In Their Own Words: Jessica Bush
Sept. 29, 2007
During the 2007 season, members of the <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas soccer team will offer their thoughts on various topics in the first person. Today, junior forward/midfielder Jessica Bush is highlighted as she prepares for KU’s showdown with No. 3 Texas A&M on Sunday.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
On being height-challenged:
“I try not to think about it, except when I go up against a 6-2 defender. I think like coach says, the best thing to do is to go up and challenge (for a 50-50 ball) and try to get your body into it. I don’t always win them, but at least if I’m getting a body on the defender, I’m not letting them get a clean win.”
“I’ve always been kind of short, but it wasn’t really that much of an issue until I got into high school and into college and the girls started getting bigger. But I don’t really notice it any more, because it’s been like that for so long.”
On having success against Big 12 opponents:
“Conference (play) is a lot different, just because it’s a lot more competitive. Obviously, you go hard every game, but there’s a lot more at stake in conference. There’s a lot more pressure to win games.”
“I think last year, I just started clicking when we started conference play. (Former teammate) Holly (Gault) and I did a good job of connecting. This year, I think we have the potential to do the same thing, because now we’ve all played together for a few games. Hopefully we can get into the groove and get going and more goals will come after that.”
On how much Friday’s match with Baylor can jumpstart the offense:
“Game after game we’ve gotten better this year. We’ve had games here and there where we’ve played well (offensively) and last night we scored a couple of goals. It’s just going to take a little bit of a spark and the goals will start coming.”
“Goal scoring is a mentality. Off corners, it’s getting your head in there or getting your foot on the ball, it’s all about the attitude you have. If you don’t want to go through that, you aren’t going to get the ball. It isn’t going to find you. You have to have the attitude of finding the back of the net, and that’s what it takes to score a goal.”
“We got into a little bit of a rut at the beginning of the season, and maybe it was last night that can get us going and scoring goals. Texas A&M is hopefully going to take the brunt of it.”
On why she came to Kansas:
“When it came down to deciding where I was going to play, it was between Kansas and Purdue. I really couldn’t see myself (at Purdue) and I really wanted my family to be able to come to my games. Family was probably the biggest thing, because family is very important to me. My parents and grandparents don’t miss many games, they travel and everything, but its nice that they don’t have to go too far for my home games.”
“I really liked Kansas a lot, especially because Missy Geha, Kristin Graves and I were best friends (from previous teams) and then I’d played with Sara Rogers, Julie (Hanley) and Monica (Dolinsky). Julie and I were both actually looking at Kansas and Purdue and we both decided on Kansas, so I was pretty excited about that.”
On living with three of her teammates:
“I live with Kristin (Graves), Sara (Rogers) and Jenny (Murtaugh). We all have really different personalities and I think that helps us get along better. Plus, I live on the main floor, Sara’s room is in the basement and Gravie and Murtaugh are up top, so you can be around everybody if you want to, but if you need your space, you have it too.”
“For the most part, we get along pretty well. We have our moments, but I think all roommates do. We have our set movie nights and we have Grey’s Anatomy on Thursdays and we watch The Real World and The Bachelor together. We have our shows.”
“I actually end up doing most of the cooking and cleaning. That’s sometimes been an issue at our house. It’s hard to cook for just one, so I end up cooking for everybody, but sometimes my roommates are really picky.”
On what she’s like away from soccer:
“I’m actually really quiet in class and at home. I’m sure that surprises some people. Honestly, when I’m home during the day, I nap a lot. I don’t usually take short power naps. I have to take long, two-hour naps or else I can’t function the rest of the afternoon.”
