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Jorma Bailey - Not Just A Football Player
11/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2002
Often times, whether out of childhood fantasies or adult misconceptions, football players are only seen as "football players." They are not thought of off the field, but seen only as the rough and tough person they portray in practice or on game day. Most football players have a completely different off-the-field persona; they even have interests outside the football world that would probably surprise most people. Jorma Bailey, for example, is just one football player with a wide variety of interests.
Bailey, a 5-11, 194-pound junior linebacker was a big art buff in high school. He enjoys abstract art and has even completed some of his own pieces. Bailey says he is a "nature type of guy" and enjoys the artwork because it gives him a "soul feeling." "[Abstract art] is a hobby for me. I like all kinds of art, but abstract art puts emotion on paper," Bailey said.
Another one of Bailey's interest is poetry. In the little amount of free time he has available, after classes and practice, Bailey enjoys writing poetry and listening to music, especially reggae music. "Reggae - that is soul," Bailey said, when asked what reggae music means to him.
Skydiving is another activity Bailey is interested in; in fact it is his craziest ambition. He hasn't had the time to complete all the necessary training that is required prior to making a jump, needing four more of the six hours of training. Bailey has, however, bungee jumped and B.A.S.E. (building, antenna, span, and earth) jumped.
As a member of the TU student body, Bailey is actively involved in the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and is majoring in video documentary aimed toward sales promotion and advertising. He joined the fraternity because it "promotes manhood, scholarship attainment, perseverance and uplift," he said, which are also his four core values. Bailey is also involved in a foundation in Clearwater, Fla., called the YES Program. This program helps young kids and adults, from the age of 13-18, gain summer employment in jobs such as office clerks or camp counselors. Bailey was a youth counselor for the YES Program. He "felt privileged to actually take part in the program - I wanted to help out," he said.
Football is of course another interest of Bailey's. He is in his second full season as a Hurricane linebacker after making the switch from the running back position in 2000. "The only thing that is new to the position is giving the hit and tackling, instead of taking the hit as a running back," Bailey said. "You still need speed, agility and the ability to feel where the hole is going to be."
During the 2001 season, Bailey was fourth on the team with 51 tackles, but "of course I can't settle for fourth this year," he said. "In competing, you're going to fall, you're going to get beat for your spot, but the toughest thing is coming back and trying to be better. Competition is striving to be your best, but also trying to be a leader and a person people can depend on. If you are working hard and they [teammates] are competing for your spot, they are going to work hard as well," Bailey added.
At East Lake High School, Bailey, who was a tailback and a free safety, was ranked 15th among the Best Seniors in the Bay Area in football. In his junior and senior years, Bailey earned first-team all-conference and first-team all-district honors, respectively.
Off the football field, Bailey lettered one year in basketball and three years in track. As a senior in 1999, he won the long jump state championship with a jump of 24'3". Bailey thinks of himself as one very determined individual, having high aspirations for himself. "If I have a goal planned, I'm going to get it. Tooth, nail, bite and claw, I'm going to shed my blood, sweat and tears, to do whatever it takes to get what I want," he said.
In being such a determined individual, Bailey who had to take classes from Tulsa Community College, work full-time and study for the ACT just to be a part of the Hurricane football team, appreciates where he is today. His determination is led by the want to impress - his mother, his sister and his family. "I want to make them proud," he said.
Bailey is the first in his family to attend a four-year institution. "I've kind of paved the way for my little sister [Ciara]. From day one she has always strived to fit my footsteps, so I'm pretty proud of her," Bailey said. Ciara, who is 15 years old and stands at 6'1", wants to play basketball at the collegiate level.
