The University of Akron Athletics
Jay Rohr: Historical Reference
November 02 | Football
Nov. 2, 2005
Remember being in middle school and actually wanting to wake up every day just so you could go to school because you had the best teacher?
Jay Rohr does and that's what he wants to do when he's done playing football for the Zips. Rohr recalls going to eighth grade history class and getting perfect grades. That was the start of his love for history.
Majoring in secondary education, he has plans to stay in school one more year to earn his master's degree. Rohr would then like to pursue a teaching and coaching career.
"I want to teach history because without history, we have no beginning," Rohr said. "As far as I can remember, I always had better grades in history class.
He is making history and leaving a lasting impression with the Zips football program. Rohr took over the starting role at strongside linebacker in the second half of last season, and is leading the team in tackles this season with 77.
In his previous two years, he was able to emulate Chase Blackburn, who now plays for the NFL's New York Giants.
"Chase was my teacher," Rohr said. "He taught me what it took to be a leader and how much time I have to put into football off the field in order to see something on the field."
The mentoring of Blackburn to Rohr just reemphasized his already present feelings on how he wants to have the same effect on others.
Rohr has a 10-year-old brother, and just wants to teach him the rights and the wrongs of the sport, along with the knowledge of how to succeed in life.
His family is the most important thing to him. Being from
Canton, he has the luxury of making a short drive to see his
parents and siblings, or just to get together with old high school
buddies when they get back in town. If Rohr had the choice, he
would be hanging out with his family, going to a cookout or bowling
with his younger brother.
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Rohr is current doing the student teaching portion of his education. He observes seventh and eighth graders at local middle schools.
But he doesn't just use his teaching skills and desires in the classroom, he also puts them to use on the football field and in the film room. Teammates Kevin Grant and Brion Stokes, his "under studies", have been able to follow Rohr and see how a leader acts.
"Whenever Jay has a couple of hours in between classes, he brings Kevin and Brion into the offices and they watch film," Akron linebackers coach Matt Wallerstedt said, "Jay has elevated the play of those two just within a year of playing alongside them. He's not a captain, but he takes on a leadership role which he takes very serious."
Rohr isn't one to shy away from something. He won't take no for an answer. It definitely shows with his will and determination to always be the best.
"All I've ever wanted to do was influence someone the way that the people in my life have done for me," Rohr said. "I've always been around kids and I want them to be able to come to me if they have a problem."
If anyone has a problem next year, they could very well catch up with him as he has no desire to leave the northeast Ohio area.
"I've been here all my life so I'm used to the weather," he said. "It's a great place to raise your family, and I've been lucky enough to have stayed in the same place all my life."
by Matt Whewell, UA Athletics Media Relations from Oct. 22 Army program
