Central Michigan University Athletics
Ike Ajoku Profile
10/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2003
By Rob Wyman
Sports Information Assistant
The differences between the New York City area and Mount Pleasant are more numerous then one could count, so making the transition between life in the big city and life in Mount Pleasant was not an easy one for Central Michigan University football player Ike Ajoku.
"When I first got here, I wanted to transfer right away because the pace of life was so much slower than what I was used to while growing up in Brooklyn," said Ajoku. "What made me want to stay is that here I get to meet so many different people and learn about them.
"My mother was a huge help in making the transition along with my teammates. Derrick Vickers and Derrick Wallace were my roommates when I got here and they really helped me out a lot with the transition."
During the transition, Ike's mother was a main influence and supporter, as she has been his whole life.
"My mother is my main friend because she has always been there for me in every situation," said Ajoku. "She is the only reason that I have been able to get through all the adversity I have faced while being here at CMU. At times I have wanted to just give up and go home, but she won't allow that. She always tells me to stay strong and stick things out to the end."
Along with the transition to CMU, another major adversity that Ike had to face was a freak leg injury that occurred before in 2001.
"I was sleeping one night and when I woke up, I had a terrible pain in my leg," said the senior. "While I was sleeping, I tore my quad. It was just one of those freak things that you really can't prevent.
"The injury was rough on me because I got a good start here at CMU and coach (Mike) DeBord was helping me reach my potential. Then the injury came along and it was a huge blow to me. I didn't know if I was going to be able to make it through, but the support of my teammates and coaches was huge. They were there by my side right after surgery and helped me get through it.
"It is still hard because I wonder what could have been, but I know that I can't let that affect my play. My teammates have done so much for me to help me get back to playing that I owe it to them to play hard and help us win."
While most people call him Ike, his real first name is Ikechukwu, a word that has a special meaning in his parents' native country of Nigeria.
"My name means 'Power of God' in Nigerian, so that has always been a source of inspiration for me," said Ajoku. "My mother has always told me that when things are going bad, that just remember that I have the power of God with me and to have faith that things will get better in the future. Both my parents came from Nigeria, so it is a place I have a lot of respect for and in the future want to learn more about."
One of the reasons that Ike has been so success in football is a background in karate, in which he holds a black belt.
"When I was younger, I got into karate and really enjoyed doing it," said the 6-1, 260-pound defensive end. "When I first started to play football, I realized how helpful the coordination and balance I learned in karate would be. Being successful on the defensive line has a lot to do with having quick hands, which I got from karate. It gives me the agility and quickness to be successful, so I am glad it was something I took part when I was younger."
Once he is finished with football and his education at CMU, Ike is interested in starting his own business with a couple different options he would like to pursue.
"Owning my own business has been a dream of mine," said the entrepreneurship major. "The entrepreneurship major at CMU is so diverse and gives you so many options. l feel like it is a great fit for me.
"I am interested in starting a security firm or maybe a sports agency. I think I would be successful at both because of the need for security now days and since I am a former athlete, I know how athletes need to be treated. I think I am in a great situation and I am excited to see where life takes me."
