While Josh balances his family life with football, he also tries to find time with his teammates away from the field. Maria says she has no problems with Josh spending time with his teammates.

“Friends always ask him when he’s going home, but he can stay out,” Maria says. “I know there are probably other girls at his friends’ houses, but I have faith in Josh. I trust him, so I’m not going to hold him back.”

Darrell Dowery Jr., a junior justice studies major and Flashes’ receiver, attended Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., with Josh. He then accompanied the quarterback to Kent State. He says he and his teammates enjoy hassling Josh about leaving his wife and child alone at home.

But Josh fires right back.

“He tells us we should get in a relationship to see what he goes through,” Dowery says.

But Darrell says Josh does not bring his problems to the team. Josh, instead, is the one giving the advice.

“He’s never burdened us with his problems,” Dowery says. “But we make him talk a lot because he can help us out a lot when we are in a relationship.”

Josh says he recently tried to help a teammate who had been contemplating marriage with his longtime girlfriend.

“I wanted to give him advice to lead him to make the right choice,” Josh says. “I told him it’s going to get rough, but if you truly love that girl, you should marry her.”

kimorah
On July 1, the couple reached another milestone as Maria gave birth to Kimorah. Maria says she saw a change in Josh during her pregnancy.
Late at night, Kimorah still has not fallen asleep. Josh and Maria cradle her, hoping that they too can go to sleep soon. Coach Dean Pees says, “When you get married and become a father and have a family, your life changes because of your new responsibilities.”
a team effort
Josh says the support from coaches has been a big help to both him and his wife while he has been at Kent State.

“[The coaches] have numerous personal problems just like anybody else,” Josh says. “They have been through it all, so they are sympathetic to personal issues. My wife can talk to their wives. It’s a family that extends further than the players.”

Maria agrees both the coaches, including head coach Dean Pees, and their wives go out of their way to help.

“Coach Pees came up to me at a cookout and told us if we needed anything to let him know,” Maria says. “Kind of felt good that they are there for me and not just worried about Josh. I’m not just his girlfriend. I’m seen as his wife, and that’s one thing I was worried about, being so young. I talk to a couple of the wives all of the time. They are always like, ‘Do you need me to watch Kimorah,’ or ‘Do you need a ride to the game?’”

 During Josh’s three years at the university, Pees has seen his quarterback grow first-hand.

“That’s just maturity,” Pees says. “When you get married and become a father and have a family, your life changes because of your new responsibilities. You understand other people better once you’ve been in their shoes. A lot of times as an athlete, you don’t understand where a coach or adult is coming from, but once you have, you have a deeper respect for those people. In Josh’s case, being a father, husband and provider has made him a better quarterback.”

On the field, Josh has taken more of a leadership role on the offense. During games this past season, he could be seen directing and coaching receivers on the field between plays.

“I feel more aggressive with my leadership,” Josh says. “I sound real authoritative and feel more mature.”

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