Reason to Smile
Art Jones’ teammates know that smile all too well.
Jones’ teeth stand out the most. They’re big and bright, seemingly filling up his whole mouth, with a signature gap in the front proving the endless row of shiny whites eventually ends somewhere back there.
Onlookers can tell the Syracuse junior defensive tackle is smiling from across the field, even with his helmet on, because his teeth illuminate from the shadows cast by his facemask.
That smile is there, even as he tries to cement himself as a leader on this defense, one year after he burst onto the scene with his 17 1/2 tackles for loss. Now, the junior is back anchoring the Orange’s defensive line, trying to shed his class clown reputation.
But he can’t help it. That smile’s still there.
‘He got it from his sister,’ said Arthur Jones Sr., Jones’ father and a pastor in Binghamton, N.Y. ‘All three of my boys have it. She had a smile that lit the whole community up. She was very promising, but God had another plan for her.’
Carmen Jones died of brain cancer when Art was in eighth grade. He and his younger brother, Jon, a rising star in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, have her name tattooed on their arms. Chandler, Art’s youngest brother and a freshman defensive end for Syracuse, plans to eventually complete the tradition. (‘I still need to bulk up a little more.’)
The Art Jones Smile is the real tribute to Carmen – a constant reminder of her life on his face. So Jones rarely stops smiling, especially on the football field. That’s where he’s happiest.
Sure, he’ll face consistent double teams this year at nose tackle. He’s one of the few players with any track record on a beleaguered and inexperienced defensive unit – one of the few SU players offenses will game plan around. No longer will Jones surprise opposing offensive linemen, like last year.
But football has always given Jones a reason to showcase that glowing smile – the smile Big East tailbacks are learning to fear.
‘Life’s too short to keep a frown,’ Jones said. ‘My whole family has that positive attitude because that’s the way I was raised. Just enjoy it because you can’t play this game forever, and I’m really blessed to be in the position that I am.’
Syracuse enters this season with a defense shrouded with questions. The Orange lost safety Joe Fields and defensive end Jameel McClain, arguably its two top defensive players from last year, to graduation. Brandon Gilbeaux, who was coming off a successful sophomore season, was suspended for academic reasons this summer and later transferred to Delaware. Senior Bruce Williams, who Jones called the one defensive player who impressed him most this offseason, was converted from free safety to wide receiver to help bolster Syracuse’s offense.
That leaves Jones as likely the best defensive player on the team, especially considering the youth at linebacker and defensive back. The Orange returns just four defensive starters from last year – Jones, end Vincenzo Giruzzi, linebacker Jake Flaherty and cornerback Mike Holmes – and may start six sophomores in the season opener against Northwestern Aug. 30.
The unit is looking for a role model, and the coaching staff is looking for Jones to fill that role.
‘He’s really taken that next step into being more of a leader,’ said Syracuse co-defensive coordinator Derrick Jackson, who coached the defensive line in 2007. ‘Last year, as more of a younger guy, he wasn’t as vocal. Now, we’re expecting him to take more of a vocal role as a guy who has proven himself on the field. Guys will rally around him and listen to what he has to say.’
Vocal leadership, though, is against Jones’ personality. In his first two years at Syracuse, Jones’ smile and free spirit earned him the reputation as one of the team’s class clowns. He would lead practical jokes during training camp and try to keep the rest of the defense loose during the long two-a-days in the 90-degree August heat.
This year, however, has brought a different Jones – one with a renewed sense of focus and responsibility. He has taken a special interest in his backup, sophomore Bud Tribbey.
‘Before, he really liked to screw around a lot, and he’s definitely cut down on it,’ said sophomore defensive end Jared Kimmel. ‘He’s more serious now because it could potentially be his future. He just takes everything a lot more seriously, and it really means a lot to him. He is the leader.’
Jones said his smile and overall attitude is mostly a product of his upbringing in Endicott, especially his father, who pushed religion as the most important part of Jones’ life. His religious sensibilities, Jones said, helped guide him through his life, including the tragedy of his sister’s premature death.
Before games, after the team’s group prayer, Jones huddles near his locker for another, more personal prayer of his own, asking God to keep him healthy and successful. Growing up, the meditation ended with his father anointing his joints and bones with holy oil meant to keep him healthy.
Throughout Jones’ youth and high school football career, Arthur Jones Sr. struggled to accept his son playing on Sunday. When he realized the Sunday tournaments could earn Art a scholarship, he reluctantly allowed it, as long as his son at least listened to Mass either on television or the radio during the day.
He better start getting used to the idea. If Jones has another season like last year, he may make his future career playing football on Sunday in the NFL.
But first Jones is trying to lead his college team to some success. He’s started to shake his fun-loving goofball image and is turning into a leader. But if Syracuse can start improving on its 2-10 record from last season, then he would really have a reason to smile.
‘If guys are going to look at me as that, I’m definitely going to try and be that, and lead by example and with my voice,’ Jones said. ‘Guys are definitely looking up to me, and I’m ready to take on that role.’
Published on August 27, 2008 at 12:00 pm
