Lippe learning fast in college

One of the best players in the history of the North Shore Conference got his feet wet with one of the best NCAA Division I football programs in the country last season — and he sees a bigger role on the horizon.

Jake Lippe, a 2019 Port Washington High School graduate who starred at wide receiver, defensive back and returning kicks, was redshirted and played in a couple of games at wide receiver and special teams for North Dakota State during an undefeated championship season last year.

It was the Bisons’ third straight title, their eighth in nine years, and their second consecutive unblemished season.

Lippe laughed when comparing high school to college football, saying the speed and fundamentals are much better.

“If you’re not getting out of a break in three steps, the defensive back is on you,” he said.

Lippe had to step up his game faster than other freshmen. On the second day of camp in fall, a receiver was injured and Lippe was elevated to join the starters.

“I had to adjust to the playbook and learn everything a lot quicker than most freshmen,” he said.

After a couple of rough practices and watching a lot of film, Lippe got the hang of it and loved that they moved him up.

“It shows the faith they had in me. It’s pretty cool,” he said.

 Lippe didn’t get a ball thrown to him in the two games he played, and his season ended prematurely after he sustained a concussion in practice during the first week of the playoffs.

Still, he said, being part of the run to a national title was special. The Bison beat James Madison, 28-20, for the championship in Frisco, Texas.

“It was unbelievable. It’s something you dream about as a kid. It doesn’t matter what level it’s at,” he said. “Even though I wasn’t playing in the game, it was all the hard work just to get there.”

Lippe said he has recovered from his concussion. Even before that, he was one of the few freshmen to suit up for every game.

He said many people describe the Bisons as a “player-coached team,” an atmosphere he appreciated.

“If you’re doing anything wrong —late to lift, make a mistake in practice — the coach will yell at you but the players will be on you the most and punish you. You get it both ways. It’s a lot of accountability,” he said.

The accountability started early. Lippe left for summer football camp at 5 p.m. the day he graduated from Port High. The team weight lifted, ran and attended class during summer.

A bigger adjustment came when school started. The daily schedule was lift, practice, go to class, watch film and attend a mandatory study hall from 8 to 10 p.m. for athletes, with tutors available.

 “It’s normally 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day,” Lippe said.

Self-accountability, Lippe said, was the biggest thing he had to learn — “just knowing your role and when you have to do certain things. Especially in the beginning, there’s so much going on.”

 In spring, the Bison practiced once before the coronavirus pandemic closed school. The team’s strength and conditioning coach sends players workouts, and position coaches send drills. Players have to send videos back to show they’re doing the work. Meetings via Zoom are held four times per week.

 “It’s seems like we’re there, still,” Lippe said.

Lippe has been training in his garage, thanks to a homemade weight room. His father Jason and brother Patrick built a squat rack, and Port High football coach John Bunyan brought over some weights. They even put up a video on YouTube on how they built the contraption.

“The squat rack works perfect. It took about $50 of wood,” Jake Lippe said. “It’s like we’re lifting in a regular weight room, honestly.”

 Lippe is majoring in business administration and may pursue a career in sales. He is taking 17 credits per semester and said he is doing better academically in college than he did in high school.

“They did a good job preparing me. I’m excelling at the next level,” he said.