Michigan QB J. J. McCarthy Tells The Story Behind The ‘Smiley Face’

An astute reporter noticed that J.J. does something before every game, so he asked about it.

J.J. Draws A Smiley Face On His Left Hand Before Evrry Game

If you look closely, you can see in photos that Michigan quarterback J. J. McCarthy draws a smiley face on his left hand before every game. You can see it circled in the photo below.

So why does it do it? Is it a reminder to stay happy?

That's exactly what it is for, as J.J. related during a press conference this week leading up to the National Semi-Final game Saturday afternoon at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, AZ.

McCarthy told the press this week that the superstition about the smiley face extends back to his sophomore of high school at Nazareth Academy near Chicago.

After a particularly bad game, a young girl approached him after the game and asked him why he was so sad. Not wanting to bring up his own problems to a kid, he shrugged it off when she told him to smile more.

With that, she drew a smiley face on his left hand. He left it there as a reminder to lighten up, and the team then won the rest of their games that season. Thinking he shouldn't tempt fate, McCarthy has drawn it on his left hand ever since.