Bo Majkowski made a decision a year ago that not only was in the best interest of his future career as a collegiate athlete, but also likely eased the mind of his dad.
The son of former Virginia and NFL quarterback Don “Majik Man” Majkowski, Bo opted to stop participating in football before his junior year of high school so he could devote more time and attention to baseball, the sport he is committed to play at Clemson in 2018.
The decision looks to have been a good one for Bo, who hit .333 with 25 runs scored and 13 stolen bases this season at Johns Creek High School in Georgia despite struggling early on as he transitioned to the diamond from his other sport of basketball, which concluded after the baseball season had already started.
More than anybody, though, Don may know just how smart of a choice it was for Bo to put up his pads and focalize his athletic efforts, and in the process, not gamble with potential health issues on the gridiron.
Don spent a decade in professional football between the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions, and has since dealt with significant physical repercussions.
Among the worst is a case of MRSA that almost caused him to lose his leg, which now has 13 screws and two titanium plates in it. When Bo was in the eighth grade, Don’s degenerative disk disease forced him to undergo fusion surgery on the L4 and L5 vertebrae in his back — and the list of his other ailments goes on.
Having seen his father suffer firsthand, Bo is well aware of the risks associated with football. Even at the high school level, injury can occur on any given play, and that is why Bo thinks his father was relieved when he moved away from the game.
“I honestly believe he was relieved when I told him I wasn’t going to play football anymore because he has been through hell and back with injuries post-NFL career,” Bo said to The Clemson Insider. “I haven’t had a truthfully healthy dad since I was in second grade. … It sucks how he used to do everything with me when I was younger and he just can’t do stuff like that anymore.”
Don can no longer throw ball with Bo in the backyard, but he is still able to watch his son’s sporting events and serve as the valuable mentor he has always been.
“My dad has taught me everything I know about sports,” Bo said. “He sacrificed a lot of coaching opportunities to coach me when I was younger and that makes me forever thankful for him. He’s always had my back, giving me advice on what to do and what not to do in certain situations involving sports throughout my life.
“He’s always been my number-one fan and supported me through everything no matter what happened during my sports career.”
Seeing Bo play at Clemson is something Don, and Clemson fans alike, can look forward to.
Bo expects to continue manning the outfield at the next level — specifically center and right — and is eagerly awaiting his arrival to campus.
Bo has been to six baseball games at Clemson this season, and he’s batting .1000 in terms of enjoyment level.
“I have yet to have a bad experience,” Bo said. “Just being in that environment, especially for a big game like South Carolina, was something special and makes me really excited for coming and playing there.
“Words cannot describe how excited I am.”
Bo talks often with assistant coach Bradley LeCroy, his main recruiter, while his trips to campus have given him more opportunities to be around head coach Monte Lee.
“Me and three other guys had a cool conversation with coach Lee in the cages before the second FSU game (on Sunday, May 1),” Bo said. “It was just an overall great experience seeing how the guys get ready for the game and warm up.”
Bo warmed up as his season wore on in 2016. He notched at least one two-hit game in every region series for the Gladiators, and hopes to get into a similar groove at the plate this summer when he suits up for the Team Georgia Baseball Academy.
“This fall I must have batted .500, and it was a feeling I’ve never felt before,” Bo said. “I was so confident at the plate that I knew I was going to square one up every time I stepped in the box. I just hope that same feeling carries over to this summer.”
TCI’s Clemson preseason magazine is now available. Order your copy of Unfinished Business – An Insider Look at Clemson’s 2016 season today.
