Senior defensive back J.J. Nunes has never lacked drive for Valparaiso, but a new source of motivation has taken it to a whole different level this season.
The senior captain and his wife Sarah are expecting an addition to the family in February.
“The day I found out she was pregnant, I was lifting and she sent me a text,” Nunes said. “I probably had the best workout of my life. Every time I want to give up or give in, I have to think about being a good example for my kid.”
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J.J. and Sarah Nunes, who got married in June, shared the news with the team after an early August practice.
“To share such a close thing with them was fantastic,” J.J. Nunes said. “She was great, she almost cried, and I did cry when she read a letter to them. She’s truly invested in the team, so it’s nice to share that with our extended family.”
Another factor that makes this year different for J.J. is the departure of his father John and mother Monique from Valparaiso University. After spending three years working at Valpo, John was hired as the president of Concordia College in New York.
Monique, who had worked at J.J.’s school in some capacity from kindergarten through junior year of college, went with her husband to New York, where she works at Martin Luther School.
Until this year, Monique and her son had always been at the same school, a 16-year journey that started in Dallas and included stops in Chicago and Baltimore.
“I continue to struggle with missing him and not having him around just to say hello,” Monique said. “He called me and said he started to come by my office, but realized I’m not there.
“When you’re used to having something and you know that’s the norm and then that’s taken away, tears are shed, and lots of them.”
Nunes, the youngest of six children and the only boy, will graduate in December with a degree in philosophical aspects and theological implications in sport. From there, he plans to begin a career in coaching and helping youth.
Last season, Nunes finished second on the team with 76 tackles and earned honorable mention all-league recognition. His senior season begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, when the Crusaders travel to Illinois State.
Valpo (1-9, 1-7 PFL) suffered its 12th straight losing season last year.
The last two seasons, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Nunes was a bright spot after being converted to defensive back before his sophomore year.
“It’s been a very satisfying couple years for him, from when he showed up as a backup running back to watching him blossom on defense with each passing year,” Valpo coach Dave Cecchini said. “His best asset is his intensity.
“He’s undersized, but he makes up for that because he’s going full speed all the time.”
On the verge of entering a new chapter in his life, Nunes is determined to finish strong in his final season of playing college football.
“Valpo is unlike any other place in this world,” he said. “It’s given me more than I’ve given it. I believe we’re headed in the right direction. You have to buy in or it won’t work. It’s blind faith.”
Brandon Vickrey is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.