JQuery undefined when tracking comments and loading in the footer

This comment tracking code outputs a few lines above where my theme is calling, in the footer, a CDN-hosted script with the handle ‘jquery’ (we are unregistering the WP’s stock ‘jquery’ script)…

<script type="text/javascript">
jQuery(document).ready(function () {
	jQuery('#commentform').submit(function () {
		_gaq.push(
			['_setAccount', 'UA-*******-2'],
			['_trackEvent', 'comment', 'submit']
		);
	});
});
</script>

We don’t know what “jQuery” is yet, so:

Uncaught ReferenceError: jQuery is not defined

Is anyone else having this issue, or is there something silly I’m doing wrong? I think I can workaround it if I really need to (I don’t) but it seems like a bug.

I will also accept convincing arguments that jQuery should be in the header: must be convincing enough for my boss ??

https://www.ads-software.com/extend/plugins/google-analytics-for-wordpress/