Bloom, Jeremy

Bloom is the son of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother and was not raised as a Jew. Although still a college student, Jeremy has already experienced a unique athletic career. In June of 2003, he announced that he was giving up a potentially successful -- and likely lucrative -- career in freestyle skiing, to play football for the University of Colorado. "`I know money is the last thing that brings you happiness,'' he said in an interview with the AP (June 4, 2003). "`I love to play college football. That's what makes me the happiest.''

Bloom is a champion moguls skier as well as a standout wide receiver and punt returner on the gridiron. But he was forced to choose between the two sports when the NCAA ruled he could not remain eligible for football while earning endorsement money as a skier. Such earnings are necessary to defray the expenses of training and traveling as a World Cup competitor. By choosing football, Bloom walked away from endorsement contracts amounting to at least six figures. Most Olympic-level skiers need endorsements and sponsors to fund their careers.

Jeremy has appealed the ruling, but a state district judge last year denied his request for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. Bloom said the U.S. ski team tried unsuccessfully to set up a fund to help him, but officials were wary because of the NCAA's position. "There was nothing they could do for me,'' he said. Ski team spokesman Tom Kelly said that team officials would support Jeremy if he wanted to return after he was finished playing football. "He's achieved being a member of our team based on his athletic ability and what he's done and that doesn't change regardless of what he wants to do,'' Kelly observed. Bloom competed last ski season on the freestyle circuit -- at his own expense -- against a field of competitors who had corporate sponsorship for equipment, training and travel. Despite missing half the ski season because of football, Jeremy was still good enough to win two medals at the 2003 world championships -- gold in dual moguls, and silver in individual moguls. Bloom finished 13th in the World Cup standings, and had four top-four finishes. He placed ninth in the moguls in the 2002 Olympics, but a month later in Finland, made a spectacular comeback to win the World Cup moguls title.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. April 2, 1982

Career Highlights:
There seems little question that Jeremy's talents on a football field are as impressive as his accomplishments on the slopes. In his freshman season at Colorado in 2002, Bloom had three scoring plays of 75 yards or longer, including a 94-yard reception that was the longest in school history, and an 80-yard punt return against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.

Near the beginning of the 2003 season, Colorado was 2-0 and ranked No. 17 in both the USA Today/ESPN and AP polls (as of September 9). They opened their season with a thrilling 42-35 victory over rival Colorado State and then defeated UCLA 16-14. In the two games, Bloom had three carries for 31 yards, two receptions for 36 yards, two kick return for 41 yards, and four punt returns for 28 yards. He also attempted one pass, which was incomplete.

Origin:
Fort Collins, Colorado

Career Dates:
Bloom has played wide receiver at the University of Colorado from 2002-present.

Physical description:
5'9", 165 pounds

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