Football

Wayne State DB Jeremy Jones happy he listened to mom

Terry Foster/ The Detroit News

Detroit— His cell phone was glued to his ear as he headed toward a 5 a.m. workout at Wayne State.

A bitter wind made the walk more difficult, and his longing for home made this seem like his final walk to the university in Detroit.

"Momma, I don't want to go here anymore," Jeremy Jones said. "I am tired of the workouts. I am tired of classes. I want to come back home."

Five years ago, all Jones wanted to do after he graduated from Rockford High was enjoy life. He wanted to take time off from football — he'd played football since he was 6 years old — and travel to California or Arizona.

His mother, however, would have none of the talk.

"You are not a quitter," Gloria Herman told Jones. "You can do this. You can't come back home. Once you come back home, you are going backward."

Jones didn't quit. He kept going to those early morning workouts and those late morning labs, and now he is one of the top Division II players in the nation.

And on Saturday, he leads his teammates into the Division II quarterfinals at defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth (11-2), hoping to add another walk to an already impressive run for Jones.

Wayne State (10-3) pulled off a second consecutive upset in the playoffs last weekend with a victory over Nebraska-Kearney (it toppled St. Cloud State in the opener).

And against Nebraska-Kearney, it was Jones who set the defensive tone from his safety position with three interceptions. He set a school record with 144 return yards, and holds the career school record with 406 yards.

Plus, Jones recently was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive back of the year.

Not bad for a guy who was about to give up on Wayne State.

"I was mad," Jones said. "It was a rough road. I did not like it and I did not want to be there. Besides, I went from being a starter to not playing at all. It was like being a pup again. It was rough."

Momma made it happen

But, Jones learned a valuable lesson: Momma knows best.

After high school, Jones had his own plans, and they didn't include football — or school.

What he didn't know was his mother was sending tapes of his performances to schools, hoping to land him a scholarship. She wanted him to play football — and pursue his education.

One call that came in was from Wayne State recruiting coordinator Scott Kazmierski, who told her he wanted Jones to help him win a championship.

Other schools made promises. Not Kazmierski.

So Herman made a decision. She told Jones he was going to Wayne State.

He was stunned. He protested.

But over the last five years, he has to come realize her wisdom.

"Yeah, I admit that momma knows best," Jones said, smiling. "She is my rock."

And that rock is always in the stands at Wayne State, wearing a green wig and screaming, "Momma want a pick, Jones!"

It is the only voice Jones hears when he plays.

'A better man today'

Jones' growth has transpired off the field, too. He is studying psychology and wants to work with troubled youth.

"I want to give these kids some type of leadership and give them role models," Jones said.

Herman is glad she pushed when she did, and kept Jones stable when he felt like he wanted out.

"He is a better man today," Herman said. "He has become a well-rounded young man. He has a good spiritual base and good academic base. He is very positive now and very different."

Wayne State at Minnesota-Duluth

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday, James S. Malosky Stadium, Duluth, Minn.

Radio: WDTK

Records: Wayne State 10-3, Minnesota Duluth 11-2

Series: First meeting

Did you know? Minnesota-Duluth has been to the Division II championship game twice — 2008 and 2010 — and won both times.

terry.foster@detnews.com

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