Favorite Jay Martin Story
Rich Farquhar '82
Atlanta, GA
I was part of Jay's 1st recruiting class in 1978. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the first European trip to Bournemouth, England, in August 1978 as an incoming freshman as a 17 year old. An experience I will never forget. We trained 2x with the then-Fourth Division Bournemouth Team (now at the top of EPL). We attended the Charity Shield match at the old Wembley Stadium between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich. Forest won 5-0. Unforgettable.
Jay treated us young men as Men. He empowered us. Jay was serious when it came to everything on the field; preparation for matches, tactics, training (OWU was always the most fit team).
Jay was very verbally supportive, and a disciplinarian. I remember he pulled me out of a match versus Kenyon, as I was struggling in the first 20 minutes. He told me to stand next to him, that he would put me back in, but to take a breath and just watch and get a feel for the game. I came back in more relaxed and scored a goal. We won 2-0. Team was such a big part of Jay's coaching philosophy. It was never about the individual, always the team.
He also possessed a level of comic relief and sarcasm that made us all laugh! Jay could have had his own show! What has meant more since we graduated in 1982 is the friendships with teammates that have lasted to this day, 42 years later. We remain very tight. These will continue to be life-long friendships.