By Mark Bohannon, SAC Media Relations Office

This is the first in a series of articles for 2005-06 that will periodically feature student-athletes from the league's member institutions who have distinguished themselves.

The first SAC Spotlight, written by SAC intern Mark Bohannon, profiles Presbyterian running back Jay Freeman. Freeman, a junior running back, was recently named to the 2005 American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. He is also a volunteer firefighter in Clinton, S.C. and his hometown of Walhalla.

Jay spoke with SAC intern Mark Bohannon recently about football and firefighting.

Q: Give us some insight on your experience as a volunteer firefighter.

PC's Jay Freeman has been selected to the Good Works Team. When he's not practicing or studying, Jay serves as a volunteer firefighter.

A: Well, I started getting involved about a year and a half ago with the fire department in my hometown of Walhalla, S.C. I wanted to continue volunteering while I attended classes at Presbyterian so I started taking firefighter classes in Clinton between my regular classes. The First Responder class that I took nationally certifies me in any catastrophic circumstance. Now, I have a pager and whenever it goes off I am out the door. This amazing experience has also opened my eyes to a career as a SLED officer. I find a lot of fun in helping people, and it is something that I love to do.

Q: Do you have any interesting stories to share about what you have encountered while on duty with the fire departments?

A: I guess my most fascinating incident was my first medical call. A lady went into cardiac arrest, and a couple of us got called to the scene. The woman had already been down for approximately ten minutes before we arrived at the scene. We administered CPR and got her to the hospital with a pulse, which was the most important factor. This situation certainly caught me off-guard because there is absolutely no way to prepare for what you might find at a particular scene. However, in instances such as these, your training kicks in, and you are able to do what is required in order to help out the individual. I always questioned if I would have the ability to stomach some of the more gruesome aspects of the job, but this instance showed me that I was able to effectively aid someone under these circumstances.

Q: Talk about the early season success of the Presbyterian Blue Hose football team.

A: 3-0 baby! Every team sets goals at the beginning of the season. We thought we had a chance to win the conference last season, but it didn’t turn out that way. This season, we hope to expand on our previous campaign and win the South Atlantic Conference. Everybody on this team has confidence in themselves, each other, and the coaching staff. We aren’t the biggest team -- our coach often tells us that we’d “never win a look contest” -- but we all play hard and we all play together. I believe we have an explosive offense and a coaching staff who are all on the same page. I also believe that our play calling is exceptional, and I am excited about the possibility of going 4-0 for the first time since 1959.

Q: What do you like about going to school and playing football in the South Atlantic Conference?

A: My dad played football and graduated from Presbyterian College. I was kind of recruited here, and I walked-on, earning my keep in the locker room and on the field. The Presbyterian campus is beautiful. One thing that stands out about the South Atlantic Conference is the atmosphere. I love the atmosphere the SAC brings. It’s a very fun conference to play in with an extraordinarily competitive environment. Any team can rise up and win the SAC during any given year. It seems like all of the schools have an enormous amount of pride while playing, and it just feels great having the opportunity to take part in it.

Q: What does being selected to the 2005 American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team mean to you?

A: Well, I’ll probably never be an All-American -- my brother might be, but not me. I guess I am extremely thankful. God has given me the opportunity to play football and do other things. I think it is great honor to be recognized for things I accomplish off the football field. Like I said before, I really enjoy helping people, and I am honored to be acknowledged for such positive activities.

Q: Has working as a volunteer firefighter translated into success on the football field?

A: Working as a firefighter has definitely impacted me on the football field. A great deal of discipline is needed in order to succeed at both. I have to know my assignments when working with the other firefighters because someone’s life may be in danger. Every second matters. On the football field, I have to know my assignments in order to protect my QB. If I came unprepared, I would let down my football team, or more importantly, a family that was counting on me to do my job.