Akron Beacon Journal
8/24
NORDONIA'S MABIN TAKING LIFE'S LESSONS TO THE FIELD
After surviving bad accident, he puts game in perspective
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Nordonia tailback Jordan Mabin has a healthy perspective on every one of his rushing attempts, even those in which he is hammered and loses five yards.
That appreciation comes from accepting the good and the bad in a life that almost ended prematurely.
On June 21, 2004, Mabin and a teammate were riding in an automobile driven by another teammate near the school. The car left the road and traveled airborne into an adjacent wooded area. Only through miraculous circumstances, no one was killed.
``When you look at pictures of the car, you think that someone would have died,'' said Howard Mabin, who is Jordan's father. ``God basically placed the car there.''
The ``there'' reference means that the car glanced off several large trees, not hitting any head-on. Instead, it came to rest in some bushes and against a tree trunk.
The emotional trauma was worse than the physical damage for the three players, leaving Jordan Mabin with a heartfelt understanding of life's priorities.
``It was real scary. My life flashed before my eyes,'' said Mabin, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound junior, who suffered only minor injuries. ``I didn't know if we were going to make it. I feel fortunate to be here.
``I try to live life to the fullest. I try not to get down about little things.''
In this case, the little things might include getting hammered and losing five yards. Of course, those circumstances are also easier to take, because he might follow that up with a 15-yard gain.
There have been plenty of those since he moved into the regular rotation as a freshman in 2003. As the Knights' second option to senior Tom Stockle that season, he still managed to rush for 1,067 yards and score 14 touchdowns.
Much more of the same came as a sophomore in 2004, when he rushed for 1,775 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named first-team all-district and honorable-mention all-state in Division II.
Nordonia coach Keith Boedicker is glad that Mabin is alive and well for all the right reasons, the least of which is his ability to advance the football in appreciable chunks.
``What happened to him put life in perspective. Our whole team learned that life is fragile,'' said Boedicker, who has led the Knights to the state playoffs in three consecutive years. ``He is such a great kid, so team-oriented. His parents are such great people, very grounded. We are just so thankful that he was all right.''
Opponents feel the same way, although they would believe it acceptable if he overslept or missed the team bus for their game.
``He is a very good athlete. He has strength, power and speed,'' Twinsburg coach Al Hodakievic said. ``Anytime he touches the ball, he is a threat to go all the way.''
Jim McQuaide is in his third season as coach at Solon. In each of his first two years, Mabin scored on a long kickoff return against his team.
``We just have not been able to stop him,'' McQuaide said. ``He is a tremendous all-around player. And he is tough. Against us, I am not sure if he ever left the field.''
That's because in addition to his work at tailback and kick returner, Mabin also is a starting cornerback on the Knights' defense.
It's all part of helping his team win and not worrying about the accolades.
``I have one goal this season, plain and simple. It's to win a state championship. That's why I am out there,'' he said. ``I don't think about stats or anything like that. If stats come, they come. The thing I want most is to win.''
Part of that determination to win comes from the company he keeps. His father was a star at Louisville, where he became friends with Frank Minnifield, who would later be a star cornerback for the Browns. Minnifield, in fact, is Jordan Mabin's godfather.
Another part of that determination comes from seeing the Nordonia tradition up close. As a eighth-grader in 2002, he was often on the sidelines to cheer for a Knights team that reached the Division II state final before losing. Nine month later, as a freshman, he was playing on the varsity alongside many of the returnees from that team.
``That first year was a good test. I was a young guy and I saw how the older guys set the bar so high,'' Mabin said. ``I have tried to follow their example. I try to do the right thing in every workout, in every practice.''
And, for another reason, to do the right thing even while being hammered and losing five yards.
