Jacob Cowing is a name synonymous with Maricopa High School football. He set several records, led the Rams to the playoffs and was named Arizona’s Athlete of the Year.

Jacob has just finished a successful two-season campaign as a wide receiver for the Arizona Wildcats after a two-season standout stint at the University Texas at El Paso. He’s projected to be taken in the NFL draft this year.

Monte Cowing is the loving father who threw the first football to Jacob when he was just 4 years old. The foam Nerf ball hit the boy squarely in the head and he didn’t take it too well, as Monte fondly recalls.

From there, Jacob pleasantly surprised and sometimes amazed his parents at each of his athletic performances, regardless of whether his team won or lost.

Fast forward almost 20 years and you have a golden boy destined for gridiron glory as a pro.

To Monte, Jacob is “my boy from Mars,” a term of endearment he and Jacob’s mother used to describe how Jacob looked when he was born.

It has a whole different meaning to Monte today after not talking to his son for more than a year after they had a “falling out” over Jacob getting his high school sweetheart pregnant.

When last they spoke, Monte told Jacob he wanted to set the past aside and reconcile.

“I love him, and I love my grandbaby, but what father wouldn’t have been upset? He got someone pregnant in high school,” Monte said. “It is almost like my boy is on Mars, and I can’t reach him,” Monte writes in his newly published book, My Boy From Mars.

Monte likens the book to self-therapy. His comic book-style paperback novella was edited by Adam and Ginger Colwell at Adam Colwell’s WriteWorks in Tucson.

“I’ve always wanted to write, ever since Jacob was little,” Cowing told InMaricopa in a recent interview. “I remember when he first beat everyone at his first gymnastics meet. I was like, ‘Oh my, what is going on with this kid?’ I guess it was extraordinary.”

In the book, Monte traces his son’s remarkable athletic career in detail, from kid gymnast to young soccer standout who passed up a chance to play professionally on the pitch. That led to Jacob’s high school football and track records, and how he ended up as an elite athlete at UTEP and U of A.

Monte, who was the city of Maricopa’s parks and recreation manager for 15 years and is now a mechanic for Honeywell, carefully examines his relationship with his son and his son’s coaches — warts, foibles and all.

He talks at length about Jacob’s astute ability to study and grasp football both physically and mentally.

Monte writes as if he learned firsthand being a good father is far beyond an easy pass completion.

In Monte’s world, it is a dream-like Hail Mary pass the full length of a football field that endlessly hangs in the air.

Monte openly details how his relationship with his son slowly deteriorated after Jacob and his high school girlfriend got pregnant. Monte’s marriage then ended.

“I understand Jacob is now a young man, doesn’t want criticism from me and wants to be his own person, but I never expected to be cancelled completely out of his life.”

Monte said if the book does not help bring his son back, he hopes it might comfort parents in similar situations.

When asked if Jacob read the book: “I have no idea,” Monte said.

“He has it. It’s in his possession, I know that. Still, as a dad, I’m hurting. I want to be with my boy. I want to talk to him. I want to help him and hang out.

“It is difficult not to have him in my life. I miss him very much.”

Book signing is March 30 at 3 p.m.

The Cut Barbershop, 41600 W. Smith-Enke Road, Ste. 113

Contact: [email protected]

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