My Family, My Faith and One Final Ride
9/21/2023 10:25:00 AM | Football
Houston offensive lineman Jack Freeman pulls back the curtain on his journey
By Jack Freeman, Houston Senior Offensive Lineman
My sports family
I started playing football at a young age. My dad coached kids for around 20 years – he was coaching fourth graders at the time. I was four years old, and he padded me up and took me out to practice with him.
Every weekend, I'd play soccer, baseball or football. I eventually got too big for soccer, and it became mainly football, basketball and basketball. We've always been a sports-type family. My sisters played basketball in high school. My oldest sister played basketball and cheered in college. My dad played football and basketball in high school. I never knew anything different.
My 'why'
My mom texts me every day. I'm so thankful she is still living and breathing and able to see me play games. My whole family came down this past week. It was her birthday weekend. I really wanted to get that win for her. That's always been what she's wanted to do is watch me play football.
The other day she sent me a picture of a note I wrote to my future self in eighth grade. It said something like, "Dear Jack, don't get too ugly. I hope you become a great man playing in the NFL and doing what you love to do." That was my goal whenever I was younger. She knew that and she's been pushing me since I was young. My whole family has because they can see my full potential.
It's amazing to me to know I have such a supportive and loving family – especially my mom. She always wants me to do better including academically – even though I already have my degree. She wants the best for me while she's going through all these different things.
That's my biggest 'why.' I could be in a way worse position. Whenever I went through that back in 2021, losing my starting spot, it sucked, but it can always be worse. That's what I try to preach to our guys. We're so blessed and fortunate to be here. To wake up and see another beautiful day that God provided us. It's good to take a step back and really understand that. There are some families and kids out there not knowing when or how their next meal is coming. My mom is dealing with chemo. Whenever practice or conditioning gets hard, I know I can do it because life can be a lot harder.
I always try to think about my 'why.' A lot of that is my family. This has been a lifetime goal of mine – not only to play in the NFL but to be able to make to college in sports and not make my parents pay for my education.
Putting my faith in Him
Football is normally the thing that can help you escape the outside. I wasn't able to do that because I didn't have my starting spot back in 2021. I'm proud of myself because I could have easily transferred. That would have been the easy way out. Sometimes you have to be humbled and that was a humbling experience.
I prayed to God every day. He knows the answers. It was a hard time for me. I would talk to my parents and sisters. Eventually I was told through signs from God that I was supposed to be here. I came to a consensus that I'm supposed to be here. That was the worst I'd ever been. I was depressed and had a lot going on.
There aren't a lot of players who can say at 19 years old they have a starting spot at center at a big university. I was in an amazing spot. I didn't invest myself in football. Kody Russey was brought in. I had to get myself to get better. I always knew I had it in me.
Don't be afraid to be you
Whenever I was younger, if I saw a guy like myself or Pat Paul, I'd be in awe. I'd want to talk to them or want their gloves. Any chance I get when we're walking out the tunnel or going up to the locker room, I always want to give my towel, headband, my gloves – anything I can give to the kids because I know they cherish that. I go back to talk to the Midlothian Youth Football League in my hometown and they look up to me as a college football player. I want to bring light and joy into the world. It's God's work.
I hope any kid who's having a tough time or is getting bullied knows they can talk to somebody. Never hold that stuff in. It's the worst thing you can do. That's what happened to me and I'll never forget it. Back in middle school, I was getting picked on. I didn't tell anybody. I wrote down when it happened. I remember bawling my eyes out. I went and told my best friend at the time. He didn't even know. The best thing you can do is tell somebody. Telling somebody – especially someone you trust – can fix and change things. You're no different than anyone else.
We can be something great
The focus is on Sam Houston now. They have the top pass defense in the country. It will be a big test for us offensively. We know we need to step it up. I haven't lost confidence in our offense because we can be something great. I saw it throughout fall camp. It's about bits and pieces here and there. We need all 11 guys. We did that in fall camp. Especially on critical downs where one person is the biggest factor. That hurt us in the last game. That has been our biggest focus this week. We expect a lot better because we know we're a lot better.
#hoUSton
I've been thinking about how we lost two games and I don't want to lose any fans. We had our first game in the Big 12 and we could have made history. So many people were excited to see that. It hurts me seeing the fans coming to our games or traveling
to watch us and having faith only for us to not get it done.
Having all those fans there against UTSA and TCU, that's what I've always wanted after the last few years. Season tickets went insane this year. We were so appreciative of that knowing there would be so many fans in the stands.
I hate losing more than I like winning. It's just my mindset. We want everyone to be there, and we want to put on for the city. We don't just want to be a basketball school. We want every sport to do well. Volleyball is doing well as is basketball and soccer. We want to be on that same page. We want to do it for the fans who get season tickets and come to the games and spend their Saturday with us. It's not even about us – we're all a family. That's why there's "us" in Houston. We want to put on for the city of Houston.
Last go-around
College went by fast. I'm fortunate to have even had this extra year to play and help. If the Lord wants me to go to the NFL or get drafted, I'll get drafted or picked up. He knows what I'll be doing. I'm turning 24 this year so it's been basically 20 years since I started playing football. Knowing that has always been my biggest goal and my college career is almost over, I want the best for the season.
On my way up to the facility today, I was thinking about that. I was thinking about my freshman year in 2018 when we played in the Armed Forces Bowl and we set some unfortunate records. I listened and watched all those seniors weep and cry. I didn't understand at the time because I knew I had four or five years left of college. It's gone by so fast. That's going to be me here in about 10 games. I want to make the most of the rest of my senior year.
Go Coogs! 🐾
My sports family
I started playing football at a young age. My dad coached kids for around 20 years – he was coaching fourth graders at the time. I was four years old, and he padded me up and took me out to practice with him.
Every weekend, I'd play soccer, baseball or football. I eventually got too big for soccer, and it became mainly football, basketball and basketball. We've always been a sports-type family. My sisters played basketball in high school. My oldest sister played basketball and cheered in college. My dad played football and basketball in high school. I never knew anything different.
My 'why'
My mom texts me every day. I'm so thankful she is still living and breathing and able to see me play games. My whole family came down this past week. It was her birthday weekend. I really wanted to get that win for her. That's always been what she's wanted to do is watch me play football.
The other day she sent me a picture of a note I wrote to my future self in eighth grade. It said something like, "Dear Jack, don't get too ugly. I hope you become a great man playing in the NFL and doing what you love to do." That was my goal whenever I was younger. She knew that and she's been pushing me since I was young. My whole family has because they can see my full potential.
It's amazing to me to know I have such a supportive and loving family – especially my mom. She always wants me to do better including academically – even though I already have my degree. She wants the best for me while she's going through all these different things.
That's my biggest 'why.' I could be in a way worse position. Whenever I went through that back in 2021, losing my starting spot, it sucked, but it can always be worse. That's what I try to preach to our guys. We're so blessed and fortunate to be here. To wake up and see another beautiful day that God provided us. It's good to take a step back and really understand that. There are some families and kids out there not knowing when or how their next meal is coming. My mom is dealing with chemo. Whenever practice or conditioning gets hard, I know I can do it because life can be a lot harder.
I always try to think about my 'why.' A lot of that is my family. This has been a lifetime goal of mine – not only to play in the NFL but to be able to make to college in sports and not make my parents pay for my education.
Putting my faith in Him
Football is normally the thing that can help you escape the outside. I wasn't able to do that because I didn't have my starting spot back in 2021. I'm proud of myself because I could have easily transferred. That would have been the easy way out. Sometimes you have to be humbled and that was a humbling experience.
I prayed to God every day. He knows the answers. It was a hard time for me. I would talk to my parents and sisters. Eventually I was told through signs from God that I was supposed to be here. I came to a consensus that I'm supposed to be here. That was the worst I'd ever been. I was depressed and had a lot going on.
There aren't a lot of players who can say at 19 years old they have a starting spot at center at a big university. I was in an amazing spot. I didn't invest myself in football. Kody Russey was brought in. I had to get myself to get better. I always knew I had it in me.
Don't be afraid to be you
Whenever I was younger, if I saw a guy like myself or Pat Paul, I'd be in awe. I'd want to talk to them or want their gloves. Any chance I get when we're walking out the tunnel or going up to the locker room, I always want to give my towel, headband, my gloves – anything I can give to the kids because I know they cherish that. I go back to talk to the Midlothian Youth Football League in my hometown and they look up to me as a college football player. I want to bring light and joy into the world. It's God's work.
I hope any kid who's having a tough time or is getting bullied knows they can talk to somebody. Never hold that stuff in. It's the worst thing you can do. That's what happened to me and I'll never forget it. Back in middle school, I was getting picked on. I didn't tell anybody. I wrote down when it happened. I remember bawling my eyes out. I went and told my best friend at the time. He didn't even know. The best thing you can do is tell somebody. Telling somebody – especially someone you trust – can fix and change things. You're no different than anyone else.
We can be something great
The focus is on Sam Houston now. They have the top pass defense in the country. It will be a big test for us offensively. We know we need to step it up. I haven't lost confidence in our offense because we can be something great. I saw it throughout fall camp. It's about bits and pieces here and there. We need all 11 guys. We did that in fall camp. Especially on critical downs where one person is the biggest factor. That hurt us in the last game. That has been our biggest focus this week. We expect a lot better because we know we're a lot better.
#hoUSton
I've been thinking about how we lost two games and I don't want to lose any fans. We had our first game in the Big 12 and we could have made history. So many people were excited to see that. It hurts me seeing the fans coming to our games or traveling
to watch us and having faith only for us to not get it done. Having all those fans there against UTSA and TCU, that's what I've always wanted after the last few years. Season tickets went insane this year. We were so appreciative of that knowing there would be so many fans in the stands.
I hate losing more than I like winning. It's just my mindset. We want everyone to be there, and we want to put on for the city. We don't just want to be a basketball school. We want every sport to do well. Volleyball is doing well as is basketball and soccer. We want to be on that same page. We want to do it for the fans who get season tickets and come to the games and spend their Saturday with us. It's not even about us – we're all a family. That's why there's "us" in Houston. We want to put on for the city of Houston.
Last go-around
College went by fast. I'm fortunate to have even had this extra year to play and help. If the Lord wants me to go to the NFL or get drafted, I'll get drafted or picked up. He knows what I'll be doing. I'm turning 24 this year so it's been basically 20 years since I started playing football. Knowing that has always been my biggest goal and my college career is almost over, I want the best for the season.
On my way up to the facility today, I was thinking about that. I was thinking about my freshman year in 2018 when we played in the Armed Forces Bowl and we set some unfortunate records. I listened and watched all those seniors weep and cry. I didn't understand at the time because I knew I had four or five years left of college. It's gone by so fast. That's going to be me here in about 10 games. I want to make the most of the rest of my senior year.
Go Coogs! 🐾
Players Mentioned
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