A Shift in Focus – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2013
- Game Day Magazine Feature (Nov. 23, 2013) – A Shift In Focus
As Ohio State was seeking its ninth-consecutive win of the 2012 season vs. Penn State in State College, Pa., Buckeye defensive back Jamie Wood was recovering from his second shoulder surgery in his career. While his teammates were playing under the lights in Beaver Stadium, Wood unfortunately had to watch the Buckeyes’ 35-23 win from a hospital bed.
Rated the No. 4 safety in the country by Rivals.com, the Buckeye from Pickerington, Ohio, was unable to have the productive on-the-field career he envisioned. As a fifth-year senior, Wood recorded 30 tackles, making his biggest impact on special teams. He contributed in all 13 games of the 2010 and 2011 seasons and participated in four games during Ohio State’s undefeated 2012 season. Despite his injuries and multiple surgeries, Wood did not allow the setbacks to stop him from playing football. His love and passion for the game and for Ohio State were the driving forces behind his continued returns.
“I had two shoulder surgeries within a nine month span,” Wood said. “My first surgery?was Jan. 4, 2012 and the other was Oct. 25, 2012. After my second surgery I had come to a point where I had thrown in the towel and made an announcement I was done with football. Doctors discouraged my return due to the concern of my overall health. However, I didn’t want my career to end in that manner. Being a driven person, my personal desire to play?the game I love, and wanting to be out there with my teammates competing, superseded the doctor’s recommendations. With the support of my coaches, I gave football all I had through months of intense rehab and grueling off-season workouts. I believed I was ready to compete again going into my senior season.”
With another inauspicious shoulder injury at the beginning of the 2013 fall camp, Wood officially decided to end his football career, declaring his health and safety were more important.
“The fifth day of fall camp was when my shoulder dislocated again and that was when?I had to make a very tough decision,” Wood said. “I had to think about life after football knowing that further injuries to my shoulder could potentially affect the use of my arm for the rest of my life.”
Realizing the chance to play professional football was no longer an option, Wood decided it was time to shift his focus. He applied for an internship with the competitive “Bucks Go Pro” program, which was instituted in 2012 by Heather Lyke, former senior associate athletic director. Offered to Buckeye student-athletes, the initiative strives to educate and provide the best career opportunities and advice.
“The internship consisted of a competitive interviewing process and roughly 80 student- athletes applied for it,” Wood said. “There were 18 student-athletes given the option to work in various aspects of the athletic department and I worked in the ticketing office. It was a great experience and fascinating to see each aspect that goes into making sure things are working efficiently behind the scenes.”
After a successful inaugural year, the Bucks Go Program is in its second year with Wood spearheading some of the program’s aims.
“I want to be an advocate for student-athletes and encourage them to build a career portfolio and get involved early with their careers,” Wood said. “Your body can only last you so long and your given sport could be over in an instant. Sadly, a lot of us fail to realize this.
“I want to be involved in sports and involved with young athletes. I want to encourage them to be well-balanced student- athletes. I could see myself being an athletic director, but the opportunities are limitless.”
Leveraging the opportunity of being a student-athlete at The Ohio State University, Wood has taken advantage of the resources it provides and therefore has become more than just an athlete, but a well-rounded student-athlete, who seized every opportunity.
By Ciara Travis, Athletics Communications
