This week on The Preferred Walk-On Show, host Seth Saunders sits down with Mercer Head Coach Mike Jacobs, who is building something special in Macon.
From his days as a walk-on at Ohio State to becoming the head coach at Mercer, Coach Jacobs shares powerful insights into leadership, culture, and perseverance.
Inside this episode:
🐻 Coach Jacobs’ Journey — from walk-on at Ohio State to Mercer head coach
🏆 Building a Winning Culture — how trust, accountability, and discipline define the Bears
🔥 This Year’s Team — when Coach Jacobs knew his group had a chance to be special
💫 Braden Atkinson’s Emergence — how the freshman QB transformed the Bears’ offense
⚔️ Conference Showdown — Mercer vs. Western Carolina: previewing the matchup and the challenges the Catamounts present
💭 Coaching Legacy & Life Lessons — what Coach Jacobs hopes his players carry with them long after football
It’s a story about growth, grit, and the kind of leadership that defines great programs.
👇 Chapters & resources below 👇
00:00 Introduction to Coach Mike Jacobs
02:43 Building a Winning Culture
05:30 Establishing Trust and Discipline
08:06 Quarterback Development and Team Dynamics
10:57 Learning from Adversity
13:33 Legacy and Life Lessons
Hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT BELOW:
👉 Can Mercer make a deep run in the FCS playoffs?
👉 What does “building culture” mean to you?
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