Hall of Fame
Jake Scott has played thousands and thousands of downs as a football player – from high school to college to a long and successful NFL career. But what is most memorable to the Lewiston (Idaho) and University of Idaho graduate is the journey – the friendships forged in the trenches of the gridiron.
“The experiences you have with your friends – that’s what makes it memorable,” said Scott, who retired from the NFL after a nine-year career that includes one Super Bowl Championship (2006 Indianapolis Colts) and a run of 128 successive starts out of 131 games played.
For his successes, he tributes the foundation he received as a high schooler under the guidance of Nick Menegas and Steve McCaskey and then to his college coaches – among them former Vandal lineman and current Seahawks assistant Tom Cable.
“I’ve had really good coaches,” said Scott, who has returned to Idaho after a professional career that included stops in Indianapolis, Tennessee and Philadelphia. “Most kids don’t have that opportunity. That set me up for success. I was well ahead of the game.”
After being selected in the fifth round (141st overall choice) of the 2004 NFL draft, he said the same teaching that made his transition from the high school ranks to college applied when he headed into professional football.
“The NFL is a whole different game,” Scott said. “Once again, I felt like I was well prepared. I felt like I was head of other guys in our age group.”
That and being 6-foot-5 with the ability to athletically carry 300 pounds made for a successful career as an offensive tackle – although he spent some time at tight end when he was in high school and weighed 100 pounds less.
His size, knowledge of the game, and work ethic vaulted him into a starter’s role four games into his rookie season. A graduate of the University of Idaho’s engineering school, he understands the need for meticulous groundwork and the importance of the mental aspects of the game.
“You have to be able to prepare physically and mentally,” he said. “You have to commit fully to it. Everything you do effects how you play the game. You have to be willing to immerse yourself in it.”
That he became a Vandal was as natural for him as playing football. Both his parents – Paul and Teresa, are University of Idaho graduates.
“It was a natural choice for me,” Scott said. “Those were the games we went to in the fall. I grew up being a fan. It was a natural progression for me.”
Scott has moved on to the next phase of his life: husband and dad. Might there be a third generation Vandal? Scott and his wife, Jilleen, have a one-year-old son, Granville. But does he miss the game?
“Everybody asks me that,” he said. “The easiest answer is I miss not being 25, too. It’s something you can’t do forever.”
And how does chasing a one-year-old compare?
“It’s a lot of work; a different kind of work,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
