Provo » Those who have lined up opposite Jan Jorgensen may be surprised to learn this, but Jorgensen is scared.
Jorgensen isn't afraid of an opponent or winning and losing. He's frightened of something he can't control.
Time.
"My four years have gone by way too fast," the BYU all-conference defensive lineman said. "I don't want it to be over. It's been a fast four years. I didn't expect it to end so soon."
It's fitting that Jorgensen's final game at LaVell Edwards Stadium comes Saturday against Utah. The Mountain West Conference's all-time sack leader almost played for the Utes; his brother J.D did.
More to the truth, Jorgensen wanted to play for former Utah and current Weber State coach Ron McBride. When McBride was fired and went to Kentucky, Jorgensen came very close to wearing a different shade of blue.
In the end, following a two-year LDS Church mission, Jorgensen became a Cougar. Saturday, he will play in his 50th consecutive game.
"He thought McBride wouldn't be there," said Jorgensen's dad and high school football coach, Jeff. "He might not want to admit it, but when he came back, he chose BYU because it is close to home and we could watch him play."
The idea that he would even think about wearing red, "makes me want to puke," Jorgensen said.
To be sure, the rest of the Mountain West Conference can't wait for the quick, 6-foot-3, 256-pounder to run out of eligibility. Through 11 games this season, Jorgensen has added five more sacks to increase his total to 271/2. His sophomore season included 131/2.
But there is much more to Jorgensen than knocking the opposing quarterback silly.
"He's just a force inside, a presence inside that you can't find on every team," BYU safety Andrew Rich said. "We're grateful to have him and his experience and leadership and the way he plays. It's great to be back there knowing we have a guy like Jan, someone who is so dominant."
Often double-teamed, the attention Jorgensen draws allows others to beat single blocking.
"He's a marked man," Jeff said. "It's frustrating that he attracts so much attention."
Jorgensen's numbers have never approached that sophomore season.
Numbers don't count for everything.
"You give him more freedom, and he would have had a lot more sacks," said McBride, who has continued to watch and admire Jorgensen. "I'm really proud of him. I knew he'd be a hell of a football player."
That Jorgensen also earned Academic All-MWC honors suggests there is more to Jorgensen than football. McBride knew that, too.
Back when McBride ran football camps in Helper, the then 11-year-old Jorgensen was one of a group of youngsters who would ride on the coach's cart.
"There were a bunch of kids who would go to lunch with me," McBride said. "Both [Jorgensen] boys were always there. His dad worked the camps."
McBride continued to keep tabs later when Jorgensen would become an all-state football player and wrestler for Carbon High School.
"When I watched his films in high school, he had so much agility, great toughness," McBride said. "I thought he was one of those can't-miss guys." Jorgensen's performance at BYU proves McBride was right.
"When I first saw him, I didn't think he was a defensive end," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "He was a returned missionary and like many of them that have worked hard on their mission, he didn't come back physically fit or ready to play. And he spent his first year as a redshirt player.
"I could tell he was very competitive at that time. It is pretty amazing at that position. To play the amount of games he has played, consecutively, is really remarkable."
Jorgensen could not have asked for more than being part of a class that turned BYU's program back into a winner. The Cougars lost 20 games between 2003 and 2005.
"To do what we've done the last four years," Jorgensen said. "I've been fortunate enough to experience a lot of great moments."
Typically, Jorgensen's first thoughts about highlights were victories against Utah: the John Beck-to-Jonny Harline game-winning touchdown pass in 2006; the Cougars converting a late fourth-and-18 situation late in the 2007 victory.
"I can't really look back," he said. "I'm trying to take in everything right now. As a player, I've learned a lot. I can see the game now. I can see things before they happen.
"I'd like to hope I'm the same [off the field]. I have no regrets at all."
