Jackson Looks Forward To Challenge At Tech
9/2/2015 9:23:00 AM | Football
For the 30th time since Sam Houston moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 1986, the Bearkat football team takes on a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team Saturday afternoon in Lubbock.
The Bearkats, who are ranked among the top four teams in FCS, take on Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium. The contest marks the opening of Sam Houston's 100th season of football and the Red Raiders' 1,000th football game.
“We're all excited about it,” senior offensive lineman Donald Jackson III said. “I love a good piece of competition. You always want to play some one that challenges you.”
Sam Houston's 29 past meetings with FBS foes all have been on the road, many in front of huge crowds. Last year, 100,330 fans saw the Kats play at LSU. Sam Houston also has played before audiences of more than 86,000 at Texas A&M and Texas. In Sam Houston's previous meeting with the Red Raiders in 2005, 50,180 packed Jones Stadium.
Jackson has been part of Sam Houston's last four trips to face well-known FBS opponents, playing in games at Baylor, twice at Texas A&M and last year at LSU. The two-time All-Southland Conference pick and preseason FCS All-America selection knows that depth is a factor. FBS members have 85 scholarships while FCS teams are limited to 62.
“Depth makes a huge difference in the offensive line where a team like Texas Tech can role two's and three's in while sometimes your ones have to keep on fighting,” Jackson said. “But we feel like we have some good depth as well this year. We're definitely going to fight through it.”
Sam Houston has defeated FBS opponents three times with victories over Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette and New Mexico. Two years ago at Texas A&M, the Bearkats rolled up nearly 400 yards total offense against the No. 6 ranked Aggies and forced them to keep quarterback Johnny Manziel in the game for three quarters.
“We're excited to get a chance to prove that FBS and FCS are just titles,” Jackson said.
Growing up in Kilgore and following Texas college football Jackson admits it's a thrill getting to test oneself against a name opponent like the Red Raiders.
“It's an amazing feeling to get to play at Texas Tech,” Jackson said. “We're all looking forward to it. Everyone wants to play the big name schools that got all the headlines as we were growing up.”
Jackson will be making his 42nd career start Saturday, the most starts by any player on the current Sam Houston squad. Asked last week by a reporter if he was bothered by the fact that he didn't sign with an FBS program out of high school, Jackson was quick to point out he is happy where he is.
“I put aside any of that the minute I got to Sam Houston,” Jackson said. “I loved Sam Houston from the moment I got here. It's the best decision I ever made. We're competing for a national championship here at Sam Houston this fall and that's what's important. I think the guys on this team who came here as transfers from FBS schools would tell you the same thing. Its great football and we all love the competition.”
Jackson knows Sam Houston will have to bring its “A” game into order to have a chance against the Red Raiders.
“When you play someone like Texas Tech, they force you to get better,” Jackson said. “Against an opponent like this you have to raise your game.”
The Sam Houston versus Texas Tech game will be televised regionally by FOXSports Southwest. The game will be broadcast locally by KSAM 101.7 FM and on the internet at www.gobearkats.com .
Sam Houston plays its first home game Saturday, Sept. 19, with Southland Conference opponent Lamar. Tickets for all Bearkat home games plus the 90th “Battle of the Piney Woods” presented by H-E-B are on sale now at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located on the west side of Bowers Stadium.
