William I Jacobs knew sports in many incarnations while at American University in the early 1960s. In addition to competing with the AU swim team, Jacobs, '63, '66, participated in many intramural sports, often with his Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity brothers.
"It was a ball," says Jacobs. "A lot of us are still in touch because the swimming team was clearly a family. We spent a lot of time together… The interfraternity intramural, however, were the hardest, most physical sports I ever played."
After receiving his undergraduate degree from Kogod and his JD from the Washington College of Law, Jacobs enjoyed a successful career in the commercial lending field. He was a member of AU's Board of Trustees for 15 years and received the university's 2002 President's Award. Amidst all of his triumphs, however, Jacobs remembers most the swim meets in the old Leonard Building and the intramural football games, both of which strengthened the bonds of friendship.
Now Jacobs is continuing his own athletic legacy at AU by providing today's students with more opportunities for their own sporting exploits. In 1998 he committed $500,000 for the construction of the William I Jacobs Fitness Center, a sparkling workout facility that now sees nearly 6,500 visitors each week.
In 2004, Jacobs has made a new gift - of almost $1 million - for the renovation of the intramural practice field located behind the Child Development Center. When finished, the swatch of grass will be transformed into a 93,000 square-foot field made of Astroturf 12. The field, to be named for Jacobs, will meet NCAA size regulations for lacrosse and field hockey matches. And the playing surface will have a mission far beyond intercollegiate sports, reflected by that fact that no fence will close off the turf field.
"I really wanted this to be done for the entire community," Jacobs says. He'll get his wish because his namesake field won't just be a playing surface, but part of an athletic complex. In addition to the turf field, a softball diamond is being planned with the dirt infield set back from the lacrosse field, and two sand volleyball courts will be constructed to the side of the turf. Taken as a whole, Jacobs Field is now the centerpiece of the intramural program that Jacobs so enjoyed.
Beyond the immediate fitness benefits, the field provides the university with one more modern resource in its drive to be among the country's elite universities. With AU's academic programs receiving wide acclaim in recent years, Jacobs Field is one more example of the sparkling intangibles that elite students seek in their college experiences. "AU has many things to offer, and this new field, like the fitness center, is only going to add to that," says Athletics Director Joni Comstock.
-originally written for American magazine by Kenny Lucas
