 graduate of Riverwood High School in Atlanta.
Q & A WITH Jelani Jordan
Q: Having wrapped up preseason camp, and now preparing for the opener at Wisconsin, have you noticed any differences in the defense under Coach Lovett?
A: I don't think things are too different, because a coverage is a coverage, but I think we have had to change our techniques a little bit. It's been going pretty well. He has adapted some of his stuff to us, and we have adapted some of our stuff to be able to fit his schemes.
Q: After practicing against one another for several weeks, how excited are you and your teammates to play against someone else?
A: We're always excited for the first game, because we get tired of going against each other all the time. We're just ready to join together and try to beat somebody else.
Q: Obviously, playing a Big Ten team on the road, you expect a big crowd and a big-game environment. Over the last couple years, the Falcons have played in a lot of big-time venues. Is that something you think about, or is it just another game?
A: I'd be lying if I said that you don't think about going into that kind of atmosphere. But, once you start playing, that all goes out the door. You just get your stuff together, go out there and play as a team and try to win.
Q: Looking at the depth chart, there are some young guys in the secondary. Antonio (Smith) is at the other cornerback spot, with Kenny Lewis behind him. As an upperclass player, do you view part of your job as helping to bring those guys along?
A: They are really good football players, so I don't really have to do that much. I just have to make sure they are ready to play in their heads. With Antonio starting at the other corner, we have moved some people around. Terrill (Mayberry) is at free safety. I think the coaches have just done what they could to put us in the best situation back there.
