Brian Jackson Values Family


	Senior DB Brian Jackson

NORMAN, Okla. -- Senior defensive back Brian Jackson is entering the 2009 season with lots of experience, talent, drive, and most importantly, humility. Jackson has racked up impressive stats in his three seasons as a Sooner, but in talking to Jackson one would never know of his on-field success.

While the average college football player would probably never want to be called a "momma's boy," that is exactly how Jackson describes himself. Jackson credits the support of his family for all of his success.

"I'm a big-time momma's boy -- it's ridiculous," Jackson said. "We are best friends, we talk about everything. She comes to all the games. She's a huge Sooner fan, but especially a Brian Jackson fan."

Jackson's mom, Cathy, could not agree more with her son.

"He's still a momma's boy and everyone can tell," Cathy said. "I talk to Brian every single night, we text each other, we call each other. I make sure he's staying on top of his work and I also like to ask him about how football's going."

His relationship with his mother has shaped his life tremendously and also played a major role in his decision to play at Oklahoma.

"I'm a momma's boy.

We are best friends, we

talk about everything.

She's a huge Sooner fan,

but especially a Brian

Jackson fan."

"I looked at some other schools, but my mom and I knew that going too far away would be really hard," Brian said. "I chose Oklahoma because it is the best school in this part of the country and my house is just a short drive down the highway."

Mom knew during Brian's recruiting process that he would end up staying close to home.

"Brian had always talked about going to play for Miami or Florida," his mom said. "When he was being recruited, he never once mentioned going that far. I don't think he would have survived that far away. He definitely would have been homesick."

"We visited a couple of really great schools that were far away," Cathy said. "He chose Oklahoma because it was a great school and because he said he wanted me to be able to come to all of the games.

Attending Brian's games is something his mom takes very seriously. She missed one of Brian's high school games because she was sick with the flu and has only missed two OU road games.

"I've gone to all of his games since he was six years old. I've only missed a few over the years," Cathy said. "I've gone to the championships. I've sat in the freezing cold in Kansas City twice for the Big 12 Championships. I'm just so proud of him -- he just continues to make me proud."

Growing up, Jackson was extremely close to his mother and his older brother, Stephen.

"My brother and I were inseparable," Jackson said. "Wherever he was, I was. He let me follow him around everywhere."

"I wanted to play for

Florida when I was

little. I didn't know that

Coach Stoops was the

defensive coordinator,

so it ended up working

out well."

The brothers, Brian and Stephen, who is three years older, share a love for sports and love to joke around and have fun.

"We've been playing football since we grew up together. It's always been us two," his brother said. "He's goofy. All we do is quote movies and play video games. It's nothing but jokes and playtime all the time. He's exciting to be around because he's spontaneous."

The elder Jackson, who is currently a football coach at Carter High School in Dallas, says that, while sometimes he can sometimes be younger brother's biggest critic, he is also his biggest fan.

"It's hard not to be excited for your brother when he's succeeding at such a high level," the elder Jackson said. "Not too many people get to experience that. It's been great for our whole family to see somebody make it that far and have the success that he's having."

Had it not been for his close family relationships, Jackson might have played for a team that Sooner fans know all too well, the Florida Gators.

"I wanted to play for Florida when I was little," Jackson said. "In 1995 and '96, I was a big Florida fan, especially of Steve Spurrier. I didn't even know that Coach (Bob) Stoops was the defensive coordinator, so it ended up working out well."

Because Jackson liked the Gators growing up, last January's BCS national championship game took on extra meaning.

"I wanted to beat them," Jackson said. "We wanted to win. Just seeing that ring and knowing how it would have felt, we wanted to win. It's all in the past now, we just have to look at this year."

"Just seeing that ring

and knowing how it would

have felt, we wanted to

win. It's all in the past

now, we just have to look

at this year."

While his mom knew that Brian would end up playing closer to home, she really enjoys having him just a few hours away.

Jackson, who received his undergraduate degree in May and has begun graduate school, is excited for his senior season and is extremely grateful for the support of his family.

"I just want to say `thank you' to my mom and my brother for always being there," Jackson said. "Everything I do is for them."

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Feature by Leslie Koch | OU Athletics Media Relations

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