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April 17, 2002

NEW ORLEANS, La. - In his four years as a member of the Tulane baseball team, James Jurries has seen his role on the squad run the gamut. He's played everywhere on the infield with the exception of shortstop. He's played left and right field. He's hit everywhere in the lineup from leadoff to the six hole.

But when it comes to being a student-athlete, Jurries typifies the old saying that "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

A career .347 hitter coming into the 2002 season, Jurries has earned All-America honors. He was the 1999 National Freshman of the Year. He's earned first-team Conference USA honors three straight years, and is a preseason all-league choice this year. And while his on-the-field achievements are impressive, Jurries works just as hard off the diamond and currently has a 3.31 cumulative grade point average and a 3.77 GPA in the prestigious A. B. Freeman School of Business.

"He'll go down as one of the greatest to ever play here," head coach Rick Jones said. "He's a model student, and when you couple that with what he's been able to do athletically, that show's you how special James Jurries really is. The thing that stands out about James is that he truly bleeds green. He's team first, team last. He wants to be part of a winner and will do whatever it takes every day."

It has not been easy for Jurries, however, as the native of Lake Jackson, Texas, has had to overcome injuries along the way as well as adjust to his different roles.

As a freshman in 1999, Jurries was part of a team that featured slugging stars in then-seniors Chad Sutter and Jason Sparks. He started all 65 games at second base and hit leadoff for the Green Wave, finishing 13th in the nation in runs scored with an average of 1.38 per game. After hitting .374 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI, Jurries became the first player in Tulane history to earn National Freshman of the Year honors, earning the distinction from Baseball America, College Baseball Insider and Collegiate Baseball. He also earned first-team All-America honors from College Baseball Insider and secont-team recognition by Baseball America, Baseball Weekly, Collegiate Baseball and The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Expectations were high for Jurries heading into his sophomore campaign, but a knee injury suffered during a tryout with Team USA hampered his effectiveness on the field. He fought through the pain, though, and hit .338 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI.

Then, last season as a junior when he shifted from outfield to first base, Jurries broke his wrist in the first game of the year and wound up missing 19 games with the injury. Despite the fracture, he returned to the lineup in mid-March and finished the year hitting .324 with 10 homers and 53 RBI.

Jurries has persevered through the injuries and position changes, however, and is off to the best start of his Green Wave career.

"I've been in a lot of roles," Jurries said. "I've hit 1-6 in my four years here. Depending on where you're hitting, your job doesn't change too much. I've always known Coach Jones wants me to drive in runs. When you get put in the one hole like my freshman year, your role changes. You've just got to get on base so that Sutter and those guys can drive you. Now, I'm more worried about producing RBI."

So far this season, Jurries hasn't had to "worry" about driving in runs, though, as he leads the Green Wave and ranks second in C-USA with 24 RBI. He also paces the club and ranks second in the league with six home runs and is hitting a club-best .447 with an eye-popping .800 slugging percentage.

"As a freshman, he was surrounded by great hitters," Jones said. "Then he had to battle injuries as a sophomore and junior. The team has evolved, and now he's gone from being a young bat in a veteran lineup to a senior who is protecting the younger guys as well as providing valuable leadership."

While the younger players look to Jurries for his leadership on the field, it's his leadership by example in the classroom that has he has worked the hardest at. In addition to earning accolades on the field, Jurries was twice named to the C-USA Commissioner's List Academic Honor Roll and is coming off a fall semester when he earned Dean's List recognition with a 3.83 GPA in finance.

"I've never been a guy who's been able to show up in class and make good grades," Jurries said. "I've had to work hard and study and make sacrifices to make grades. It's tough sometimes. I'll come lift weights on our off day, then head straight to the business school to study for 7-8 hours. On game days we'll play and then I try and find time to read or study for an hour or two. That's the toughest part - finding time to work academically."

But like every other obstacle or challenge Jurries has been presented with during his collegiate career, he has conquered it like few others can and is looking forward to a future that will include a degree from Tulane as well as the opportunity to play professional baseball.

Had it not been for the injury a year ago, Jurries likely would be at the next level already.

"Even though I came back, my wrist was still broken and I didn't think I'd get drafted high enough to where I would consider leaving school," Jurries said. "I want to play pro ball and I'm definitely going to give it a shot. I'll sign as a free agent if I have to, but my primary goal right now is to get more W's on the board for Tulane."

"I have been here four years and I know the ins and outs of the team and I know the way Coach Jones wants things done. Being one of two captains and being a senior, I assume the responsibility of getting this team going in the right direction. I think we have a ways to go. There are some things that are missing for us right now, but fortunately, it's not talent. We've got the talent to do it, but we've all got to face the same direction and head the right way."

With Jurries leading the way, the Green Wave will be lined up and marching in unison in no time flat.