Remembering Jake Young
3 comments so far
May 31, 2007 by
While there’s no shortage of great offensive lineman in Nebraska’s past to look at, Jake Young is one that stands out as we observe Memorial Day this week. Most people know the sad circumstances of the terrorist bomb that prematurely took Jake’s life in Bali on October 12, 2002. But prior to that tragic day, Young was one of the many great lineman to pass through Nebraska to have an All-American career and yet be somewhat overlooked when we think of great Huskers from the past.
You wouldn’t think a two-time All-American player would be overlooked even at Nebraska, but in Young’s case it was definitely true. His heyday came just six years after Dave Rimington came through Lincoln winning the Outland twice as well as the Lombardi award. At least a guy like Rik Bonness had the benefit of preceding Rimington. Aaron Graham, was only named All-American once, but then that was as part of the greatest football team of all time, the 1995 Huskers. Dominic Raiola, won the Rimington Award (named for Dave Rimington and not presented until lafter Young’s playing days). Even Aaron Taylor, who moved to guard before winning the Outland in 1997 seemed more acclaimed than Young. With so many big names and great teams at Nebraska, it’s easy to get lost in a crowd.
But the 1988 and 1989 teams were special. The 1988 squad became the first to play in the Orange Bowl (the prize for the Big 8’s top team in those days) since the 1983 squad came within a failed two-point conversion of a national championship. More importantly, that team was the first to beat Oklahoma since 1983 and sent Barry Switzer into retirement a loser in his last Big 8 game. Young helped elevate quarterback Steve Taylor to All-American status (an honor that alluded Husker greats like Turner Gill and Scott Frost). In 1989, he helped Gerry Gdowski be Big 8 player of the year. In 1988 the Huskers rushed for a gaudy 382 yards a game and in 1989 for an equally huge 375 yard a game, in no small part due to Young.
I wish I could easily put my finger on the Jake Young “moment” that all fans remembered. Maybe it was helping Ken Clark outrush Barry Sanders in a memorable 63-42 shootout or how he helping Gerry Gdowski ring up five touchdowns against the Sooners in 1989. In any case, he was a player who represented Nebraska well as a great on-field talent and an Academic All-American and a successful attorney off it. Young was as good as they get in college football, so this week we remember Young the player, the scholar, and the man who did all Nebraskans proud.
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Gregory Jun 03 07
Wonderful entry, Steve!
It's been almost 5 years, already? Sometimes, something happens to someone, then we find out some things about their life, that we can't appreciate while they're still with us. Like Jake Young. He seemed to have carved out an interesting life for himself, up until that moment of extreme evil.
I remember him too, like alot of our young "heroes". One image I have of him, was sweat dripping off of his face at the start of the '89 Orange Bowl against Miami. I remember thinking at that moment, "we've got Jake, we've got a good chance tonight".
Peace, be with him.
OU7times Jun 20 07
The world needs more Jake Youngs' and alot less Mo Purifys',Charles Thompsons'Lawrence Phillips'and Rhett Bomars'.
++ Oct 10 07
"I wish I could easily put my finger on the Jake Young “moment” that all fans remembered."
I don't think fans could put a finger on a Jake moment. Those moments came every day at practice, in the weight room, in the class room, with friends. Those are the Jake moments that made everyone, he touched, a better person.