In Focus: For Jones, Tattoo A Symbol Of Dedication To UW
September 09, 2016 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
"Can we take a photo of my tattoo?"
The request was a simple one. During a photoshoot for Washington's 2016 football marketing campaign, Sidney Jones decided he wanted to capture an image of the new ink that runs the length of his left forearm.
The tattoo, the eyes of a Husky, is a familiar symbol for fans of the program. The imagery is frequently used in the university's athletic facilities.
After a few clicks of the camera, Jones lifted his arm in front of the facemask on his helmet, the tattoo acted like a visor, the ink eyes shielding his own.
At the time, the goal was to capture a signature image, a photo that showcased the artwork while telling a story that describes the standout cornerback.
Several months later, as the Huskies prepared for their season opener against Rutgers, the tattoo came up again.
What was the inspiration? What does it symbolize?
The junior said he was online and found some "cool" art featuring the eyes of a tiger.
The image reminded him of the eyes he had seen around Husky Stadium. That inspiration, combined with his passion for the program and university, provided the impetus for the artwork.
"It means something to me, coming to this university, so I felt like I should get the tattoo," he said.
When Jones gets a tattoo, there is meaning behind it. On his other arm, behind his biceps, two hands holding rosary beads are clasped in prayer. There are two words are on one of those wrists – Aunt Ruth.
"She passed when I was smaller," he said. "She was a big part of my life. I remember everything about her. I just wish she could see me now."
The ink on Jones' arm helps tell his story. Soft-spoken in interviews, Jones is fierce on the field. Thoughtful and eloquent, he is proud of who he is and how much he has grown.
Committed to family, football and his education, Jones has devoted his college years to becoming more mature both on and off the field.
"It transformed me," said Jones, talking about both the university and the football team. "I came in as a young pup and I'm going to leave here a man with an education. I'm grateful for that."
As far as his success on the field, the first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season said, "That's just another level, something I never expected."
When Jones arrived in Seattle, he was a three-star recruit who admits that school was an afterthought.
"In high school, I wasn't that much into school," he said.
Then he decided to shift his thinking. He decided to place more emphasis on his work in the classroom. That change made all the difference.
"Once I put the effort in, with the support system we have here, it just makes everything a lot easier and smoother," he said. "There's a big difference from high school to now."
While he is still deciding on a major, he is making sure to take classes – from science to sociology – that provide a broad knowledge base.
"I'm just trying to get a better understanding of what I want to do in life," he said.
With fall quarter still a few weeks away, Jones is currently focused on making sure Washington, and its secondary, starts the season strong.
"I'm just going to continue the development," he said. "We're going to grow as a team and grow as a unit."
For a coach, there are few things more rewarding than watching the athletes they work with improve on and off the field.
"It's exactly what you want as a coach, especially at this level," defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake said. "You recruit a young man, he comes here, you see him grow as a person on the field, off the field. You see him grow in terms of the maturation of his body – he's put on close to 15 pounds now since we recruited him out of high school.
"You see his game just get better and better and better with each passing year. It definitely has been fun to watch."
After a recent practice, Jones and Lake lingered on the field. Coach and player were working on releases. Jones wanted to spend some extra time getting a better feel for what a receiver is going to do on different routes.
His diligence on the field extends into the film room.
"You can never get enough reps," he said. "I still need to continue to work all the time. I'm always pushing to get better."
When Jones first arrived at Washington, he wasn't sure what to expect. Now in this third season, his bond with the program is so strong it is now represented in indelible ink.
And as far as that other tattoo, the one dedicated to aunt Ruth. Well, Jones has become a person and player who would make Ruth proud. Like he said, "I came in as a young pup and I'm going to leave here a man."
