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Jeff Jackson understands it. A lack of team success during his football career at Kiski Area High School had him wanting to get away from the game.
That and a talent for baseball had him at Clemson University as a catcher.
That didn't last long. Jackson has been through a lot of changes since leaving Clemson after one semester, returning to the football field, and more recently gaining a new perspective from events away from the game.
'I just didn't fit in well there,' Jackson said. 'I had a fairly unsuccessful career, team-wise, in high school, so I think I just had a bad taste in my mouth for football at the time. I went to Clemson the week after my last football game. It was a quick decision. Just going down there, I was blown away by the campus.'
Jackson is a junior linebacker at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, mostly because he wanted to play football again.
'I just missed football terribly,' Jackson said. 'I went to a couple of the games and listened to the band and the crowd. It was just me missing it too much. I thought about trying to play at Clemson, but it was just being away from home. That was a tough situation all together.'
Jackson received interest from the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University, when he was a senior in high school. But if he transferred to either one for football, he would have had to sit out an entire season.
'I'm not much for sitting out, so there really was no choice other than IUP for me,' Jackson said. 'It's been unbelievable here. I fit in so well. The coaches and everything have been great. As soon as I got here I fit in. Baseball is completely out of my mind. I didn't miss it at all. Once I got on the field for spring football, I was right back into it.'
Winning helps. IUP moved to 2-0 this season, with a 42-0 victory over Lock Haven last week.
'This is by far the most fun I have ever had,' Jackson said. 'I never realized how much fun it would be winning.'
IUP coach Frank Cignetti felt Jackson could fit right in with the Indians' highly successful program, which has qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs 11 of the past 14 years.
'The first spring he was here, it took him just a little while to adjust, just like it takes any player stepping into college football for the first time,' Cignetti said. 'Jeff is the kind of guy that has a great mental temperament for the game of football. He's a great kid, a special person and an outstanding student. When it comes time to strap on a football helmet, he's as tough as any of them out there and is nasty on the field.'
Jackson played in 13 games in 1999 and had 30 tackles. Last season, his role increased and he had 44 tackles, despite missing time with a knee injury. Jackson said his knee was fine and was ready to resume his role as an inside linebacker with Mike Borisenko, the 1999-2000 PSAC-West defensive player of the year.
All of that changed Sept. 7, when teammate Tim Singel killed by a tractor-trailer. While much of the country was gnashing its teeth at the sight of a terrorist attack shortly after, the IUP football team was dealing with its own tragedy.
'It was very hard at first, but I think with faith and everything you believe in, it was possible to get through that,' Jackson said. 'I think the worst thing for us to do was to sit around and do nothing but think about it. I know for myself, I had to go. I had to do something. I went back home and went to a Kiski game. The best thing for us to do was to get out there and return to our routine.'
Jackson has seen his defensive duties expand because of the loss of Singel, but it's not something that worries him.
'I feel very comfortable playing on the outside right now, because I have done it so much,' Jackson said. 'I think of myself more as a physical player. I'm comfortable with my speed, too. With the tragic thing that happened to Tim, I've had to move to that outside spot.'
Jackson is one of IUP's defensive leaders, but he's been impressed with the team's offense.
'We just have so many weapons,' Jackson said. '(Quarterback) Brian Eyerman is playing great. We have (running backs) Amir Dew and Elmarko Jackson. We have two guys that people aren't going to see that much of in Aaron Cochran and Henry Lane. J.R. Thomas and Carmello Ocasio are at receiver. With guys like that, its scary.
'I think for this team, that's it. Last year, we tasted getting (to the plyaoffs) barely. The year before we were close, just six minutes until getting all the way but losing in the semifinal. We were close. Anything short of getting there is going to be a disappointment.'
