His uncanny ability to recall sports-related names and statistics brings to mind the character of Peter Brand in the 2011 movie "Moneyball." However, Jacob Selzer isn't a fictional person, but a very valued member of the Mississippi State family.
Just as player analysts assess the value of individual members that compose great teams, Selzer doesn't just recollect great sports figures and the numbers that have made them successful. The MSU custodian in the Colvard Student Union also has "put up the numbers" personally as a highly respected university employee, demonstrating his dedication to MSU, his fellow employees, and the students he serves each day.
Selzer has spent almost 16 years in the Division of Student Affairs, with only one — his first — as a food service employee in Perry Cafeteria. His day job may be to help keep the union in tip-top shape, but his spare time is spent immersed in MSU athletics. He's currently the captain of what's become known as the "Ball Boys" for the men's and women's basketball teams, taking care of game officials and supervising the students who look after the court in Humphrey Coliseum.
And, when he's not serving others, his mind is mulling over facts and figures that would give most a headache. For Selzer, the information is top-of-mind, on the tip of his tongue, as easy as 1-2-3.
- Who's the all-time leading scorer for the MSU women's basketball team? LaToya Thomas
- Who's the all-time leading scorer for the MSU men's basketball team? Jeff Malone
- Who's the all-time leading rebounder for the MSU men's basketball team? Bailey Howell
- How many times has the MSU baseball team appeared in the College World Series? 8 times
- What member of that team played professionally for the Giants, Reds, Cardinals, Phillies and Rangers? Jeff Brantley
Continuing on, the Louisiana native and Slidell High School graduate recalls that his alma mater also produced Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Xavier Paul, and Eastern Kentucky University head basketball coach Jeff Neubauer.
"And Xavier's great grandfather was my principal," said Selzer, who shares his July 24 birthday with Karl "The Mailman" Malone, the retired NBA power forward who also hails from the Bayou State.
Selzer said he owes his diligence at work to his parents, who he said were married 24,157 days or 66 years and 51 days.
"I want to do the very best job I can, and I want to show urgency and relentlessness in what I do," he explained.
Colvard Student Union building services coordinator Alan Jabri, who supervises Selzer, said of him, "We're so proud to have him here at MSU. His work ethic is outstanding."