WKU Football: Remembering Jessie Quinn
Former WKU Football player passes away at 35
Memorializing Jessie Quinn isn’t an easy task, and there isn’t one thing that I could point to that would tell others who he was. Usually when someone passes away, people tend to remember them more positively than they actually were. But this isn’t the case for Jessie. He lived up to all the good things that were said about him.
I met Jessie in 2006 when I was a freshman at WKU. He was a Sophomore. What I remember most about him, as others have pointed out was he was a bright and shining light to others. Always upbeat, laughing, telling jokes, dancing, always fun to be around, and a contagious personality. Even when things weren’t going our way.
As a student trainer, one of my duties during summer camp was to fill these large troughs with water and ice. The players would then sit in these large ice baths for 12 to 15 mins. It wasn’t optional and some of the guys would belly ache about it. At the time, I was a shy, quiet freshman who looked 30 (as I was told later by some of the guys because of my facial hair). So I would time each of the guys in the ice baths and listen to them talk about every random thing under the sun.
One August 14th, Jessie’s Birthday, someone asked how old he was, he told them, and they responded with something along the lines of, “Oh well that’s not a very big year,” to which Jessie responded with, “Every year I’m here is a great birthday; ‘cause I know guys who died young.”
I didn’t know who he was talking about. At the time, I knew of less than a handful of “kids” who died young. But I took what he said to heart. I remember thinking at the time how it sounded wise beyond years what Jessie said.
Something else that stands out to me, one of his best friends, Marion “Trey” Rumph and Chris Franklin who both played defense. I can’t tell you how much trash they talked during practice. If I hadn’t seen them outside practice I never would’ve known they were friends.
Then Jessie joined the fraternity, Omega Psi Phi “Que Dogs”. Once this happened, you didn’t have to wonder when Jessie was coming in the Training room. You heard him barking down the hall. Jessie was so excited to be in the fraternity, and his excitement was evident to all in football.
I talked with Jessie’s former position coach, and offensive coordinator for WKU, TJ Weist. “It’s a tough loss, I don’t want to say he was more special than other receivers I’ve coached but he was. He had a very positive, and contagious personality. It was hard not to like Jessie.”
Jessie had an incredible journey when he came to WKU; he started his freshman year as a walk on, then over the next year earning a scholarship, becoming a starter and finally a team leader.
“I’ve coached a lot of receivers, I’ve had some pass away, but the number of people who have reached out, telling me about Jessie, He was a special teammate, and special friend to so many people. It just goes to show how special he was.”
My thoughts and prayers go out to Jessie’s family and friends.
Obituary for Jessie:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23562010/jessie-j-quinn-jr