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McKay Jacobson – “It’s great to be recognized as a team.” |
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JaredCowley | Monday, November 6, 2006, 1:44 pm
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Transcribed by Jim Vallen
COUGARBLUE
KNZ’s The Manly Morning Show (6 A.M to 10 A. M. weekday mornings on 1280 The Zone, 1280 AM Salt Lake; 960 AM Utah County) aired an interview this morning with BYU receiver McKay Jacobson.
This interview was taped from this past weekend from Salt Lake City’s CBS affiliate KUTV (channel 2) “Talkin’ Sports” program with Dan Shelton.
McKay Jacobson is a 5-11, 185 lb true freshman wide receiver from Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, TX. He graduated last year early from high school so that he could matriculate into BYU in the January 2006 and qualify himself to play Spring Ball for BYU.
After his senior year in high school he was named to the 55th annual Texas Sportswriters Association's All-State First Team, the 5A Texas Football All-Texas First-Team and was named 5A Texas Football Wide Receiver of the Year. Additionally he was on the 5A Academic All-State Team and was voted by his team as the Offensive Player of the Year after having led the state with 99 receptions for 1,631 receiving yards and scoring 19 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with 201 receptions (school record) for 3,019 yards (school record) and 30 touchdowns.
At BYU this season he’s fourth on the receiving list having played in all nine games and caught 18 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns. His average yards per catch is 21.1. His longest pass caught this season was last Saturday against Colorado State where he caught a pass for 52 yards. He does have an additional 128 yards in kickoff returns giving him 507 yards total or 56.3 yards a game making him second on the team in that category behind senior Curtis Brown.
His mother Hally, was a cheerleader at BYU.
DS: “The Cougars have won six straight and our guest is one of the reasons why, freshman receiver McKay Jacobson. Thanks for joining us tonight. McKay, the Cougars are ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 2001. What does that mean to you as a player on this team?”
MJ: “Well obviously with the ranking it’s good to be recognized as a team. It’s not really going to help us win any more ball games, but it is great to be recognized for our effort.”
DS: “McKay, let me read off some numbers for you. You’re tied for fourth in receptions, third in receiving yards and averaging two catches a game and three catches Saturday for 105 yards, your first 100 yard game and the first 100 yard game for a Cougar since Matt Allen in the Boston College game. What’s it like going from being “the guy” in high school to only having the ball in your hands a couple times a game?”
MJ: “It’s been a great year. You know, we have a lot of great players on our team. It’s fun to play with John [Beck], he’s such a great quarterback. It’s just been a great year. The first couple games were tough where we lost two close tough games, but it’s been great. Our defense has stepped up and played very well and offensively we’re doing real well.” [Talk about “player-speak”. He didn’t ever really answer the question specifically and Dan Shelton let him off the hook.]
DS: “I don’t know if you’ve broken down much Wyoming film yet, you don’t leave the state the rest of the way [BYU has two home games vs. Wyoming and New Mexico and then end the season at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.] of course, starting with Wyoming home this Thursday; Wyoming has a pass defense ranked among the best in the country [ranked 4th nationally and 1st in the MWC], but they haven’t played a passing offense in the top 40 in the country so far this year. You guys are ranked fourth in the country. Do you have any concerns whatsoever about moving the ball against the Cowboys?”
MJ: “Just going in, we have to focus on what we have to do. I haven’t seen too much film on them yet; it will be a short week, but we’ve got a lot of preparation we’ve got to do. No matter who we play, we have to play our best game to win because on any given Saturday any team can win. We just have to play well on all three side of the ball [offense, defense and special teams].”
DS: “That’s pretty much the politically correct answer and I respect that. We hear there is a stomach flu that is going around the team. We saw visual proof before the game Saturday with your coach [Bronco Mendenhall]. How many guys have got the flu right now and are you okay?”
MJ: “As far as the flu, I don’t really know anyone that is being real sick. I think we’re all pretty healthy. Our physicians and doctors do a good job of keeping us healthy.”
DS: “Alright McKay, you’re going on a mission after your freshman year. Have you talked to Fui [Vakapuna] or any other returned missionaries about keeping yourself in shape and how to do that while serving?”
MJ: “I’ve talked a little bit. You know that Fui came back looking pretty strong and he looked like he had worked out a lot. That’s not been my main focus, but I’ve talked to some of the players about that. They all just said it’s tough to workout on your mission much more than just keeping physically fit. ”
DS: “McKay, how upset are you that John Beck has started calling you “Virgil” publicly?”
MJ: “I don’t really have a problem with it as long as it’s not Virgil needs to do this better. As long as it’s complimentary I don’t have a problem with it.”
DS: “Virgil being your real first name right?”
MJ: “Yes sir.”
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