Senior golfer Jake Skinner is a four year varsity player for the men’s golf team. Skinner and the Tigers have two more tournaments before the Ivy League Championships.
Q: What was your “welcome to college” moment?
A: In the first week I was here, I went to the “welcome to college” dinner for Mathey. I had a single, and I was used to being with my team, so I didn’t know anybody. I just literally sat there and ate a salad and drank my Gatorade and thought, “I am such a loser. Why did I come to this school?”
Q: What was the greatest highlight in your sports career?
A: I would have to say winning the co-rec soccer league when I was 8 years old. We wore ketchup and mustard jerseys, and I scored the winning goal on a girl. That was my first team trophy, so I was pretty jacked up about that.
Q: What is your funniest story about your coach?
A: We like to call my coach a Diet Cokehead. He literally drinks Diet Coke like it’s going out of style ... Also, he has this bad driving habit: We’re driving on the freeway, and he’s weaving in and out of traffic, and his phone is in front of his face. I don’t know if they’re booty texts or what.
Q: What has been your most embarrassing moment with the team?
A: It’s actually related to the ‘Prince’ — one of the pictures that they have on file is one of me where my boxers are showing, and I’m wearing a dorky headband and glasses … I was still in my awkward phase, and actually I still am in it. The ladies were running from me.
Q: What is the best part about being an athlete on campus?
A: I don’t really get treated as an athlete, because I’m a golfer, but I think we’re getting some new credit with the ladies because of Tiger [Woods] ... Actually, I hadn’t truly realized the best part about being an athlete until this year. It’s having the privilege of being on the team with [freshman] Bernie “Bern-dog” D’Amato.
Q: What is the worst part about being an athlete on campus?
A: I would say time commitment, especially because of the nature of golf. People laugh about how golf’s a joke, but I dare anyone to go spend 10 hours on a golf course. It becomes the most annoying thing ever when there’s stuff to do. People say “Oh, I’m so stressed out, I’m going to go running.” They don’t say “Oh, I’m going to go play 10 hours on a putting green.”
Q: Because the golf team is so small — nine people — how has that created a different team atmosphere than other varsity teams?
A: Well, I would say we’re more like a girl’s team. On a big team, you can hide, but on the golf team, you can’t avoid anyone. It’s a very catty atmosphere. There’s no outlet for aggression in golf ... It gets to the point where you have to take mental breaks. I’m sure people are getting sick of me. My coach is being nicer to me — I don’t think it’s because he actually likes me.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do when not playing golf?
A: Sporcle with [sophomore] Evan [Harmeling] is one of my favorites. Other than that, I like to wander around campus and take pictures with tourists. I also like to watch people in Dillon through that window and see who’s getting the edge. Other than that, anything that’s the furthest thing from golf.
Q: If not golf, what sport would you play?
A: Oh, golf’s the worst. You’re not with your friends or having fun; you’re with three other losers. I’d definitely be a bull fighter — actually, no, I’d be a rodeo clown or a professional sailor. I’m from Idaho — that’s why it’s funny. Or women’s squash. I can’t compete with the men.
Q: What would you do if you were coach for a day?
A: I’d make it a very spiritual day, with some team-building, some snacks together, maybe go to a movie ... I’d be a very Zen coach, very in tune with everyone’s needs. Sometimes coaching is too much about the team and not enough about the individual ... I’d take the team laser-tagging and really hone our skills.
Q: What is your favorite class you have taken at Princeton?
A: I would say the class about Bruce Springsteen [SOC 205: Sociology from E Street: Bruce Springsteen’s America], taught by Mitchell Duneier. The professor was such a cool guy.
Q: Who gets the most guys/girls on the team? Who has the best game off the course?
A: Tom Klingman. He tore his ACL playing basketball, and pre-ACL tear he had the most game, but it remains to be seen whether he can maintain that with the gangster walk he has going on.
Q: Do you have a pre-game ritual?
A: I like to do a rain dance in private. It gets me centered, it gets me in touch with my inner self. Because, you know, I like to spend time alone before I spend four hours playing alone. I also like to make sure my snacks are in my bag — fruit snacks, drink. That first shot’s like jumping off a plane — you have to be prepared.
Q: Do you have any particularly inspiring music for before games?
A: “Canon in D” [by Johann Pachelbel]. It’s a winner. If “Canon in D” doesn’t get you psyched for an athletic competition, I don’t know what does.
Q: What is the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
A: New Kids On the Block, “You’ve Got the Right Stuff.”
Q: Do you get any last-name jokes?
A: I get a lot of responses from teachers here, because at Princeton everyone plays the name game. Actually, one of my best friends from high school’s name was Slaughter. Slaughter and Skinner — we should start a company or law firm.
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