Oct. 5, 2006
#61 J.J. Jansen
Junior, 6-3, 242
Long Snapper
Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Prep
Junior J.J. Jansen is in his second season as Notre Dame’s long snapper on punts and field goals. The accountancy major moved into the position last season against USC and has held it ever since. Jansen made a total of 71 appearances for the 2005 season and performed flawlessly. The 6-3, 242-pound center came to Notre Dame after attending Brophy Prep in Phoenix where he was a standout in both baseball and football. He was selected to the Dean’s List in the spring of 2006 with a 3.917 grade-point average. GameDay’s Brian Lasky gives Irish fans a chance to get to know J.J. Jansen.
Lasky: Tell us about your major and why you are interested in that?
Jansen: I’m an accountancy major because I think it applies to so many aspects of life no matter what you end up doing.
Lasky: What is your most difficult class and what makes it so difficult?
Jansen: For me, the toughest classes are my physics classes because it’s complicated material and I like keeping the math simple.
Lasky: What is your favorite class and why?
Jansen: I like my accounting classes because I usually end up getting great teachers who make it interesting.
Lasky: What made you pick Notre Dame over the other schools you were interested in? What were the other schools?
Jansen: I chose Notre Dame primarily for the academics and it also had the best football team. For me, the choice came down to Notre Dame, Duke, and Vanderbilt.
Lasky: To date, what has been the highlight of your Notre Dame career?
Jansen: The highlight of my Notre Dame career was probably when we played USC last year because it was my first start.
Lasky: Who were your sports idols as a kid and why?
Jansen: Curt Schilling was my idol because he always took a business-like approach to his work and he was always fired up about everything.
Lasky: As a football player, is there any one player you modeled your game after?
Jansen: Not really since I am a long snapper and you don’t get a great deal of exposure to them. However, I always watched Trey Junkin, who was the long snapper for the Arizona Cardinals for years.
Lasky: Who has been your biggest non-sports role model and why?
Jansen: My biggest non-sports role model has probably been my dad because he has done everything I have done well and he always encourages me to do my best.
Lasky: What is the best advice that you have ever been given and who gave it to you?
Jansen: My dad always tells me “remember the prime objective”. He tells me to focus on my snap and getting the job done.
Lasky: How do you think you’ve grown as a person since coming to Notre Dame?
Jansen: Since coming to Notre Dame, I think I have become more of a well-rounded individual.
Lasky: What is one thing about you that might surprise people?
Jansen: I think it surprises people that I am a laid back individual. I get worked up about things and am pretty intense on the field, but I am laid back.
Lasky: How and what do you do to balance your academic and football workloads?
Jansen: Basically, I try to take it easy and set aside time for academics since we have time each day for football.
Lasky: What is your most embarrassing moments in sports?
Jansen: When I was six years old, I was a bat boy for the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game. I was running balls out to the umpire and the on-deck hitter never saw me coming and slugged me right in the head.
Lasky: If you were stranded on an island and could only eat one meal, only listen to one song, and spend you time with only one person; what would you eat, what would you listen to and who would you pick?
Jansen: I would eat a turkey sandwich, listen to “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind, and probably spend time with my dad.
Lasky: What is your favorite movie and why?
Jansen: My favorite movie is “Wedding Crashers” because I think the way Vince Vaughn and Evan Wilson interact is hilarious.
Lasky: Where is the toughest place that you’ve played as a college football player?
Jansen: The toughest place that I’ve played was last year at Michigan because it was so loud you could hardly hear yourself think.
Lasky: Who is the best athlete that you have ever competed against?
Jansen: The best athlete that I’ve faced is Reggie Bush. I knew he was strong and quick before we played USC but never realized how strong he is and incredibly talented.
Lasky: If you had a chance to play golf with anyone in history, besides you, who else would be in your foursome and why would you pick those three people?
Jansen: I would want to play with Christopher Columbus because I am interested in history, specifically exploration; Curt Schilling because he is an incredibly competitive guy who exemplifies going about your work in the right way and my father for the reasons previously mentioned
Lasky: When your football career is over, what do you see yourself doing?
Jansen: I would like to go into sports management where I can use my accounting degree.
Lasky: Describe what it feels like on game day and playing in Notre Dame stadium?
Jansen: It is an unreal experience coming out with 80,000 people screaming and jumping up and down. It is a great feeling coming home and knowing everyone is on your side.
Lasky: What is your favorite thing about playing for Notre Dame?
Jansen: The most fun I have is running in the tunnel before the game starts and the whole band is there bellowing out the fight song. It creates chills up and down my body.