Bowling Green State University Athletics
Omar Jacobs Press Conference Quotes
January 06, 2006 | Football
Jan. 6, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - On Friday evening (Jan. 6), Bowling Green State University football standout Omar Jacobs held a press conference to announce his intention to declare for the National Football League Draft. Here are some quotes from that press conference ...
(Opening statement)
"Good evening everybody. After much consideration, I hereby today announce I am intending to forego my senior year at BGSU to enter the NFL Draft. It was a tough decision; it certainly was not easy to make. I had four wonderful years here at BGSU, and I want to thank everyone I have been associated with here -- I will be a loyal Falcon to the end. I think I absolutely made the right decision in coming here, and I will always be a Falcon."
(What were the factors in your decision?)
"There were a lot of factors. My mom, my family -- it was a long decision, it was a tedious process, and it was not a decision that was easily made. I think that it was the right decision."
(Did you talk with anyone from the NFL?)
"They gave me an evaluation of where they project me to be (drafted), and they told me the middle rounds. The NFL is a dream of mine, and this is an opportunity to pursue my NFL dream."
(So you were willing to go in the middle rounds, instead of waiting another year to see what might happen?)
"Nothing's guaranteed. The evaluation is just an overview of where they project me to go. Nothing is set in stone. Anything can happen. It is hard work, and there is no turning back. I just have to pursue my dream and go full-out."
(If you had Steve Sanders and Charles Sharon coming back next year, would that have influenced your decision?)
"It's hard to say. This is something that I wanted to do. It wasn't determined (because of) Sanders or Sharon. It was just because of my feeling, and my pursuit of going on to the next level."
(Was there one major factor that led you to this decision?)
"There wasn't one set factor. There were a lot of things -- this is not a decision that you make overnight. I think it's just how you feel, what your gut tells you, and what your family has to say. My mother played a big part. Talking to the coaches, getting a lot of input from different sources; everyone has been very helpful, and everyone has supported me, and are supporting me now. That's a great thing."
(What kind of advice did you get from your mom and your coaches?)
"Just follow your dream. My mom just sat down with me, and we went through everything. It was a long process, and she will support me through whatever will come."
(Now that you have made the decision, how excited are you?)
"It's just something that, as you grow up, is a dream. And, it's already here. Now that I'm here, I can't look back. Bowling Green will always be here (for me), and I know that everyone is supporting me. The President, the coaches are all here today, and that's just a great feeling. I'm going at it full throttle."
(How much will you miss your teammates?)
"Man, I'm already missing them. Steve Sanders is here today, but (I'll really) miss all those guys that I came in with. P.J. Pope, Teddy Piepkow -- all the blood, sweat, tears that I went through in those four years, kind of bringing the program up. We've seen it grow. So, it's going to be hard. The cameraderie with the guys, in the lockerroom, eating with them after the game -- there's a lot of things that I'll miss. Just the college life; there are a lot of things about BGSU. There are a lot of people, and a lot of relationships that I built here, and I'll miss those things."
(Have you hired an agent yet?)
"No, not at all."
(Is there still a chance you might pull your name out of the draft?)
"No. Once I said I was doing it, and I made the decision, I'm going in."
(When did you make your decision?)
"Early this week. I called Coach Brandon, called the President, called my quarterback coach, and told them that I appreciate everything they've done for me. This is a great University, and I just thanked them for giving me the opportunity to be here, and taking that chance when nobody supposedly wanted me out of high school. Just getting that chance to go to the NFL, I'm going to go all-out and give it my all, and hopefully I'll be successful."
(What did your coaches say when you told them your decision?)
"They were happy, but at the same time, I know Coach Brandon wants me to stay. That's the type of guy he is -- we have a great relationship, and it's hard to lose a guy. I'm pretty sure he felt that way about (losing) the seniors. P.J. Pope, Charles Sharon, Steve Sanders, all of those guys. I'm pretty sure he wants to keep those guys around. It's kind of tough to let those guys go."
(Did Coach [Mick] McCall give you any advice?)
"We have a great relationship. We've been tight since day one, and he was one of the people that I called first."
(How have the decisions of other college quarterbacks to come out or not come out, like Vince Young and Brady Quinn, impacted your decision?)
"I don't even know the decisions of those guys. We don't know if Vince Young or Brady Quinn are going to come out. But, this was my decision to come out. It's my dream, and I'm going to pursue it."
(Did you watch some of those other guys in the bowl games and say, 'I can play with those guys'?)
"I know I can play. You can't doubt yourself. I know I can play, and I think I've proven that on the field, beginning with my first start, at Oklahoma. It's all about confidence, and if you doubt yourself, you're not a great quarterback. No great quarterback doubts his abilities. I think I have great abilities, and I think I can prove that."
(What do you need to do between now and draft day?)
"Just train hard. The combine is a big test for a lot of guys. The combine can make or break you, and if I get invited to a combine or a pro day, I just need to work out with some of these (NFL) guys and prove that I can take the drops or do what's needed to play at the next level."
(Where will you train?)
"I don't know yet. Once I choose an agent, wherever they want me to train, that's where I'll train."
(Is it kind of weird to have all of this other stuff on your mind?)
"Well, I think it's about the same. (In college), you have school, film study, and after we practice, there is a lot of homework to do. So, it's a long day. With the NFL, you can focus on only football. Being a student-athlete is tough, trying to keep your grades up and also get ready for the next week's game. I think it's about the same; in the NFL, you have a set focus. You have one goal, and you're going straight ahead."
(Are you confident you can go to the next level and take someone's job?)
"I don't know whose job I'm going to take. But, I just need to go out and give it my all, know my abilities and be confident. It's hard to say I'm going to take somebody's job, but I'm going to play my game and try to get a spot."
(Is there a round of the draft where, if you slipped to that round, you would be disappointed?)
"Not at all. Just to get drafted, and to get an opportunity in the NFL is a privilege. A lot of guys don't get that shot, and that's something that people overlook. You have to be grateful for what you have, and to have a chance to get taken in the NFL Draft, it's a privilege."
