Kornacki: Mom, Jabrill Soak In Heisman Weekend
12/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Ivory Bryant said on the eve of the Heisman Trophy presentation that her favorite football memory of her son, Jabrill Peppers, came when he lost one of his cleats on a long run in a Pop Warner playoff game and ran the rest of the way into the end zone wearing just one cleat.
Though, this weekend might end up topping every memory for Mom, who got to pose next to the Heisman with her son on a hotel balcony at the Marriott Marquis New York. Broadway and Times Square provided the background on a cool, breezy Friday afternoon (Dec. 9) that was only a 45-minute drive away from their home just across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
She said it was "always an amazing experience" to come to the city so vibrant with the world's largest courtyard, Central Park, and the neon buzz and skyscrapers of Manhattan, with all the art, shopping, eateries and honking cab drivers.
However, this time was different for Mom.
"Just being part of this celebration is amazing," she said.
This visit to the city with "all the lights and people" was about her son co-starring on "The Great White Way" along with the other Heisman finalists, Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson of Louisville.
Her son had become friends with all of them even before arriving here, having spent the week attending other award banquets and presentations.
These five were now in contention for perhaps the most famous trophy in all of sports, one that grew in stature since its first winner in 1935, Jay Berwanger, used it as a doorstop for a while. Hey, that stiff-arming extension of the bronze trophy can keep a door open like nobody's business.
Peppers and the others posed with the iconic Heisman after concluding informal interviews with reporters, and Bryant was taking it all in like only a mom can. She occasionally stood on a chair to get a better view for a photo of her son being interviewed or posing.
"She's very excited," said Peppers. "She's right there!"
Peppers laughed upon spotting her through the crowd, adding, "She's probably loving it more than I am. I'm excited. Both of us getting to experience this is something special."
Theirs is an inspirational story that has been told many times since Peppers arrived at Michigan in 2014 as a five-star recruit from Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic and went on to become the program's first Heisman finalist since tailback Chris Perry in 2003.
Bryant was a single mother who raised Jabrill in the church and demanded good grades in school. She yanked him out of a high school game in his sophomore season because of a C+ in Spanish that fell below her mandate for all A's and B's.
"I pulled him out of a game -- right off the sideline," Mom said. "He was very upset, but I had to remind him of our agreement, and he had to suffer the consequences. Education was always important to me, and so I said, 'You have to take care of business in the classroom. If that ever slips, you're no longer playing football.' "
So, it turns out that the only person able to stop Jabrill on a football field was his mother.
She raised a humble son for all he accomplished -- four state championship football teams and state championships as a sprinter as well as induction into the National Honor Society.
When asked why he deserved to win the Heisman, Peppers said:
"Quite frankly, I don't think I should. I think there are a lot more guys here who are more qualified. But I think my skill set, and all the phases that I help my team, I like to think that you've got to game-plan for me or I'm going to hurt you."
It's safe to say Peppers is the most physical of the five finalists. He took 726 of 933 snaps this season on defense, where he made 72 tackles from a hybrid linebacker position as well as 16 tackles for losses, four sacks and eight quarterback hurries to lead the Wolverines in all three categories.
However, he also was a force on special teams and offense, scoring four touchdowns on 60 runs, catches or returns.
Still, this is a player who isn't about the numbers. He's about being quite simply "explosive," which Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh says is his best individual physical quality. Harbaugh, defensive coordinator Don Brown and assistant coach Chris Partridge, who also coached Jabrill in high school, will join with him and his mother in celebrating whatever finish he gets in the Heisman.
Peppers has been humble at every turn, saying he's thankful just to be here as a finalist. I asked his mother where that appreciative, unassuming side of her son comes from.
"That was home teaching," said Bryant. "We taught Jabrill to appreciate his gifts and to thank God for his abilities, and that he's here because God has gifted him. So, with that in mind, you can't help but be humble and appreciate the gifts in other people as well."
Mom said they have been members of New Hope Baptist Church in Newark and now Community Baptist Church in Englewood.
"That's the foundation which we stand on," she said. "If it were not for our faith, all the experiences -- the good, the bad and the indifferent -- we would not be able to get through them."
The bad was the violent and sudden death of their beloved son and brother, Don Anthony Curtis, who remains constantly on their minds.
"I don't think I'm going to tear up," said Peppers, when asked about the emotions he will have Saturday night. "I'm just more excited. But I don't think tears, no."
Curtis was shot and killed six years and 11 months to this day.
"I prayed the other night," Peppers said, "and I just told him, 'Everything's happening how you said it would.' All I've got to do is just keep staying focused, stay the course, and that's what I'm going to do. I said, 'Tell God, I'll see you soon.' My brother's always on my mind. He goes through everything I go through."
Through faith, academics, football and love, Jabrill and Ivory have experienced an abundant life together while overcoming their tragedy. There is much to be proud of, and so I asked her what about her son made her proudest.
She said, "His mind, his passion, his kindness and his love for other people."
Mom said she knew Jabrill was something special in football during his freshman season at Don Bosco in Ramsey, when he made six interceptions and had a pair of touchdowns, dominating even the boys three years older.
"I listened to the (TV) commentators on the game, and it was amazing," she said. "I didn't know that much about football and was just a mom supporting her son in something he was passionate about."
People had been telling her that ever since Jabrill played Pop Warner games in elementary school, and it was in a playoff game with Toms River that Jabrill provided Mom her favorite football memory of him.
"He was running the ball," Mom said, "and ran out of his cleat. He ran it in for a touchdown with one cleat on."
Nothing ever has been able to stop Jabrill, a driven competitor who became the first Big Ten football player to be named the conference's defensive player, linebacker and return specialist of the year all in the same season.
Peppers has thoroughly enjoyed his ride on the football banquet circuit, getting to know most of the other top players in the conference and country this week.
"All of these guys are real good guys first of all," he said. "I think that I'm a cool athlete who doesn't let all of this boost the ego or go to the head. But the other guys I've met are like that. They're down-to-earth, cool guys.
"You would think we knew each other forever the way we were meshing and all hanging out together. But I met my (Omega Psi Phi) frat brother, Reuben Foster, (who won the Butkus Award as an Alabama linebacker). He was definitely real cool. Me and (Thorpe Award winner from USC) Adoree' Jackson, we've always been cool throughout the recruiting process and All-American games. (Alabama Bednarik Award winner) Jonathan Allen is intelligent and well spoken."
The end of the awards comes Saturday, when Peppers and the others will be featured on ESPN before the winner is announced at about 8:50 p.m.
Don called him "Little Bro," and now Jabrill's among the biggest names in college football.
"Just to be mentioned with guys the likes of these is a tremendous honor," said Peppers. "I'm just happy I'm here, and I'm going to soak it up.
"Most of these guys haven't seen New York, but I have a lot. So, I just had to show the guys and let them know what they're looking at and where some places to go are at if they want to go there with their families. I'm just enjoying myself, man."
Jabrill and Mom looked out at the street scene eight stories below them after glancing at the Heisman Trophy on the hotel balcony. There was no way to wipe the smiles off their faces, but why should they?
The kid who could reach the end zone minus one cleat never stopped running, and this weekend has stiff-armed his way to the finals of his game's most prestigious award.
