Central Michigan University Athletics
Terrence Jackson Profile
10/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2003
By Marlena E. Taylor
Sports Information Assistant
Life has not been easy for Central Michigan University senior halfback Terrence Jackson.
He lived with his mother until the age of 12 when an important decision had to be made ... move to Elizabeth, New Jersey, a drug and gang infested area, with his mother or move in with the father he had never known.
"It was not an easy decision but one had to be made," Jackson said.
He ended up moving in with his father, stepmother, and six stepsiblings. Although it was a new situation, Jackson decided to take advantage of the new resources that surrounded him.
"I don't take anything for granted," Jackson said. He continues to work hard and lets his actions speak just as loud as his words.
"I was surprised that I received a scholarship after only playing such as a short amount of time in high school," Jackson said.
He had only played his junior and senior years in high school due to a postponed operation he needed as a freshman but had to wait until his sophomore year due to money issues.
When he did play finally play, he came out with authority. During his senior year of high school, Jackson rushed for 959 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.
"I didn't know it was going to happen like that," Jackson said. "You just do your best and hope that everything works out."
It did work out. Terrence received a full ride to CMU during his senior year of high school.
Jackson began his football career in the Pop Warner football little league.
"I only started playing because all of my friends were playing," Jackson said.
His hard work has paid off and he continues to persevere against the difficulties of being plagued with many injuries.
"You always have to have a good and positive attitude no matter what," Jackson said. "No matter what is going on you have to look at the brighter sides of the situation."
Jackson has done this repeatedly. He dislocated his left thumb during his sophomore season as a Chippewa, and wore a soft cast on his arm for most of the season. Last year, he broke his foot before the season began, had a screw placed in it, and still missed only five games.
"I just wanted to finish the season," Jackson said.
Jackson, who is 6-0, 235 pounds, still manages to post outstanding numbers. In 2002 with the bad foot, Jackson managed to rush for 399 yards. In 2001, he had a MAC-high rushing effort of 207 yards against Eastern Michigan and he tallied 1,229 yards on the year.
How is he so successful? He knows how to prioritize.
"I keep things separate," Jackson said. "When I am playing football, I am playing football and not worrying about anything else."
His success has continued this season. He opened with a 104-yard rushing game against Michigan and had 123 yards on 28 carries against Bowling Green.
One of Jackson's favorite things about college football is that what you get out of it what you put in.
"It's like a business. If you work hard and treat it well, you will be successful," Jackson said. "You can't expect to do well if you don't treat it like that."
With all of his success thus far, Jackson still feels like he can achieve more because he has not shown all of his talent yet.
"Because of the injuries that I have had, I am not able to show all that I can be yet," Jackson said.
Although Terrence is certain about football, he is sometimes uncertain about life.
"I don't know what I want to do with my major yet," said Jackson. He is an industrial technology major with a construction management concentration.
"I know I like building stuff, and repairing things, but that is as far as I have gotten with knowing what I want to do," Jackson said.
"I think about studies right now but I have not really focused on the future," said Jackson. "Right now, I am worried about the season."
Chippewa fans won't mind if he just focuses on the season while maintaining that positive attitude.
