Q & A with Jim Kubiak
March 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
JIM KUBIAK, third-year quarterback for the Dallas Desperados, is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his AFL career and is providing to be one of the League's finest quarterbacks. After only eight games, he has completed 195-of-285 pass attempts for 2,423 yards and 44 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
Kubiak's football success can be attributed to many factors including his impressive college football career at the United States Naval Academy. Kubiak's name is etched into the Navy's record books an impressive 22 times. He graduated as a four-year letterman having claimed the school's all-time records in passing yards (6,008) and completions (558), while throwing 23 touchdowns. Kubiak and the Dallas Desperados defend their series lead against the Indiana Firebirds at Reunion Arena this Saturday at 7:30 p.m., ET.
Q: What did attending the Naval Academy teach you?
A: The Naval Academy's mission is to create and shape the future leaders of our country. They strive to instill the value of hard work and honesty, along with molding the fabric of each midshipman's character.
Every midshipman learns that in order to be successful, they must be responsible and accountable to themselves and to their team.
I think that the three most important lessons that I took from the Naval Academy were:
1. Successful people are accountable and act responsibly. 2. Perseverance and hard work are essential elements of any success. 3. Fight for what you believe in. You never have to be afraid to do what is right.
Q: Exactly what was your job while serving in the Navy ?
A: While stationed on board the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower, I worked in both the Engineering Department and Deck Department as a Division Officer. I also earned my Surface Warfare Qualification.
As Division Officer (Divo), I was responsible for a division of about 30 sailors as well as for the equipment and spaces within the division's domain. As Damage Control Divo, I was responsible for the repair lockers and equipment within. My people maintained all of the damage control equipment on board.
As first Divo, I was responsible for about 25 sailors as well as for the equipment used to tie up the ship and drop the anchor. We also manned the small boats used in man-overboard recovery operations.
Concurrently, I was working on achieving my Surface Warfare Qualifications by standing bridge watches with 20 hours off. Often times, in the life of an SWO (Surface War Officer), you find yourself standing watches during the workday, or in the middle of the night depending on how your watch falls each day. We were fortunate to have plenty of qualified officers standing watches. However, there were times when we stood five hours on and 10 off, or five hours on and 15 off. It just depended on the amount of qualified personnel.
Q: What is your current military status and what are the steps that have to happen for you to be called to active duty?
A: My current military status is that I am in the Inactive Reserves. To the best of my knowledge I am unaware of a person being recalled from the Inactive Reserves. I could only speculate that something extraordinarily serious would have to take place for such a recall to occur.
Q: If you are called into action, what are your thoughts about how that may effect your football career and personal life?
A: It is difficult for me to imagine the severity of a situation in which our country needed to recall our Active and Inactive Reserves. The enormity of an event that resulted in such a recall, leaves me with the feeling that the defense of our freedom would supercede everything, including professional sports.
Q: What are your thoughts on our world today?
A: This is the greatest country in the world and we're free because of our Constitution and our freedoms. Our way of life is extremely important. Obviously, it is our country. With the way that the world is today and everyone talking about weapons of mass destruction and terrorism and things like that, I'd like to say that 'it's all going to be smooth sailing,' but the reality is that there are good and bad people in the world. We really have to be careful and be cognizant as a people of the real dangers out there. I think that we need to bring that upon ourselves a little bit more.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 28, 2003
- Buffalo Adds Four To Active Roster - Buffalo Destroyers
- AFL Injury Report - AFL I
- Q & A with Jim Kubiak - AFL I
- Desperados Make Roster Moves - Dallas Desperados
- Letting it ride in Las Vegas - Georgia Force
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