Nice Omar story off the AP wire

[ZiggyZoomba]

Jacobs fits in perfectly at Bowling Green

BY JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press Writer
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) - Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs
gets some ribbing from his teammates when he misses badly on a
pass.
Luckily for him, it doesn't happen very often.
Jacobs leads the nation with 27 touchdown passes and ranks
fourth in passing efficiency - a stellar debut for a player with a
tough act to follow. The sophomore took over for Josh Harris, a
three-year starter who ended a record-breaking career with Bowling
Green in the Motor City Bowl last year.
"I'll throw a bad ball and it's like 'Josh would have made that
throw,"' Jacobs said. "I just laugh at them and keep going."
The Falcons' offense hasn't missed a beat this season, averaging
42 points and 492 yards.
Now Jacobs looks like the next in a line of stellar quarterbacks
from the Mid-American Conference that includes Harris, NFL starters
Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington, and Pittsburgh Steelers rookie
Ben Roethlisberger.
Jacobs has completed 70 percent of his passes and thrown only
two interceptions for the Falcons (7-2 overall, 5-1 MAC), going
into Saturday's matchup with Marshall.
His 170.1 passer rating tops that of the MAC's better known
quarterbacks, Bruce Gradkowski of Toledo and Charlie Frye of Akron.
Jacobs is also ahead of big names such as Cal's Aaron Rodgers,
Oklahoma's Jason White and USC's Matt Leinart.
What impresses his teammates and coaches most, though, is his
poise and confidence.
"I never really get rattled," Jacobs said. "You never see me
yelling or showing a lot of emotion on the field."
Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon knew Jacobs would be just fine
after the first series of the season-opener at No. 2 Oklahoma.
"I couldn't even hear anybody in the headset, and Omar was out
there like it's just another day," Brandon said.
Jacobs threw for two touchdowns in the 40-24 loss. Afterward,
Brandon told his team "we found our quarterback."
His first touchdown pass came when he scrambled after his
protection broke down and threw over a defender to Charles Sharon.
"It was an amazing play that a first-year starter against
Oklahoma wasn't supposed to make," receiver Cole Magner said.
"From that point on, I knew we had something special."
Scott Mruczkowski, a senior center and the team's lead jokester,
said Jacobs has more poise than anyone he's been around.
"He's such a great student of the game," Mruczkowski said.
"He knows where his receivers are going to be in certain
coverages. That's what separates him right now from other
quarterbacks in the league and in the country."
Another key to his breakout season is the surrounding cast. The
senior-dominated offensive line has allowed just seven sacks all
season, and he has a quintet of experienced receivers.
"He realizes his job is just to go out and play quarterback and
not worry about being a leader," Mruczkowski said.
Running back P.J. Pope, a second-year starter, nicknamed Jacobs
"cruise control" during their freshman year.
"That's just him," Pope said. "He's a laid-back person. He's
always like that even when we're off the field."
Jacobs, who grew up in Delray Beach, Fla., was one of the top
quarterbacks coming out of the state his senior year.
He thought he was going to Kansas State until they backed off
late during the recruiting season. Bowling Green found out a few
weeks before signing day that Jacobs didn't have a home.
"It was down to us and Buffalo," Brandon said. "It wasn't
like everybody was lining up, because nobody knew he was
available."
Jacobs couldn't be happier with how everything turned out,
razing and all.
He once walked into the team's meeting room to find that a
teammate drew a caricature of the quarterback on a chalkboard -
complete with Jacobs' signature dreadlocks.
"God works in mysterious ways," he said. "It's like a big
family. It's just great to be here."

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Flipper]

You hear that "it's like a big family here" comment from a number of players. That speaks well for the coaches and the seniors.

[TG1996]

didn't I see something about that being held until Thursday... ?

[ZiggyZoomba]

didn't I see something about that being held until Thursday... ?

Yeah, someone must have leaked it...

[Tricky_Falcon]

Thankfully he didn't go to Buffalo.

[kdog27]

I never knew Buffalo was an option. What a waste of talent that would of been

[Falconfreak90]

What a great story....how can you NOT love this kid???

And we have him for 2 more years.

[rc_ziggy84]

Nice use of that icon freak... 2 years...

Props to Freak!

P.S. I couldn't agree more... Omar for two more years! How awesome is that!