By Ryan Rogers
LSU Sports Information
(3/2/01)
Basketball season is winding down fast and although it’s been a season some may like to move past, it’s a season for one LSU Tiger to remember for the rest of his life. LSU senior Jack Warner’s career at LSU is coming to end. However, just like the first day he arrived on LSU’s campus to play for Dale Brown, Warner is having the time of his life.
Warner’s story starts as a young boy growing up in Baton Rouge. He dreamed of one day wearing the purple and gold of LSU. As a child he attended LSU basketball camp on an annual basis. At age 10, Warner moved to Kansas City where he lived for the next six years. However, he returned to Baton Rouge every summer to attend basketball camp and see his friends. Before he knew it he had attended 13 consecutive LSU basketball camps under Dale Brown.
Warner then moved to Plymouth, Minn., and prepped at Wayzata High School. Upon graduation he visited Dale Brown. Brown, fully aware that Warner was a regular at his camp offered him an invitation to walk-on at LSU.
“I told him I had some offers from small schools and he told me, ‘Why play for a small school when you can play for me at LSU?’ So I came to LSU,” says Warner.
Warner accepted his offer on the spot and returned to Baton Rouge after eight years removed from his hometown.
Brown retired a year later and John Brady took over as LSU head coach. While the turnover was great, Warner remained with the program under the Tigers’ new head coach.
Since then, Warner’s biggest contributions for the team have come when nobody’s cheered him on. Throughout his career, Warner has been a hard working player in practice. Often counted on to orchestrate a scout team attack, Warner has helped his teammates prepare well for games. He hustles and sweats just as much as every other player on the team. Yet unlike the starters, his name is rarely mentioned by the media. It takes a great attitude to maintain the intensity he has without receiving the recognition that others do.
“Growing up I was always told I had a good attitude and that I was enthusiastic,” says Warner. “That’s what’s helped me get through the hard times and frustration. Especially when we were losing a couple of years ago and I wasn’t playing. I felt I could go in there and do no worse than the guys that were playing.”
Warner’s career has culminated in near-story book fashion. Once a walk-on struggling for playing time, now Warner is contributing to his team, and the LSU community loves every minute of it.
Now a senior, Warner’s hard work has finally paid off. With John Brady looking for fresh bodies in 2001, Warner is one of three walk-ons that are seeing significant playing time. As the season has progressed, he has contributed significantly more to this team.
Against S. Carolina, Warner was inserted into the game to defend a hot-shooting Jamel Bradley. He accomplished this and took things a step further by draining a three-pointer to spark his team offensively.
In the Florida game, Warner came off the bench and drained a three-pointer in a nationally televised game.
“I’m happy Coach Brady gave me a chance,” adds Warner. “I definitely put in my time and I’m glad to finally get my chance. It’s a good feeling to finally be able to contribute to the team. My Mom always has told me to keep working hard for things I want. She told me to always strive for the things you enjoy and she was right.”
Indeed the crowd did appreciate Warner’s efforts. In that Florida thriller, the crowd’s intensity may have peaked with Warner’s shot. Warner has always been a fan favorite at LSU. Tiger fans love to see him play and love to watch him succeed even more.
“It’s kind of like I’ve had courtside season tickets for the past five years sitting on the bench,” says Warner. “I’m just a fan like everyone else and I love college basketball. I think the fans see me as one of them.”
Warner is seen as an extension of every fan when he gets on the court. His main purpose is to do whatever he can to help his team. Every Tiger fan would feel similarly obligated in his situation.
Every time Warner hits the court chants of “Jack, Jack, Jack….” can be heard from the student section. He’s not just a fan favorite, but a student adored by his classmates.
Warner leaves LSU with the same smile he arrived on campus with. His experience is one he wouldn’t change for the world.
“I’ve loved it,” he says. “If I could play another five years at LSU I’d do it. Since I came here all the people I’ve met and all the relationships I’ve had with people have been great. It’s been a blast.”
Warner may not be remembered as the greatest basketball player in LSU history, but he will always be remembered as hard worker, who fulfilled his dream and left a winner.