Photo: FOXBORO MA. – OCTOBER 27: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick smiles as he walks off the field with quarterback Tom Brady after beating the Cleveland Browns 27-13 for his 300th win at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxboro, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
We are in the dead period of no football.
Football fans may be tuning into the XFL, but are still glued to NFL Network as the combine has just ended and March 18th (new league year date) fastly approaches us. This date has significant meaning, the most exciting part of the offseason besides the draft starts which is the Free agent frenzy.
There are multiple players in this year’s Free Agent pool, but none bigger than the GOAT Tom Brady. The 42 year old QB is still seemingly on top of his game and almost every team will place a bid on him. Some of the bigger players in this are the Titans, Chargers, Raiders, with the outside chance of the 49ers saying they’d want to bring the Cali kid back home to the bay.
Brady holds the cards to a lot of other Quarterbacks futures as if he is the first to fall. The offseason can take turns and change the course of the NFL unlike what we have seen before. My personal opinion is that we will see Tom back in that Pats uniform as his relationship with owner Robert Kraft is as close as father son as an owner QB can be.
If Tom does go anywhere I think he would go to San Francisco and be closer to where he grew up and where his family is.
So, NFL fans get ready because this offseason looks to be a crazy one.
As I toured various college campuses, I can still hear myself saying, “This is nice. I could maybe like it here.” Then I visited Jamestown, and I knew I was home. I felt an instant click—looking back, I can’t picture doing college anywhere else. University of Jamestown has brought me some of the best teammates, coaches, friends, and professors I could have ever asked for.
Jamestown has been home for these past four years; it’s helped me grow in ways I never could have imagined.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Four years of soccer under the famous Coach Becker has forged a bond with many of my teammates—one I’m sure we will never lose. There’s something about a preseason full of 3-a-days that tends to burn into your brain. I can’t forget the fitness tests on the track that end with a sprint up the hill, just because Coach walked down and “thought it looked fun.”
I will forever cherish the long bus trips with their spontaneous karaoke and shenanigans, the numerous team adventures. I will even miss running X’s for punishment (maybe when the pain isn’t so fresh).
All jokes aside, this program has shown me what true passion and drive looks like. I will forever be proud of my teammates and the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve shed for this program (I’ve had my fair share of bloodstained white jerseys).
Coach Jack and Coach Becker, thank you for all you do. You have truly helped shape me into the person I am today.
What being a Jimmie means to me
To me, a Jimmie is well-rounded. Being a Biology major, the majority of my classes are in the sciences. Before coming to UJ, I decided to apply for their leadership program. Joining this program has allowed me to meet students from all different majors and activities. Most importantly, it’s been a program that has made me think and reflect in ways that I never would have within my major courses.
Jimmies give back. One of my favorite things about UJ is our relationship with the community. When the city was being threatened with flooding this past fall, we volunteered as a team to help. There were numerous students, teams, staff, and faculty that were out helping the community prepare. This to me is special; our UJ community extends far past our campus.
Lastly, a Jimmie is PROUD to be a Jimmie. I love being part of something that is so clearly bigger than myself. Our UJ community supports each other, whether that be in the arts or athletics. We truly have a one-of-a-kind culture here.
As I approach graduation this spring, I will have to come to terms with the fact that I’ll be leaving Jamestown behind. I know moving away from my best friends and teammates won’t be easy. However, I take comfort in the fact that UJ has helped prepare me for the real world. The instant I set foot on this campus, I knew it was meant to be.
About 6 years ago, I received a letter in the mail from a place I had never heard of, University of Jamestown.
At that moment, my journey here began. Ever since then, my life has felt like a movie.
There is just something about this place, and I’ve felt it from the moment I stepped foot onto campus. Approaching the end of my time here, I have been reflecting, and it is really astounding how many things have happened here that will affect me for the rest of my life.
What’s Happened Here
I’ve met the most kind, funny, and intelligent women, who I am lucky enough to call my best friends for life. I met my boyfriend, who recently became my fiancé after proposing in the spot where I first stepped foot on campus. I have had teammates who were like a second family to me. I have been able to grow in my learning and really push the limits of my knowledge and study skills (thanks O-Chem). I have also developed a huge passion for science and developed an excitement to pursue science as a career after my academic career here.
The benefits of a small school
The small-school aspect has benefited me in surprising ways. In my recent travels from one graduate school interview to another, I’ve missed a fair amount of school. But for two weeks in a row, a professor of mine has come in on Sundays to do make-up work with me. Whenever I mention this to other interviewees from bigger schools, they respond with shock.
I truly believe that these college years are some of the most important years of our lives. I’ve learned the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people that will support you, challenge you, and make you laugh. This idea was really established for me during my time here. I feel as though I was encouraged to thrive and have been set up for success throughout life, not just academically or career wise.
You’d think four years is a long time away from home, from friends, and from family. These last four years have been anything but long. For that, I can thank the University of Jamestown for making my experience here exciting and engaging—time never seemed to stop. I guess time really does fly when you are having fun.
I still remember breaking the news to my family and friends that I was going to North Dakota to attend the University of Jamestown. I was going to earn my degree while playing for the UJ hockey team—a dream come true. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how much this journey would change my life for the better.
More than just a University, a second home
When I arrived, I was immediately impressed by the University and its sense of community. From day one, UJ has shown that it cares about me, providing an environment conducive for academic success and athletic achievement.
From the school administration to the staff and faculty, everyone who I have interacted with has always been friendly, supportive, and willing to go the extra mile to help me. I have been especially lucky to have amazing professors who have guided me to success during my time here and have prepared me to succeed in the future. They’ve set me up with internships, helped with applications, and provided me with the advice I needed.
The University has truly become a second home for me. A shout out also goes to my fellow classmates. I have met so many amazing students here. With such driven students wanting to make a difference, organizations and programs on campus flourish, like Samaritan’s Feet and the University Honors Program. With enthusiastic students willing to initiate, engage, and excite, it’s hard not to have fun.
A special group, a second family
When Coach Stork recruited me to the University of Jamestown Hockey Team, I was thrilled. I was honored to represent the Jimmies on and off the ice with teammates who had the same drive, ambition, and love of hockey. Three years ago, we connected instantly as a group. Every guy on the team brought something special. There was a sense of collective being formed right away.
New faces, a new university, and a new hockey program—that’s a lot of unknowns. As a team, we have faced these unknowns and have come out as a family. It’s not very often you can grow on and off the ice with the same group for four years. Now fast forward three years, we still have sixteen original players, plus new teammates who have instantly become a part of the family.
We have Coach Stork leading us in the charge and our strength and conditioning coach, Coach Ryder, ensuring we have that “dog mentality” down the home stretch. We have gained so many experiences as a group and have made memories for a lifetime.
Thank you to all the guys for making my experience an unforgettable one. In just over a month, we will be on our way to make more memories and battle for a goal we first made four years ago: to WIN a national championship.
When my time at University of Jamestown is complete, I’ll remember the amazing people who influenced my life and made this journey so unforgettable most. They say part of the journey is the end, and I wouldn’t want this journey to end anywhere else or with any other group. Thank you UJ, for an amazing four years!
Five years ago, if someone had told me that I’d be packing up everything and moving to the Great White North for college, I never would have believed them.
After high school, I had little, if any, interest in attending college. My plans changed in July of 2015. I was working construction that summer and lacking a sense of fulfillment; I had no idea what the next step was going to be.
Taking a leap of faith
One morning, I was insulating a roof, and I got a text message offering me a scholarship to come to UJ and wrestle. I was a little nervous about this decision—I had never been that far from Idaho Falls, ID, before, and all I knew about North Dakota was that the winters are harsh. But, I didn’t think I’d get another chance like this, so I quit my job and took a leap of faith.
I felt very excited and terrified the entire drive out here. I was the first of three boys to move out of the house, one of only a few family members to go to college, and the first college athlete in my family. I had absolutely no idea where I was going or what I was doing.
As soon as I arrived, I was blown away, not just by the wind, but by the town and the people in it. I loved the small town everybody-knows-everybody environment that UJ creates. Within minutes of meeting a couple of teammates, we were already planning weekend fishing trips.
Throughout the years, I’ve met wonderful people and had great times hunting and fishing with current students and alumni.
From Teammates to Friends
The opportunity to continue wrestling has been the greatest blessing I ever could have asked for. I’ve had several training partners over the years, and I often think of them as brothers rather than teammates. There’s a certain bond that’s built by spending hours each day beating up on each other. And we don’t just train together; I’ve taken several of them fishing or shooting for the first time, and I still keep in touch with those who have graduated.
One of my greatest memories at UJ was this last duck season when a teammate and alum, Jackson Schauer, was visiting with his family. His family took me and another teammate duck hunting for a weekend. There were seven of us total, and we killed more than one hundred birds over a three-day period. Being a part of this team has pushed me to improve as a wrestler every day and introduced me to the greatest people that I’ve ever known.
Choosing a Major
I didn’t declare a major until my sophomore year. I threw myself into a bunch of classes as a freshman, but spent more time fishing than I did studying. When the time came, I chose two majors: Biology and Spanish.
I started that year off feeling very arrogant, because I passed all my classes as a freshman and was the varsity wrestler at 165—that is until I showed up to General Chemistry, and I got humbled right away. Realizing that my professors were going to demand the best from me put into perspective how much I had to learn and mature in order to reach my goals. My professors have pushed me and believed in me over the years, which has led to me winning two scholarships for my research in Jamestown and Churchill, Manitoba.
Looking Back
Five years ago, I had no idea what the future would hold for me, and my experience as a Jimmie has been like drinking from a firehose. I’ve gained an excellent education, had a great wrestling career, met wonderful people, and caught a lot of fish in the process. Being a Jimmie has been nothing short of an extraordinary experience, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history…God did this so that they would seek Him and reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any of us.” Acts 17:26-27
When I reflect on my time at UJ, these verses come to mind. Before coming to college, I didn’t know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, or how I wanted to live my life, but my time here at University of Jamestown has given me such clarity and joy.
God had a plan for me to come to Jamestown, so that I would “seek Him and reach out for Him and find Him.” I’ll briefly share my story.
My name is Julia Johnson, and I am a senior nursing major at University of Jamestown. I also compete in track and field. My first semester at UJ, I had a lot of questions about who I should be, what I should major in, and who God is. Through a great group of friends, late-night talks, and helpful conversations with the professors and mentors here, God began to shape my heart that I might seek Him and seek what He wanted for my life.
After my first semester, I switched my major to nursing and got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ.
I can’t thank God, my family, my friends, and UJ enough for the guidance and love I’ve received here. It truly is a place like nowhere else. Walking across campus, I know most every student. My professors know me by name and care to know about what is going on in my life.
Through this amazing small campus in North Dakota, God changed my life and blessed me with the opportunity to know and love Him.
I have been an English Education major here at UJ for more than four semesters now. I would describe my experience here as worthwhile.
My professors have challenged me to actually make the effort to learn in their classes. They demonstrate that they know what they are talking about; yet, they haven’t been detached from me or my peers. They are professional, yet personal. I know I will leave UJ with a quality education.
My Favorite Things About UJ
Some of my favorite things about UJ are the student organizations. I have participated in several clubs including Cru and the history club, where I have made some really good friends.
Since I’m only one of three English majors in my class, student organizations have been a great way to connect with people who share common interests with me. I like clubs so much that I actually started a chapter of a national club called the Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA) Club.
Why I Love College
I love college, because it is where conversations happen. People have completely different worldviews and opinions, so they get into great conversations. These conversations are meaningful because they facilitate critical thinking, which in turn, helps people grow closer to the truth. Conversation has definitely characterized my time here at UJ—probably more than any other time in my life. I love it.
I have also enjoyed my time being a cellist in the pit orchestra for the fall musicals. I like that I don’t have to be on stage, but I still get to contribute. Like playing a sport, I feel like I’m a part of a team.
I’m a Resident Assistant in Kroeze Hall this year with freshmen, and it’s crazy to think that I’m already a junior. Time flies when you’re having fun…and studying hard.
