To Love What You Do

“It was only till the beginning of last season did I even begin to love the game of football.”

Despite amassing over 1,212 yards over his 4-year college career at the University of North Carolina, it wasn’t until J.J Jones fixated on the chinstraps of his helmet and journeyed onto the field at the Bank of America for the beginning of his third season in college could he say, “I enjoy playing the game of football.”

The storyline was set in stone for Jones. The North vs South of the Carolina universities engaged in battle whilst the blood red grappled with the purist blue in the crowds. The Tar Heels went on to win that night, the perfect parable to encapsulate what could be Jones’s catalyst to enjoying the game he was theoretically getting paid to play.

When Jones returned to the same field for the Duke Mayo Bowl four months later it was less of the moment but rather the opponent. The West Virginia Mountaineers struck deep into a complex history. Arriving from a family of American football players, including his father Jon Jones, a famous running back who later played professionally for the New York Giants and an alumnus of West Virginia. It was almost a certainty that Jones would follow suit and adjourn the navy and gold, a jersey and pathway that insurmountable pressure arrived with.

“I’m the youngest, and my elder brother played collegiate football at Coastal Carolina University, so I first have to be better than him, then I have to keep going and be better than my dad, so there’s so much pressure and it’s been there my whole life,” revealed Jones. “West Virginia was my dad’s story; I didn’t want to follow in his shadow and everyone to think I just went there because of him.”

At a crossroads, Jones decided to embark on his path, delving into a decision that was contentious amongst fans and higher-ups at West Virginia.

“I chose UNC to make a name for myself.” The Duke Mayo Bowl provided the perfect opportunity to show the Mountaineers exactly what they were missing. Jones was met with slurs, jeers and racism in his Instagram requests and backhanded comments from the higher-ups in the West Virginia football program after rejecting an offer to play.

A return to Bank of America in Charlotte, Jones arrived with a personal vendetta. A look up into the crowd unearthed a river of gold, blistering eyes now tinted Carolina Blue. To him, it was a symphony of naysayers and doubters, a perfect antagonist to fuel a perfect game.

Down 14-3, 50 seconds on a clock slowly waning towards the half. A drive to answer a difficult performance was necessary. It was a drive that encapsulated an unbearable amount of pressure that weighed upon the shoulders of Jones ever since his college decision.

 Snap at the 50, bang, number five, J.J. Jones catches it at the five for a gain of 45.

Flag on the play, out of bounds. What was the perfect reception curtailed, 2nd down.

“I needed to show them how much I needed to win this game, how much I wanted to beat them.”

 A small gain had the Tar Heels at 2nd and 4, 18 yards to a touchdown. 32 seconds on the clock. Snap. Throw. Touchdown, number 5 J.J Jones barrels past the cornerback to catch it in the endzone.

Flag on the play, caught, incomplete.

“I was pissed off; you could tell from the broadcast I was pissed off with the ref.”

Two feet dragged along the endzone as Jones cradled the ball into his right hand. This was the moment – this was his moment. Antagonisers in the crowd relished whilst the refs combined to discuss the decision.

Ruling on the floor, Touchdown.

“I had 15 seconds before my teammates made it to me, I ran to a section of West Virginia fans and yelled, This my shit! This my shit! This is my shit!”

“It was me vs them for 15 seconds.”

Jones’s teammates and coaches were aware of the moment’s significance as they collapsed upon him with elation, his father and family in the stands proud of his accomplishment.

His road continues as he prepares for the NFL, but his most important moment, the moment he fell in love with the sport, came at the Bank of America stadium, where Jones stood fast against his doubters and told them who “runs this shit”.