Pasha Jackson Journal No. 5

This is the fifth installment of the Pasha Jackson journal and this week I'm going to answer more of your questions you emailed in. Click on the link at the end of this page to email more questions for next week's journal.

First, I am going to talk about the Iowa State game and then our big showdown with Texas.

Pasha Jackson
Journal Entry No. 5 (Oct. 8, 2003)
The Iowa State game was huge -- it was one of those games you want to have when you open up Big 12 play -- especially before you play Texas. We beat them by double digits and the defense allowed zero points on the board, but what was important is that we won on the road. The road was a big problem for us last year and we went on the road and took care of business on national television.

Now we have a big game coming up with Texas down in Dallas, the game everyone looks forward to. Texas is one of the teams that always looks to run the ball against us year in and year out. It will be a nice challenge to stop them and no doubt they are going to come hard with their mobile quarterbacks. They have a lot of ways to attack you so it is going to be really, really interesting. We are excited about it and we are looking to continue the play that we have showed we are capable of so far this season.

With the busy week under way, I am going to get rolling on some questions:

What is it like walking down the tunnel of the Cotton Bowl to play Texas and what type of emotions are you experiencing?
- Chris from Norman, Okla.
Let me tell you, walking through the tunnel, I have never experienced anything like that before. Bad thing is the year I arrived in Norman, they stopped the tradition of both teams coming out of the tunnel at the same time. Now it is a separate deal. The teams used to come out and be facing each other and all kinds of animosity would be building. All last year leading up to the game, teammates would be telling me stories about it and I was getting really juiced to play. I was already picking the people out that I could talk some good trash to.

When the game hit last year, I was walking out wondering where Texas was and why they stopped that tradition and to this day still wonder why. However, when you think about it, I guess it is understandable because things can get real rowdy and I am sure the officials and everyone don't want anything breaking out before kickoff. Either way, it is still an intense feeling and all kind of emotions are flowing, you feel like your feet are on fire and you want nothing more than to win that game!

Anyway, walking up the tunnel and seeing half the stadium in crimson and the other half in whatever the heck color they are, is just amazing. It is truly an indescribable feeling and everyone is juiced for the game, not just players, but the fans are pumped up to. It is a unique atmosphere and nothing really compares to being a part of such a great rivalry.

When the OU vs. UT weekend hits there is not one person in Dallas that doesn't know what is going on. Everybody in Oklahoma and Texas knows about it and is paying close attention to it. When you talk about emotions and getting excited for some football, nothing compares to running out on that field and playing that game. Last year was the most fun I have ever had in a football game.

Pasha, OU has dropped UT three straight years. Does that make the Longhorns any hungrier than usual for this season's game?
- John from Tulsa, Okla.
Personally, I don't think so. The only thing that makes players hungry is what they've got pumping inside them and what motivates them and everyone is different. And when you are talking about year-to-year that really does not matter. Each season is different and what it comes down to is quarter-to-quarter and finding those things within you to make you want to keep playing to the top of your abilities.

Just because someone loses that does not necessarily make them hungry. You might win a lot and like the taste of it and when that smell comes around it makes you hungry, but like I said, everyone is different and everyone is motivated differently. But when it comes to this game I don't think you have to look back on the past to motivate you. Each year is a different year and no matter what, you want to win just as much as the season before.

Historically, OU-Texas is huge! You have all that hatred between Oklahomans and Texans and it's great because this weekend gives everyone a chance to get away and forget work or whatever else. If you can make it to the game, then you can forget about everything else in the world and have a good time playing or watching some competitive football.

Hi Pasha, I really enjoyed hearing about you and your roommates. Can you tell us anymore about the "Goof Troop" that was mentioned in the Oklahoma Daily?
- Beth from Henrietta, Okla.
When we all got to Norman, (and this is what got my roommates and I together) we knew that Norman alone was good but Norman with a little bit of spice is better. And when I talk about spice I am referring to doing things just to get out of the norm. I mean it would kind of stink if you just left home and went to Wal-mart or the Donut King or whatever and just came right back home, right?

But if you are leaving from your house and you got turtles tagging along or inflatable monkeys, you bring a keyboard and some bullhorns -- then you are talking. That's the kind of thing that just makes doing the ordinary daily chores of life more amusing.

We will pile in "Big Shirley" (that's my big Delta 88) and drive around dressed up like Italians or Cuban dance instructors or whatever and go rent a movie! So it all just kind of worked out when it came down to choosing roommates because we all like to joke around in unusual ways and have fun with life.

Well, be sure to keep emailing me questions for next week's journal by clicking on the link below. Hope everyone has a great weekend down in Dallas and Go SOONERS!

Pasha

- #53 Pasha Jackson

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