TEXAS-SIZED EXCITEMENT JAKES TO FACE LONGHORNS AS RIVALS, TEAMMATES.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer When Texans raise their index and pinkie fingers skyward sky·ward adv. & adj. At or toward the sky. sky  wards adv. , Kaelen Jakes knows its significance. Hook 'Em Horns This article is about University of Texas at Austin hand gesture. For other uses of this hand gesture, see corna. Hook 'em Horns is the slogan and hand signal of The University of Texas at Austin. . Jakes is a Valencia High graduate and represents California's elite football talent at 5 p.m. today in the Cal-Tex Shrine All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games at Mt. San Antonio College Mt. San Antonio College (commonly called Mt. SAC; pronounced as the word "sack") is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, next to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona which is just over a hill. Mt. . There is a boiling rivalry about which of the two states produces better football talent. But Jakes is unique. He's playing for California but has roots in the Lone Star Lone Star (or Lonestar) may refer to:
And here's more intrigue for Jakes today: The defensive lineman signed with Texas (see: Hook 'Em Horns) and will line up in the trenches against future Longhorns offensive line teammates Will Allen Will Allen may refer to:
``I've met all the guys I'm going to play with, and this game is going to be like an everyday practice,'' Jakes said. When he arrives in Austin later this summer, Jakes knows what to expect. He's a Texan, too, having lived in the Dallas suburb of Plano for five years before moving to Santa Clarita for high school. Only when he enrolled at Valencia and was urged on by Vikings coach Brian Stiman to try out did he fall in love with football. They were a perfectly matched couple. A force on the defensive line, the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder dominated in the Foothill League and made life miserable for quarterbacks like Kyle Matter of crosstown rival Hart. ``It was always kind if intimidating because you look across the line and see a huge guy like that,'' said Matter, also playing in today's game. ``And you know if he gets a chance, he's going to kill you. It's fun to play against good players. It makes you that much better.'' Ironically, football wasn't in Jakes' plans while living in Texas. Basketball was his game, though many other kids in his neighborhood got caught up in the fervor of Texas high school football. Hart-Valencia games draw in excess of 7,000 fans to College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . But the intensity level pales in comparison to the games Jakes attended in Plano. ``At a (Texas) high school football game, there's like 20,000 people there,'' Jakes said. ``It's so much bigger. Football in Texas is like everyone says, it's a way of life. It's the biggest thing there.'' In Austin, Longhorns games are the biggest thing in town. Jakes joined 80,000 burnt-orange-clad rowdies pointing their index and pinkie fingers during the recruiting trip that cinched his commitment to sign with Texas. ``When Texas came out, it was weird. ... I had a feeling I was going there,'' he said. ``I just love the whole football (mentality). There were so many fans. Everyone just bleeds orange. ``When I'd go to a UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX game, people are happy. But when you go to a Texas game, everyone's there and just crazy.'' Jakes might get to experience the Memorial Stadium lunacy lunacy: see insanity. right away. The Sporting News' preseason No. 1 team, a Texas concern is defensive-line depth. When Jakes signed, head coach Mack Brown hinted redshirting might not be an option. ``As thin as we are on the defensive line, he may have to play some,'' Brown told the Daily Texan. Jakes isn't thinking about how much playing time he'll receive in his first year. He's just excited about having the chance to soak up the Texas football atmosphere from a player's perspective. ``I want to contribute to a tradition,'' he said. ``I'll always have those memories in my life. That I was part of Texas football. Not everyone can say that.'' Born in Washington, a former resident of Florida and currently residing in Santa Clarita, Jakes says playing football in Texas has a special meaning. He's going home. ``People are just so friendly in Texas,'' he said. ``I know after I go to college I'm going to live there for the rest of my life.'' KAELEN JAKES FILE High school: Valencia Height: 6-5 Weight: 250 College choice: Texas Quote: ``When I started getting letters from colleges ... I realized that football was going to be my future. I never thought I'd ever be going to college for anything.'' - Jakes CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Valencia High's Kaelen Jakes will represent California in the Shrine Game before embarking on his career at Texas. Box: Kaelen Jakes File |
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