Fútball Americano
Francisco Jimenez rushes the passer in a bowl game against Citrus College last season. Photo courtesy of Francisco Jimenez.
To Francisco Jimenez, football is not just a sport he happens to play, it is a life path he and his family consciously chose. Following his football path meant leaving friends and family to move to a new country where he would have to learn a new language and acquaint himself to a new culture.
In Mexico, football is not as prevalent or competitive as it is in the United States. Jimenez was offered seven scholarships from some of the best programs in Mexico, but wanted to face the best opposition he could. His mother and two siblings moved with him to the United States to do exactly that.
“I was good in Mexico,” said the 6’4” 260-pound 19-year-old, “I guess I wanted to go against better competition than me. We have good programs, but nothing compared to the United States.”
Before being suggested football because of his size, he played sports that are more popular in Mexico. He found inspiration to play football in Ray Lewis' 2013 Super Bowl performance.
After leaving his home country at the age of 17, he found his way to Corona Centennial High School's football team. He expected to be bigger than the other players, like he was in Mexico, but found himself mistaken. The defensive end starting job was securely occupied by a USC-starter-to-be, but Jimenez was able to find an alternative route to the first team when the squad was short a nose guard.
“My coach was like, ‘Who wants to go to nose guard?’ Nobody put his hand up so this was my opportunity,” he said.
Jimenez’ hard work and flexibility didn’t stop on the football field. While becoming acquainted to new coaches, teammates and playbooks, he was also learning how to navigate a brand new landscape alone.
“At the beginning it was hard because I had no friends, had to speak a different language and my accent made it hard to understand,” he said. “It hurt at first because you’re used to Sundays with the family, birthdays with your family, everything with your family but now its just your siblings… I was shy in the beginning. I didn’t want to talk to anybody because I don’t want them to hear my English, make fun of me or whatever.”
Even though he was finding success on the field and cracked the starting team, football wasn’t a sanctuary, but another stressor.
“Football wasn’t that good in the beginning because it was a lot of pressure, “he said. “It was a constant competition. I had my bad days when I didn’t want to practice.”
Soon, though, the results of his efforts would make the sacrifice seem more worthwhile. Jimenez found success at Corona Centennial during his only season on the team. Although he made first-team all-league and was noticed by Division 3 and NAIA schools, he wanted to achieve more. He visited Chaffey College with coaches David Slover and Jose Flores and was sold when they showed genuine interest in him. On top of that, Chaffey’s home stadium reminded him of Mexico; the ultimate home-field advantage.
“Most of the time [in high school] I played in fields where the grass was fake. And here, when I first got here it wasn’t that good looking. They were making it better and in Mexico sometimes its like that. It makes me more comfortable and ultimately it makes me play better,” he said.
Last season Jimenez explained, when he missed the first three games he approached his coach with the idea of redshirting, but was turned down because he was a good performer and should expect a college to pick him.
“My coach always tells me be patient, he tells me in Spanish, ‘Paciencia,’ about people talking to me, college contacting me, me being better,” he said.
Looking back there are tangible results, but he still attributes them to patience.
“I was 215 when I first came to Chaffey and right now I’m 260 and I’m also better,” he said, before explaining he has started all but one game this season, another little victory contributing to his overall success.
“I just work my ass off and have really good coaches I’ve been blessed with that help me out not just be a good player but being a good person,” he said. “That’s what makes me keep playing football here. In high school my motivation to play was gone. But when Coach Slover talked to me and I saw the guys play I took it back — my motivation to play football. Right now that motivation is still there and it will last forever until I get to D1, until I get to the NFL … There is no plan B. There is always going to the NFL. That's everything right now.”
His most-recent successes, documented on game film, have put him on the receiving side of messages and texts from Division 1 coaches.
“It’s motivation to me so I can get better and I know people outside of Chaffey are watching me,” he said. “They’re impressed with me.”
“My mom is the one that is more proud of me. Learning a new language, new culture, everything is new so my mom just wants me to succeed in this life,” Jimenez said.
He attributes his strength to his Mexican bloodline and the development of his talent to being coached in the United States. He has the physical attributes of a successful football player but has not adopted the ferociousness typically displayed on the field and maybe never will.
I’m a nice person. All the team knows me because I am a nice person. They always trash talk, I am the only one that doesn’t trash talk at all,” he said. “It will be always on my mind. Being humble, being nice, being a good person, a son of God. I always try to take care of others. That will always be me.”