An image, a thought or a phrase. And so Dhani Jones scribbles down a line of poetry before it goes away. Jones has been a part- time poet and painter since high school, reading his work in front of crowds and wandering through museums all alone for years. If they saw me, they'd kill me. I need to be focused, but if something hits you, you seize the moment.
Carpe diem .
Then, you get right back on track, because this is an important time. No. 4 Michigan will play at No. 2 Penn State on Saturday, and Jones will play a key role for the nation's top-rated defense against a potent Penn State attack. Saturday could be his masterpiece. Not only do the Big Ten and national championships hang in the balance, but Jones will be compared to Penn State senior linebacker Jim Nelson. Jones, of Potomac, Md., and Nelson, of Waldorf, Md., both grew up near the nation's captial, but they're miles apart in everything but football ability.