Rob Broussard
UNOPrivateers.com
NEW ORLEANS ? As new head basketball coach Joe Pasternack addressed fans, alums, media and UNO players during his inaugural press conference on July 10, there was one person sitting conspicuously on the side.
Jacob Manning was on his own little island. He was a 6-7 forward who, before 2006-07, had played in 59 straight games for the Privateers. He had started 21 games in his career and had been a consistent face on the UNO sideline.
But on this summer day, Manning had no idea where he would be come fall. A few weeks earlier, he was told by his coaching staff that his services were no longer needed.
He was only 13 hours shy of a UNO degree, he had a medical redshirt in hand due to an injury-plagued 2006-07 season that saw him have surgery due to a stress fracture in his right ankle. He was staring at another surgery in just a few weeks ? this time on his left leg.
Manning desperately wanted to return to UNO and have one more season with his teammates -- a group he had experienced so much with.
But he was not wanted. With the help of his junior college coach, he was starting to explore other schools -- looking for a place to finish off his basketball career. With the upcoming surgery, however, he didn't know if he would find a place.
On this day, though, he just wanted to meet the new coach. His former coach, Buzz Williams, exited for an assistant coaching position at Marquette. He just wanted a chance.
“I talked to him briefly at his press conference but he had so many things going on,” said Manning of a brief first meeting with Pasternack. “He told me he would meet with me again after he got back from going recruiting.”
Manning had his surgery in August ? specifically a rod inserted into his left tibia due to yet another stress fracture. Two days later, he met again with Pasternack. And, finally, the questions got answered.
“It seemed like he was pretty much given up on because he was hurt,” Pasternack said. “The players told me he could play. I couldn't be happier to have him.”
Because of the surgeries, Manning has had to work hard to get back into playing shape. He estimates he put on anywhere from 20-30 pounds, though he is already halfway home to getting back to his normal playing weight.
It is just one more piece of adversity Manning has faced.
Originally from Hattiesburg, Miss., he became a huge part of the basketball team's evacuation for Hurricane Katrina.
Manning took then-teammates Nate Parker, Sami Badawi and Jamie McNeilly with him to his grandmother's home in Picayune, Miss. There, they rode out the storm, with Manning describing the sounds as “like a freight train,” as the storm seemingly passed right over the house.
He spent the fall 2005 semester with the team in Tyler, Texas
“It made me understand how to handle adversity,” Manning said. “We all had to go through it. Everything ? the injuries, the storm, the coaching changes ? has been hard. But you move on as a stronger person. In the end, we are better for it.”
It has been an interesting ride for Manning, who now finds himself in a contributing role.
“I'm back where I have always wanted to be,” said Manning, who will earn his degree in business management in December. “It's just great to be able to play ball and finish my education.”
“He's a great character kid, the type of kid and player you want in your program,” Pasternack said. “He's just solid. He can defend, he can rebound and he can knock down open shots.”
