Alabama17Tide
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Alex Scarborough.ESPN Staff Writer
This is the Alabama way.
Up two touchdowns, the defense holds on third-and-10 to force a punt just before halftime. Everything is coming easily for the Crimson Tide to start the season. They're cruising to a dominant win over No. 20 USC and then a fight breaks out. It's among teammates. And it's on Alabama's sideline.
Linebacker Reuben Foster and reserve defensive back Deionte Thompson hold back an emotional Ronnie Harrison. The second-year safety is furious, shouting and pointing at someone. It turns out that he's mad at fellow safety Eddie Jackson. Something Jackson said set him off and not even coach Nick Saban stepping in is enough to calm him down.
Apparently, Jackson wasn't happy with the way Harrison performed on third down, and let him know it. Yeah, Harrison was responsible for making the stop, which was great. But then he and a USC wideout squared one another up, got face mask to face mask and exchanged words. Jackson stepped in as Harrison left the field and told him to shut it.
Jackson knew that Saban doesn't tolerate talking to the opposing team's players. In fact, Saban wishes there was an NCAA rule against it.
It was simply the senior from South Florida's turn to step up.
It was his turn to become the enforcer of the Alabama way.
"The lesson to be learned," Saban said, "is that when you have a teammate who is caring about you and trying to help you, the response should be 'thank you' not 'screw you.'"
Stacy Coley was growing into a star at receiver. His older half-brother, Demar Dorsey, was on his way to play defensive back at Michigan. And Jackson couldn't seem to get out of his own way.
He wanted what they had. He just didn't know how to get there.
After enough times catching him at home when he should have been in class, his father stepped in.
"I saw where it was leading," Eddie Jackson Sr. said. "He wasn't going anywhere. So I felt like a fresh start would have been better for him."
Eddie Sr. knows a thing or two about starting over. He played football in high school as well, but he got himself kicked out of school. He was too hard-headed, too rebellious. He was too busy in the streets, he said.
Before long, he landed in Calhoun Correctional Institution to serve time for two counts of armed robbery. He went in jail at 19. He came out at 24.
"Four years, 11 months," he said.
Less than a year after he got out, his fiancé, Angela, left work at noon and the two got married. At 7 that same night, Eddie Jr. was born.
"Happiest day of my life, man," Eddie Sr. said.
Angela and Eddie Sr. have been married ever since. He is a heavy equipment operator, doing the back-breaking work of land developers in the South Florida heat.
Like his time in jail, it all serves a purpose. He doesn't need to beat his son over the head with the lessons of his past. The boy he calls Bo Jack can see for himself.
"You lead by example," Eddie Sr. said. "Your kids see you doing things like that, it will catch on."
Mike White twice.
"That's when the folklore literally began," Blair said. "He housed one of the [interceptions]. He took it all the way back."
Jackson went from free safety to nickel, nickel to corner and corner to receiver in the span of one training camp, Blair said. He started the first game at receiver and led the area in receiving yards, in addition to playing everywhere on defense and returning kicks and punts.
He started with one offer from Florida Atlantic that he picked up during a camp prior to his senior year. Before long, he had Florida State calling. Miami, LSU, Alabama and all the top teams were on him before long.
Jackson wanted to be a receiver and loved the idea of staying in state at Miami or Florida State. LSU was intriguing as well.
Eddie Jackson tackles Western Kentucky's Taywan Taylor. The 6-0 Crimson Tide take on No. 9 Tennessee on Saturday. Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports
Almost everyone was telling him he'd play both ways. The Tigers sold him on becoming the next Patrick Peterson, the Seminoles the next Deion Sanders.
Meanwhile, all Alabama was interested in was defense.
"Saban came straight out and said, 'I'm going to play you in the defensive backfield,'" Blair said.
Jackson, his father and Blair talked it over. He ended up deciding that he wasn't interested in being another speedy 6-foot receiver. He'd sign at Alabama and hope to play either nickel or dime as a freshman.
Little did they know he'd start at corner for two seasons before transitioning back to his original position of safety.
"I've been an underdog my whole life. People doubt. Just prove them wrong," Jackson said. "That's one thing I can say I like to do."
Jackson's strong has always been just below the surface.
Blair would sit him during games just to bring it out. Against rival Monarch High, Jackson rode the bench for two quarters before blowing the game wide open at receiver. Blair laughed while recalling how he returned a punt for a big chunk of yards that game and turned back to look at him as if saying, "Coach, you know better than to sit me like that." The whole team lit up after that.
Getting into it with Ronnie Harrison against USC was both expected and satisfying for Blair to see.
No one had to push Jackson to take charge in Alabama's season opener in September, he just did it on his own, the same way he stepped into a leadership role at Boyd Anderson, schooling their young receivers.
"He's a fiery guy," Blair said. "He's going to love his teammates to the max, but at the same time a little tough love isn't going to hurt you."
On Jackson's arm is a tattoo that reads: Tough times don't last, tough people do. "How tough you are, you can overcome anything," he said.
He promised his mother he'd get his degree, which is why he came back for his senior year at Alabama rather than turn pro. His motivation now, he said, is to "show the young guys what it takes."
Even Harrison said that when he and Jackson got into it, it was only him "trying to be a leader."
"He taught me a lot," Harrison said. "He's just always in my head, in my ear, and he tells me that I push him every day in practice. We just kind of lean on each other and really try to keep each other up."
There were no hurt feelings, no need for a thank you after that.
Everyone knows the deal: Get out of line and Jackson will straighten you out. It doesn't matter what the score is.
That's just the Alabama way.
Meet Eddie Jackson, the enforcer of the Alabama way
This is the Alabama way.
Up two touchdowns, the defense holds on third-and-10 to force a punt just before halftime. Everything is coming easily for the Crimson Tide to start the season. They're cruising to a dominant win over No. 20 USC and then a fight breaks out. It's among teammates. And it's on Alabama's sideline.
Linebacker Reuben Foster and reserve defensive back Deionte Thompson hold back an emotional Ronnie Harrison. The second-year safety is furious, shouting and pointing at someone. It turns out that he's mad at fellow safety Eddie Jackson. Something Jackson said set him off and not even coach Nick Saban stepping in is enough to calm him down.
Apparently, Jackson wasn't happy with the way Harrison performed on third down, and let him know it. Yeah, Harrison was responsible for making the stop, which was great. But then he and a USC wideout squared one another up, got face mask to face mask and exchanged words. Jackson stepped in as Harrison left the field and told him to shut it.
Jackson knew that Saban doesn't tolerate talking to the opposing team's players. In fact, Saban wishes there was an NCAA rule against it.
It was simply the senior from South Florida's turn to step up.
It was his turn to become the enforcer of the Alabama way.
"The lesson to be learned," Saban said, "is that when you have a teammate who is caring about you and trying to help you, the response should be 'thank you' not 'screw you.'"
Stacy Coley was growing into a star at receiver. His older half-brother, Demar Dorsey, was on his way to play defensive back at Michigan. And Jackson couldn't seem to get out of his own way.
He wanted what they had. He just didn't know how to get there.
After enough times catching him at home when he should have been in class, his father stepped in.
"I saw where it was leading," Eddie Jackson Sr. said. "He wasn't going anywhere. So I felt like a fresh start would have been better for him."
Eddie Sr. knows a thing or two about starting over. He played football in high school as well, but he got himself kicked out of school. He was too hard-headed, too rebellious. He was too busy in the streets, he said.
Before long, he landed in Calhoun Correctional Institution to serve time for two counts of armed robbery. He went in jail at 19. He came out at 24.
"Four years, 11 months," he said.
Less than a year after he got out, his fiancé, Angela, left work at noon and the two got married. At 7 that same night, Eddie Jr. was born.
"Happiest day of my life, man," Eddie Sr. said.
Angela and Eddie Sr. have been married ever since. He is a heavy equipment operator, doing the back-breaking work of land developers in the South Florida heat.
Like his time in jail, it all serves a purpose. He doesn't need to beat his son over the head with the lessons of his past. The boy he calls Bo Jack can see for himself.
"You lead by example," Eddie Sr. said. "Your kids see you doing things like that, it will catch on."
Mike White twice.
"That's when the folklore literally began," Blair said. "He housed one of the [interceptions]. He took it all the way back."
Jackson went from free safety to nickel, nickel to corner and corner to receiver in the span of one training camp, Blair said. He started the first game at receiver and led the area in receiving yards, in addition to playing everywhere on defense and returning kicks and punts.
He started with one offer from Florida Atlantic that he picked up during a camp prior to his senior year. Before long, he had Florida State calling. Miami, LSU, Alabama and all the top teams were on him before long.
Jackson wanted to be a receiver and loved the idea of staying in state at Miami or Florida State. LSU was intriguing as well.
Eddie Jackson tackles Western Kentucky's Taywan Taylor. The 6-0 Crimson Tide take on No. 9 Tennessee on Saturday. Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports
Almost everyone was telling him he'd play both ways. The Tigers sold him on becoming the next Patrick Peterson, the Seminoles the next Deion Sanders.
Meanwhile, all Alabama was interested in was defense.
"Saban came straight out and said, 'I'm going to play you in the defensive backfield,'" Blair said.
Jackson, his father and Blair talked it over. He ended up deciding that he wasn't interested in being another speedy 6-foot receiver. He'd sign at Alabama and hope to play either nickel or dime as a freshman.
Little did they know he'd start at corner for two seasons before transitioning back to his original position of safety.
"I've been an underdog my whole life. People doubt. Just prove them wrong," Jackson said. "That's one thing I can say I like to do."
Jackson's strong has always been just below the surface.
Blair would sit him during games just to bring it out. Against rival Monarch High, Jackson rode the bench for two quarters before blowing the game wide open at receiver. Blair laughed while recalling how he returned a punt for a big chunk of yards that game and turned back to look at him as if saying, "Coach, you know better than to sit me like that." The whole team lit up after that.
Getting into it with Ronnie Harrison against USC was both expected and satisfying for Blair to see.
No one had to push Jackson to take charge in Alabama's season opener in September, he just did it on his own, the same way he stepped into a leadership role at Boyd Anderson, schooling their young receivers.
"He's a fiery guy," Blair said. "He's going to love his teammates to the max, but at the same time a little tough love isn't going to hurt you."
On Jackson's arm is a tattoo that reads: Tough times don't last, tough people do. "How tough you are, you can overcome anything," he said.
He promised his mother he'd get his degree, which is why he came back for his senior year at Alabama rather than turn pro. His motivation now, he said, is to "show the young guys what it takes."
Even Harrison said that when he and Jackson got into it, it was only him "trying to be a leader."
"He taught me a lot," Harrison said. "He's just always in my head, in my ear, and he tells me that I push him every day in practice. We just kind of lean on each other and really try to keep each other up."
There were no hurt feelings, no need for a thank you after that.
Everyone knows the deal: Get out of line and Jackson will straighten you out. It doesn't matter what the score is.
That's just the Alabama way.
Meet Eddie Jackson, the enforcer of the Alabama way
