Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/195693
where have you gone? his athletic ability was immediately things that you see now that are just obvious. He threw two touchdown the norm," Jackson said. "Back then passes to upset Michigan, the defend- it wasn't. It was a transition to get to ing national champions, in his first this point. It was just on the cusp of start. that. If I had the opportunity to do that Jackson ran for 414 now, and the times were yards and three touchall sped up to where they downs and threw for are today, it would've 1,740 yards and 13 touchbeen fun to play in that." downs in 1998. He led Rogers is one of many the team to a 9-1 record strong coaching influbefore hurting his knee ences that have helped on an ill-fated attempt Jackson make his jump to to run out the clock at his new role this season. the end of a victory over He also worked with LSU. Instead of running Holtz and Bob Davie at out of the end zone for Notre Dame, Mike Shaa harmless safety in a nahan and Gary Kubiak 39-36 win, Jackson was with the Broncos, and tackled in the end zone Wally Buono and Mike Jackson, who won three Grey and buckled his knee. He Cups during his nine-year play‑ Benevides (his current couldn't start the follow- ing career in the CFL, is in his head coach) in Canada. ing week against USC. first season as the quarterbacks "I've had the chance The Irish lost a winnable coach for the BC Lions. to pull from all those photo courtesy BC lions coaches," he said. "With game 10-0 and in the process lost their likely BCS bowl bid. whatever you do in life you pull from The following year the Irish hired different experiences and then you offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers, make it your own." who had coached Donovan McNabb Jackson is putting his coaching chops to stardom at Syracuse, and Jackson's to the test during October. On Sept. 15, passing game improved. He threw for the Lions lost starting quarterback Ty17 touchdowns and then a school re- ler Lulay for an entire month due to a cord 2,753 yards in his final season. shoulder injury. Jackson was in charge The ability to run and create plays of preparing backup Thomas DeMarco on the ground has become a prerequi- to keep the team in the top half of the site for most college programs today. league while the season winds to a Jackson and Rogers were on the front close. He should have plenty of experiedge of the mobile quarterback move- ence to share there. ment in football. BC plays its final game of the regu"We used to go three wide receiv- lar season Nov. 1 before Jackson gets ers to one side and one back in the to take a run at his third consecutive backfield. We did all those different Grey Cup. ✦