Back to School
Former football player back through NCAA, looks to close decade-long chapter, finish degree
Tim Bella
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: News
Worthen, who played defensive tackle in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans, now serves as an academic adviser for TCU's Athletic Academic Services, and was one of the individuals who played a pivotal role during the application process.
Worthen said Jones' "unwavering faith and perseverance" and his "hunger for education" have made him more determined than ever to finish what he started as a freshman in 1997.
"It means a lot more to him now because you don't have the foolish pride you have as a youth getting in the way," Worthen said.
His game
Toward the end of Sullivan's tenure, Jones said, he started to realize that football wasn't as fun as it once was. After Sullivan resigned and Dennis Franchione was named head coach, Jones said it was like starting all over again and felt that the camaraderie between Franchione's staff and Sullivan's players could have been better than what it was.
After withholding a back injury from coaches during his junior year, Jones saw his playing time drop as he had difficulty standing up without pain, which took away his ability to cut and be the type of effective runner he wanted to be.
Jones said he had lost his love for the game, and it was evident in his off-field behavior. Jones said that even though he wasn't clinically diagnosed as being depressed, there was no doubt in his mind that depression had taken over.
He said he would regularly stay up late and drink by himself, and took the life of a hermit, not returning the phone calls of friends. He couldn't even garner the support of his father, who he described as being "a seasonal father" during football season.
"I notice a lot of people's attitudes change when they see you're not making the NFL," Jones said. "I couldn't have relationships with anybody because I couldn't live up to the hype of being a superstar athlete."
When his depression started to wear off, Jones continued to stay away from watching football for three years. After having a conversation with LaDainian Tomlinson, in which Tomlinson shared how proud he was of Jones and his spiritual life, Jones' love for the game returned, and said his wife now has a hard time getting him away from the television if a football game is on.
Worthen said Jones' "unwavering faith and perseverance" and his "hunger for education" have made him more determined than ever to finish what he started as a freshman in 1997.
"It means a lot more to him now because you don't have the foolish pride you have as a youth getting in the way," Worthen said.
His game
Toward the end of Sullivan's tenure, Jones said, he started to realize that football wasn't as fun as it once was. After Sullivan resigned and Dennis Franchione was named head coach, Jones said it was like starting all over again and felt that the camaraderie between Franchione's staff and Sullivan's players could have been better than what it was.
After withholding a back injury from coaches during his junior year, Jones saw his playing time drop as he had difficulty standing up without pain, which took away his ability to cut and be the type of effective runner he wanted to be.
Jones said he had lost his love for the game, and it was evident in his off-field behavior. Jones said that even though he wasn't clinically diagnosed as being depressed, there was no doubt in his mind that depression had taken over.
He said he would regularly stay up late and drink by himself, and took the life of a hermit, not returning the phone calls of friends. He couldn't even garner the support of his father, who he described as being "a seasonal father" during football season.
"I notice a lot of people's attitudes change when they see you're not making the NFL," Jones said. "I couldn't have relationships with anybody because I couldn't live up to the hype of being a superstar athlete."
When his depression started to wear off, Jones continued to stay away from watching football for three years. After having a conversation with LaDainian Tomlinson, in which Tomlinson shared how proud he was of Jones and his spiritual life, Jones' love for the game returned, and said his wife now has a hard time getting him away from the television if a football game is on.
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