University of Georgia Athletics
David Jacobs Tackled Adversity And Now Thriving
September 30, 2011 | Football
Sept. 30, 2011
By Loran Smith
If you endure a life-threatening experience, as David Jacobs did, your attitude changes and your perspective becomes indelibly brushed with gratefulness and appreciation.
Here is a man who was one of the best defensive linemen in the country when he was a junior at Georgia in 2001. Though a bit undersized at 6-feet-4-inches and 275 pounds, he had the heart of a lion and used a determined attitude to become a highly effective player. He would not be denied on the field.
The Bulldogs were flourishing under a new head coach, Mark Richt, and David could foresee himself making it in the National Football League. "He was so competitive," says Dave Van Halanger, Georgia director of player welfare. "You knew he would make plays and that he would make a difference. It was his attitude."
Jacobs wanted to compete, and he wanted to compete against the best. But it was not to be. At practice the week of the Ole Miss game, the right side of his body suddenly went numb. He had a piercing headache. He knew something was wrong. Sometime later when he was at the hospital, he got confirmation that his life was in jeopardy. He had been unconscious for a while and was in a state of semi-consciousness when he heard the doctor explain to his family that the surgery required was something that only a few people survived.
Officially, he had suffered a vertebral artery occlusion. Ron Courson, Georgia athletic trainer explains: "He received a blow to the head in practice that forcibly twisted his neck, occluding the artery. A clot formed that broke loose and caused a stroke."
Jacob's situation was bleak. Nonetheless, he maintained faith that he would survive. He knew that he probably would not play football again, but he was determined to rebuild his life and to become an altruistic citizen in his community. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he maintained a faith that would ensure that he regained his health.
He did survive the surgery, but a long and dedicated rehabilitation lay ahead of him. He had to regain the use of his right side; he had to learn to walk again. He had to regain his ability to speak without slurring his words.
"The way I looked at it," David says, "I had survived the operation and all I had to do was do what I had learned on the football field. Football taught me how to get through the tough times. If you want to succeed in football, you have to work hard. You have to be willing to accept challenge. When I got out of the hospital, I was ready to go to work. I felt like I had been blessed and the rest was up to me."
Little by little, bit-by-bit, he began to regain his physical well-being. He learned to walk, he learned to talk, and he never lost sight of his goal to get his degree, raise a family, and become gainfully employed. Today he is an account manager for Academy Mortgage Corporation. He visits field offices in Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama in his work.
Every day, he gets up for an intense workout--jogging and lifting weights. He wants to stay fit. When he is not busy at work, he spends time with his sons, David, two, and Dawson, one. He and his wife, Desiree are busy with church activities and work to support nonprofit organizations. Giving back could be his middle name.
One of his biggest supporters is the man who recruited him, Rodney Garner. "As a player, he had unbelievable quickness," Garner says. "He was one of the quickest I ever coached. He loved to play football. Nobody had greater passion for the game than David. I certainly think he could have made it in the NFL, but to see how he has handled the challenge he faced makes me as proud of him as any of our players who have dominated in pro football for years. David Jacobs is a fine human being, and I get a lift emotionally when he comes around with that smile and that great attitude of his."
Hang around David Jacobs and you will get inspired too. Before long, you realize he has a wealth of friends. People gravitate to him. They like being around him. In addition to being an exceptional football player, he was a beloved teammate.
"David was truly an inspiration to work with," Courson says. "To see him overcome all the tremendous obstacles he faced is something I will never forget. Although his football career was cut short by the injury, he persevered to become a champion in life."
