Ahead of the Game
Team leaders balance demands of their academic, athletic lives

Interview by Mary Alice Casey
Photography by Rick Fatica

Jacquie Negrelli Age: 20 Year in school: sophomore Major: criminology, but considering a switch to sports industry Sport: women's basketball Position: point guard Time in sport: since sixth grade Hometown: Euclid, Ohio Coach's quote: "Jacquie has responded in a positive manner to everything we've asked her to do. She wants to win, and she is a winner. She's just a quality person." - Coach Lynn Bria

Dontrell Jackson Age: 18 Year in school: freshman Major: accounting Sport: football Position: quarterback Time in sport: since second grade Hometown: Harvey, Ill. Coach's quote: "Dontrell's leadership abilities are his greatest strength. He has a great work ethic, and he's always positive and upbeat." - Coach Jim Grobe

Successful leaders often have much in common: an intense desire to achieve, an ability to bring out the best in others, a vision of victory.

Two student-athletes filling key leadership positions at Ohio University share those traits - along with the respect and confidence of their peers and coaches. They are Jacquie Negrelli, point guard on the women's basketball team, and Dontrell Jackson, quarterback of the football team.

In a recent interview, they shared their thoughts on their athletic pursuits, the struggle to balance sports and studies and their willingness to be good role models. Listen in on part of the conversation.

On a student-athlete's typical day
Dontrell: A typical day for me is very long, so you have to be upbeat to get through it. I wake up at around 8:30, take a shower and eat breakfast. After that I'm off to class at 10 and I'm done at 12. I go to lunch at 12:30 and study tables from 1 to 3. At 3:30, I have football meetings and then practice from 4 to 6. Dinner's at 7 and then I go to my two-hour accounting class from 8 to 10. I study for about two more hours and go to bed at about 12.
Jacquie: During the season, sometimes we have practice at 6 in the morning and then we have practice every day from 3 to 6 p.m. Everybody thinks the early practice is the worst thing, like people on other teams and my roommate, but you get used to it. I enjoy basketball enough that it's fine with me. Then I go to classes and then go to practice in the afternoon.

On balancing commitments
Jacquie: I think during the season it's hardest. You could possibly miss three or four days of school in one week. So you're constantly trying to make things up or work ahead, talking with your professors or sending them e-mails. During the season, if you need an extra day to study, some teachers might agree because they know what it's like: you're on the road constantly, you're flying everywhere. But you have to make an effort to show that you care about your classes.
Dontrell: In everything you do, you have to have commitment - in the classroom, on the field - or you won't succeed. What I like the most about college is the challenge. Whether it's the big test or the big football game, I love a good challenge.

On being a role model
Jacquie: I do think it's really important. When we go to the middle school, the kids have so many questions for us. A lot of girls that age come to all of our games, they know all of our names and they're ball girls for us. When you see these kids, you just make an effort to know who they are and say hi to them.
Dontrell: I believe that it's very important for athletes to act as role models in the community because we have a lot of people watching us, including young children. My mother always told me, "Don't do anything that will bring you shame or pain." I live by that and go on my way.

On your choice of Ohio University
Jacquie: A lot of people told me, "When you see the school you want, you'll know it. You'll be able to picture yourself there." And that's exactly what happened to me. I love it here. Even if I wasn't playing basketball, I would still go here.
Dontrell: I believe that choosing Ohio University was one of the greatest decisions I've made. I have come in contact with many nice people and, as far as academics is concerned, there aren't many schools that can top Ohio University. I could have gone to plenty of other schools (he was offered full scholarships to the University of Michigan, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Boston College), but I came to Ohio because it's the best place for me.

Key statistics Female student-athletes: 256 Male student-athletes: 304 Average GPA: 2.95 Academic achievements: Thirty-nine student-athletes received Mid-American Conference academic honors in 1998-99 and six were named Academic All-Americans. The NCAA ranks Ohio University No. 10 in the nation and best in the state for its 76 percent graduation rate for football players. Community service: All teams are expected to participate in at least two major community service projects during the academic year. Sportsmanship honors: Ohio Athletics recently received the Rotary Club of Detroit's Sportsmanship of the Year Award. Given to one school per year in the Mid-American Conference, the award recognizes sportsmanship in college football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball.

On game-day emotions
Dontrell: I just get really excited about the competition. I get a rush. I think about how I'm going to react to the challenge, how I'm going to step up to it.
Jacquie: In every game, I'm so serious. I think that's funny because I'm not usually like that. All I can think about is that I have to win. I don't know, I just hate losing so much that it makes me really serious.

On your leadership role
Jacquie: I went from playing barely at all last year to having such an important position, one where everybody looked to me for leadership and direction. I love that responsibility. I want to be the one out there who my coach looks to. No matter how I was playing, bad or good, I had to keep my head up the whole game, and that was something I had to work hard on. I'm only a sophomore this year and there are a lot of older girls on my team, but they never looked at it like "she's just a sophomore" or "we don't have to listen to her." They still respected everything I said and the way I played.
Dontrell: I got a lot of help from the older guys on the field. They wanted me to be their leader, and I wanted it, too. I worked hard every day, and my teammates like to see that. They're willing to get behind someone who's giving 110 percent all the time. To me, football resembles life. When you're playing football, and in life, you get breaks - some good and some bad. But no matter what, if you keep fighting on that field and if you keep working hard for that 'A' in the classroom, soon it will come and you will be No. 1. I try to remember that all things come through Jesus Christ and not to think about what could have been, but about what's going to be - because I made it that way.

On the support of fans
Dontrell: You can just hear the fans, all 22,000 of them, screaming at the top of their lungs whether we're winning or losing. I am so grateful to alumni for giving us so many of the opportunities we have today. They left their mark here for other good college players to come in. They put this school on a pedestal - athletically and academically. I'm proud of my school because of its history.
Jacquie: We had so many people at our games this year, and we appreciate that so much. It's much more fun playing in front of a lot of people. It's the extra lift you need during a game.

Mary Alice Casey is editor of Ohio Today.