Bowling Green State University Athletics
Jakubowski Lives Dream
November 20, 2006 | Football
Nov. 20, 2006
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Jon Jakubowski has been able to fulfill his dream of playing Division I-A college football.
And while he is disappointed with how things have gone during his final year at Bowling Green, the Rossford High School graduate has made the most of his overall college experience.
Jakubowski and the Falcons play their final game of the season Tuesday at Toledo. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in the Glass Bowl.
"I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for those five years that I have spent here at Bowling Green," Jakubowski said. "I have learned a lot of things, a lot of values that you couldn't get without going through an experience like I went through.
"I'm appreciative of the opportunity to gain those values and experiences as well as the relationships."
Jakubowski came to Bowling Green in 2002 as a recruited walk-on and earned a scholarship at the end of fall drills in 2005. During his career, he has been on special teams and has seen playing time as a backup linebacker.
"He's been a special teams guy for us during the years and has done a nice job in that area," BG head coach Gregg Brandon said.
This season, Jakubowski has been in on five tackles, including four solos.
"This season was disappointing," he said. "I had some pretty high goals just for my own performance on special teams. And at linebacker I was really hoping to play a lot."
He earned a spot on the depth chart during spring drills at linebacker and his solid play continued into fall drills.
"Come two-a-days (in August) I was playing real well and I kind of aggravated a shoulder injury I had last year and it sat me out," he said. "Once I had to sit out a little bit, I guess you could say I lost the position as far as LB (linebacker) goes.
"I'm still playing special teams, but I haven't made as many tackles as I did last year on kickoff (coverage) and that's been disappointing for me."
The fact that Jakubowski will be finished with football after Tuesday's game hasn't sunk in yet.
"I don't think it's going to hit me until about Christmas time," he said. "I won't be used to the fact that I'm done with football. It's just something that's unheard of after playing for so many years."
Still, Jakubowski keeps things in perspective.
"I'm a firm believer in more than anything you have left and done on the field, what's most important is the relationships you've left behind; how much you've invested in the lives of your teammates," Jakubowski said. "I hope that at the end of the season I can look back and say I made a good investment in the lives of my teammates."
Brandon appreciates Jakubowski's efforts off the field.
"He's been a great team leader for us," Brandon said. "He's a great locker room guy; a quality person; a good person."
Jakubowski embraces the opportunity to be a team leader in the locker room.
"It's a role that is necessary and sometimes people overlook it and don't want to be it because it's not the spotlight or on the field," Jakubowski said. "It is a vital role to be supportive of your teammates. Even if you're on the field, you still need to have that role in being there for your teammates and sitting down and talking to them if they have problems and advising them or trying to help them in any way possible."
Even though he was not able to reach his personal goals for the season, Jakubowski said he made the right college choice.
"I know you have your downs and your ups," he said. "But overall I'm in a real competitive position to do what I want in the future with the life goals that I've set.
"I feel Bowling Green has been a huge step in that process of setting me up for the future."
Jakubowski plans to graduate in May and get a job in Houston where his younger brother, Joe, will be playing basketball for the Rice Owls.
However, in the long-term Jakubowski wants to live in Central America, helping bring Christianity and sports together. He's been to Central America on five occasions, including living there for six months in 2001.
"The vision that I have is kind of similar to what FCA's (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) mission is here in the U.S. which is to combine sports, young adults and the connection of athletes and God and Christ and bring those together," Jakubowski said. "Honestly, you could say that is my calling."
