Sports
Tyler Jamison (Part 2), Feb. 14
Curtis' quarterback and Diary writer announces where he will play college football next year, a choice he knew was right in his heart. Aside from football, the school gives him a chance to become closer with God.
On Thursday, Feb. 10, I got a call from the Azusa Pacific coaching staff. They said they wanted me to come play for them, and they could help pay for college!
I sat down with my parents, and we decided it was the best place for me. So I committed! I'm gonna be a again!
It is very relieving, knowing what I am doing next year. The recruiting process is long and takes a lot out of you when you're trying to sell yourself. I did not say much on Azusa Pacific in because, it was where I thought I'd end up, and I wanted it.
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Here's a brief description of APU football. They are NAIA, which is a less-restricted organization, not part of the NCAA. The majority of their games are against NCAA Division II teams like Southern Oregon and the Central Washington-type teams.
Being NAIA, it is allowed to play beyond D-II. For example, its first game is against University of San Diego, which is D-IAA, the next step down from D-I. DII-AA for Portland State and . In addition to these two levels, Azusa also plays D-III's and other NAIA's. At the end of its season it enters the NAIA National Playoffs. APU is actually in the application process of becoming D-II, which will happen in few years. The reason for this is so it can get in a competitive league, a luxury it doesn't presently have being independent.
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My visit of the campus started at 6 a.m.! First, we watched a morning workout that the team went through. It consisted of lifting, speed training, balancing and wrestling. Then at 7:30 a.m., we ate breakfast at the buffet-style cafe, which was very good. Soon after we ate, we went into the trophy room and listened to the assistant dean of admissions, then we watched a football video showing what their program's all about.
Next, we went to chapel in the brand new gym, another appealing attribute of the school. Students are required to attend three times a week. We then toured the whole school, which ended at the football stadium. There, we were measured, weighed and timed. I threw to the receiver recruits as well. The campus had to have been the nicest school I've ever seen. I had that feeling that it was the place for me. After working out we had lunch and left and waited for the call I got last week!
I am very excited to go down to Azusa to start football in July. Not only will I be part of a great football program, but I will have an opportunity to get closer to God and attend a highly academically rated school.