J.D. Runnels Online Journal: Week One

Oklahoma fullback J.D. Runnels begins his player journal to take Sooner fans behind the scenes as OU prepares for its 2004 football season and its return to the national championship. This week J.D. gives us his perspective on the conclusion of summer workouts and preparation of the new season. He also speaks candidly about his teammates, his life, his family and how adversity has made him a better person.

This is the first installment of J.D.'s weekly journal. There is a link at the bottom of the page so you can submit questions for J.D. to reply to in his next entry.

J.D. Runnels Journal Entry No. 1 (Aug. 24, 2004)
I'll start by giving you some background about myself. My full name is James Douglas Runnels, Jr. I am a junior at the University of Oklahoma and the nephew of former OU running back Mike Gaddis. I wear number 38, which I was assigned as a freshman and didn't really like. Since the last person to wear it was Roy (Williams), I love it now. I feel it helps me perform better and step up to represent what that number means to OU fans.

I enjoy playing old school Nintendo games, playing golf I have about an eight handicap and just hanging out with my roommate Aaron. My best moment at OU was winning the Big 12 Championship and Rose Bowl my freshman year.

As far as this preseason went, I think everything was good. We have a bunch of returning starters and, more importantly, a bunch of returning leaders. The captains we picked are in a position to lead us to greatness, another championship season. Everything looks good right now, but it all has to develop for the duration of the season. We know we all have to get better as we go along and that we still have some kinks to work out. We've put in hard work, but we'll put in even more hard work and then work harder than we already are.

Personally, I worked out the hardest I ever have this summer. Towards the end of the offseason I felt that I was ready and I was in shape. A bunch of the guys around me were at that level and we were all ready to attack the two-a-days head on. This summer I worked out with Dan Cody and Lance Mitchell. We basically all tried to help each other out. When you're working with those guys well, if you've ever seen Dan in person he looks like a statue. He doesn't get that way from just standing around in the weight room. That guy is probably the hardest worker I've ever seen. They taught me the right lessons that I need to know to help the younger guys next year.

Outside of football, I went down to Lake Tenkiller quite often and took a few of the guys down there. I've got some good stories, but I can't tell them here. I also took six hours of classes to go along with my degree. I took Wealth, Power and Prestige and Physical Geography. I also volunteer for my sister.

My sister, Tessa Martin, started a foundation for my mother that passed away from renal adenocarcinoma. It's called the SOURC and she started it to help support those who suffer from renal carcinoma. I helped her keep on top of everything and manage things. I did whatever I could to help her mostly in promotions and advertisements. It's a family deal her, my brothers and I. We help each other out with that. That's another way we stick together.

My mother died August 5 of last year the day we reported back for football. Anybody that's lost their mom knows it's just terrible. Anybody that's every told you that they're over it well, that's a lie. It's something that doesn't sit well with you for the rest of your life, but you have to live with it. I'm thankful for the lessons she's taught me everyday. I think she's made me the man I am and every compliment I get I give to her.

I'm a junior now, but (laughing) I'm no where near where I want to be in school. I say that a lot, but I really wanted to play my first year and I got that opportunity so I didn't redshirt. That's the consequence you have to pay. If you want to play then you're going to miss out on some class you could be taking that year. I would rather have the credit hours of a redshirt, but I'm working hard at it and I'm taking classes in the summer. It's a sacrifice you have to make. I'm doing well in all my classes but, hey, I'm going to take all the time I need up here. I really like it.

Jammal Brown

- #38 J.D. Runnels

Ask J.D. a Question | Sooner Online Journals

- Compiled by Jared Thompson, OU Athletics Department

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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