Sports Analytics by Jake

Sports Analytics by Jake - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I was in fifth grade, my dad took me to see a college football game. Walking in, I didn’t know much, but I could tell it was a big game since the team had a losing record, they had a new coach for the game, and it was packed. We sat down and I was instantly drawn when I noticed a change in plays.The coach called a double reverse pass that resulted in a huge 62 yard touchdown. Seeing the team make this creative play, instantly energized the crowd and strangers were turning around high fiving. I was instantly hooked because I could feel the energy change and knew this year was going to be special. Afterwards, I kept following the team and was impressed by their progress. They continued to play against high level schools but held their weight.

After witnessing their success, it made me wonder where they could be ranked. I grabbed a pencil and paper, a calculator, and their stats to create a method to rank college football teams. Being I was only 9, the equation was simple. Despite my limited knowledge, I developed a formula that articulated a substantial change between the team the year before, and the current roster. Years later, when the pandemic hit, my friend and I spent our time enveloped in sports. From playing football, to posting our recordings on Youtube predicting the futures of football recruits, it was all I could ever think about.

This summer, my obsession with sports stats provided me the opportunity to attend a prestigious program focused on quantitative methods in sports. Because I had not manipulated sports statistics in an academic setting, I was nervous about what to expect. However, I reflected on how meaningful sports has been to me, which boosted my confidence. I challenged myself by learning how to code and applied it to my previous methodologies. I met other students who were just as passionate, which solidified my interests and made me feel like I belonged.

My mission in life has always been to make a positive impact on others lives through sports - whether it be connecting over a passion for sports teams, playing the game with teammates, or just coming together with people from all walks of life over a shared interest. When I think about my future and the legacy I want to leave, I plan to pursue my degree in Sports Analytics at Syracuse University, one of the top programs in the country for this degree, and hopefully work for a sports entertainment network like ESPN or a sports team making prediction models on recruits and prospects. In my time at Syracuse, I am planning to get involved with student coaching programs at local high schools and lend a helping hand to our Orange athletes from the sidelines. My goal is not limited to what I want to achieve on my own, but to continue to raise awareness about how sports can positively impact anyone’s life.