A while ago I posted a link to the blog of one of the most impressive Badgers of all time. Jake Wood was a backup lineman, who finished school, and became a Marine Sniper. His blog detailed life over in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it was simply amazing. I saw TK posted on his blog a link to donate to Jake's relief effort in Haiti, it looks like he is doing quite well in his efforts. He raised close to 100k, and is currently leading a team down there administering as much help as humanly possible. This guy is simply amazing. When I see this it is hard not to think that I am just a big pile of steaming hot shit.
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Jake has named the mission "Team Rubicon" and made facebook page with a lot of updates from Jake's dad and others. Check it out.
The guy is really something. Check out his explanation for choosing the name of his squad:
"We have decided to call ourselves "Team Rubicon" What's with the name? Simple. The Rubicon was a small stream that separated Gaul (France) and ancient Rome. On January 11th, Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and it marked the point of no return. This Sunday, January 17th, our 4 man team will cross the Artibonite River carryi...ng crucial medicine and supplies to the people of Haiti. Once across, we will be irrevocably committed to our task."
There is also a blog he's trying to keep up, much like he did during his war days.
http://blog.teamrubiconhaiti.org/
No doubt, Jake is a special human being. He first demonstrated this as 17-year old native of Bettendorf, Iowa, when he chose Wisconsin over Iowa in a recruiting battle. He solidified it by confirming the reason for the choice as, "I hate the Hawkeyes." He was a pretty hotly recruited guy, and I remember thinking it was a big recruiting steal at the time. What happened?
Jake was a left tackle at UW. Most kids aren't ready to play O-Line as a freshman or even a soph. Jake was one of those kids. However, the Spring of 2004, his junior year, he was pressing for the starting LT spot and was perhaps even the favorite at one point. You have physical gifts, you work hard, you put in the effort, how does that not work out for you? Well, some punk true sophomore by the name of Joe Thomas thought he was good enough to play LT. Turned out he was right. No shame in being beaten out by probably the best left tackle living in the entire universe, bar none. Subquestion: could Jake have been a starter, maybe an NFLer, if he had gone to Iowa?
Jake never pouted about that, and he just graduated after four years, deciding not to come back as a 5th year senior and watch Joe Thomas play some more. Just wanted to get out and do some things. Like kill terrorists. The guy is
continuing...
The guy is really a force to be reckoned with. I'm glad this guy has no interest in my profession, because I would be absolutely devastated to find out I had a case against him. I would just know for certain that he was going to outwork me and eventually defeat me in horrifying fashion. The guy has talent and smarts and everything, but he's just driven in a way that most people are not.
He is my hero. Dude just gets it. I think my biggest weakness is to be self motivated. My biggest motivation is getting home to watch the next Badger game. It is truly pathetic. But at least I have positive role models, like this, for me to look up to.
Great article boys. I remember when browne first showed be jakes blog and I was amazed. I agree that this guys is really something special and everybody could learn alot from his actions.
Jake S
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