Boo Big in Athens; Church Delayed

BOO JACKSON HOT TOPIC

BOO JACKSON is already a media darling after just two spring practices with the Ohio University Bobcats.

You can listen to his radio interview and you can read about him.

The Athens Messenger's Jason Arkley wrote this--

The Bobcats opened up the 2008 spring football season with a high-energy, no-contact, two-hour workout underneath mostly sunny skies at Peden Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

For Boo Jackson however, it wasn't just a new start. It was the end of a long wait.

"I've definitely been anxious to get it started," said Jackson, a junior quarterback who signed with Ohio out of El Camino JC in December. "I graduated back in December and since then I've just been waiting and waiting, counting down the days."

Unable to get enrolled at Ohio before the start of winter quarter, Jackson (6-0, 197 pounds) spent the winter getting a long-distance crash course in Bobcat Offense 101. Once he had signed with Ohio, Jackson received the 'Cats playbook and some game tapes in the mail. Every other day he had conversations with Bobcats quarterback coach Gerry Gdowski - tutoring sessions if you will - about the various ins and outs of the offense.

"The play book they sent, it's like this thick," Jackson said, holding his hands roughly eight inches apart. "I thought I was done with class for a while."But that's what it was, it was like a class," he added with a smile. "8 a.m. to about 10 a.m. my time every other day. Me and coach on the phone going through the playbook."

A highly-rated prospect with head-turning passing statistics, Jackson was signed to provide immediate competition for Ohio's starting quarterback spot. Junior Theo Scott begins the spring season at the No. 1, with fellow juniors Brandon Jones and Josh Febus also in the mix.

Jackson knows he'll have to work hard to catch up."It's tough, but I knew what the situation was like here," he said. "I just want to compete as hard as I can. It's going to be a real tough, real close competition I think."But I like that," Jackson added. "I want to earn whatever playing time I can get. Coach (Frank) Solich doesn't promise you anything but a fair chance. That's all you can ask for."

Jackson finally arrived in Athens on Sunday. Three days later he was zipping passes in practice and trying to get used to the chill in the air. Jackson has spent his whole life in California, and had never seen falling snow until his December visit to Ohio.

As for his ability, Jackson calls himself more of a "dual threat" quarterback but isn't one to leave the backfield too often. "I don't just tuck it and run a whole lot. I don't want to get hit hard, I'll leave that to the receivers and running backs," he joked. "I'm more of a shuffle up the pocket, move along parallel to the line of scrimmage kind of guy."If I see some green, I'll go, but I prefer to buy time to make the throws."

Jackson had an early scholarship offer from Memphis, but it was taken off the table last fall and he was left without a scholarship. He admits he knew little about Ohio before they offered him. It was the only one he received, he said.

His transition from California to southeast Ohio should be helped by his roomate, safety Hilton Dawson III, who was also a teammate at El Camino. And if observers are surprised by his arm strength and velocity, well he's been surprised too.

"I just can't believe how friendly everyone has been so far," he said. "Out in California you can run into some snobs and mean people and those sorts."But here? It's been great," Jackson added. "I'm trying to find where to go for class on Monday, trying to find this place and that place. People here are like 'Are you new? You need help?' They're giving me directions and showing me where to go and all that. It's been great."

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Boo Interview

If you would like to hear a live radio interview with Boo in Ohio go to http://thesportsfan.mypodcast.com/rss.xml, then click on the link under Boo's name.

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Church Rained Out

The New York Mets-Atlanta game Friday night was postponed on account of rain. Saturday’s game, at 12:55 p.m. West Coast time, will be broadcast on FOX television.

Boo's a Happy Bobcat; News on Blow, Church

BOO JACKSON THRILLED WITH OHIO

In an interview to appear on Lompoc Locker Room Monday at 5:30 (Comcast cable Channel 25) BOO JACKSON expressed flat-out joy Friday at his signing with the Division I Mid-America Conference Ohio University Bobcats.

“I feel great. It feels real good. It’s been a dream since youth football with the Rebels. I think it’s every kid’s dream.”
Jackson’s dream however, even with a CIF title under his belt, looked kaput even before he started college.

“In high school I didn’t get it done in the classroom. That’s what everybody preaches about and I ignored it. You’ve got to get it done in the classroom. I found it out the hard way. That’s the first thing you have to do, like it or not.

“I thought everything was done. Plus I had to get knee surgery so I definitely thought everything was done. I couldn’t play football.

“But I did some rehab on my own and got invited to the all-star game. Then I went to El Camino and gave it a chance. The rest is history.”

Jackson chose El Camino in Torrance because his uncle, who lives nearby, walked into coach John Featherstone’s office with tape of his nephew. “At first they saw my defensive skills and they had me at free safety,” Jackson remembers.

But the EC offensive coordinator spotted him throwing on the sideline and suggested he take a year off, “gray-shirting” it’s called, and return as a quarterback. Jackson won the starting job four games into the 2006 season and took the team to two Mission Conference titles. Of course he had some help-- El Camino pumped 23 players into Division I schools this year.

Meanwhile the Ohio Bobcats did not win the MAC last season. They went 6-6 with a revolving door of no fewer than four quarterbacks. Coach Frank Solich, the onetime Nebraska coach, was in his second year as head man.

Solich never passed the football at Nebraska but he has turned a new leaf at Ohio, according to Jackson .

“They had Kalvin McRae who was an outstanding running back. They gave him the ball a lot. Toward the end of the season they started throwing to their tight ends so they’re going more to passing this year.” Jackson said both he and his principal competitor are dual threat operators.

Solich has announced he’ll tailor the offense to the most impressive quarterback performer in spring drills.

“He just wants me to perform how I always perform,” Jackson said. “He’ll base it off what I do in spring ball if I become the starter.” Jackson is the only OU newcomer at quarterback.

Since signing Jackson has held a phone meeting with OU quarterbacks coach Gerry Gdowski at 8 a.m. every day to go over the play book... or books. “I’ve got six or seven different books. There are hundreds of plays.”

Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo, Miami of Ohio, Akron, Kent State, Temple, Ball State, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan are also in the MAC. Eastern Michigan is the defending champion but MAC Report Online, an e-mail scouting service, rates OU’s 2008 recruiting class the best in the conference.

“Boo Jackson brings with him the promise of a new day for Ohio's passing attack, which has been the biggest thing crippling its offense for the last two years of the Solich reign,” writes Brian Golden. “I'll be surprised if Jackson isn't starting very soon.”

Jackson leaves California for Ohio March 30. School and spring ball start March 31.

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BLOW TITLE FIRST IN A GENERATION

Al Hunt tells us that the CIF wrestling title achieved last weekend by MASSON BLOW was the first at Lompoc High in 24 years!

MIKE VILLALOBOS won at 119 pounds in 1984. Anybody know how to contact Villalobos? Lompoc Locker Room will put Villalobos and Blow on the same stage if we can find him.

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CHURCH FACES SANTANA

Friday RYAN CHURCH took his first batting practice against Johan Santana. He was impressed. "I don't need to see those pitches anymore," Church said shaking his head.

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COLLEGE HOOPS

In Seattle Washington stuffed Arizona 75-66 Thursday night as JOEL SMITH was perfect from the three-point line. In 13 minutes he went 1-for-1 with a rebound. The Huskies are now 6-8 in the Pac-10, 15-12 overall.

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In Bismarck, North Dakota the University of Mary Marauders were idle as they await their final regular season game on Saturday opposite the Wolves of Northern State University in a Northern Sun Conference clash. The Wolves are ranked No. 4 in NCAA’s Division II. The University of Mary is 8-18 overall and eighth in the 10-team Northern Sun with a 5-12 record. Northern State, ranked fourth in the nation, is 15-2 and 24-2 overall.

It's Official-- Boo to Ohio University

BOO HIGHLY-REGARDED AS HE MOVES EAST

BOO JACKSON's career at Ohio University began officially on Wednesday's NCAA Signing Day.

Andrew Gribble of the Athens, Ohio, Post filed this story.

The phone’s been ringing off the hook all week inside the football offices at El Camino Junior College in Torrance, Calif. That’s what happens when 23 of your 40 graduating sophomores are headed to Division I schools and media outlets across the country are clamoring for quotes.

So when a call came in from Athens, Ohio, on Tuesday concerning the gem of Ohio’s 20-man recruiting class, quarterback “Boo” Jackson, Warriors coach John Featherstone was ready to chat.

“You’ve got a darn good quarterback coming your way,” Featherstone interjected before I could finish introducing myself.

“He’s got, like, a sixth sense.”Now you’ve peaked my interest. Go on.

“He sees the whole field, in terms of a quarterback throwing the ball,” the 23-year El Camino coach said. “He’s a very accurate thrower. He’s usually on the mark or right around the mark every time. He’s got tremendous feet and he can get you out of trouble real fast.

“You got a steal in Boo Jackson.”

As Featherstone describes it, Jackson, like many junior college football players, slipped through the cracks. Sure, Jackson managed to garner a number of state honors, but he didn’t get much of a chance to show off his arm in high school, Featherstone said. Jackson was relegated as the hander-offer in a run-heavy Wing-T system at Lompoc High School in California.

That didn’t bother Featherstone, though. He noticed right away that Jackson had a knack for putting the ball right where it needed to be. He finished fifth among 72 California junior college teams’ quarterbacks in pass efficiency his first year on the job. Last year, he finished first, completing 134 of his 223 passes for 2,235 yards, 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Oh yeah, he led the team to a state title in that first year and another conference championship last season.

But is he cut out to lead a Division I offense?

“Boo doesn’t like sitting around,” Featherstone said. “He doesn’t like not playing. He’ll do everything in his power to win that job.”

Once I informed him that quarterback controversies in Athens are more common than bricks, Featherstone laughed.

“Well,” he said. “You’re in for another one.”

Yesterday, coach Frank Solich wasted little time confirming that.

“We do not, in this point in time, have an established quarterback,” Solich said. “We do not have a player that has stepped forward and just taken over the position.”

Last spring, when Theo Scott arrived with a similar “hot shot California JUCO stud quarterback” buzz, Ohio’s quarterback situation was only a tad murky. But a spirited competition between Josh and Scott Febus wasn’t enough to dethrone an experienced Brad Bower going into the fall.

This year no one, not even Scott, has an edge.

“We don’t have anyone with a great deal of experience,” Solich said. “We’re talking about guys that have to gather experience really, really quickly and show what they can do very, very quickly.”

Notice the stressing of “quickly.” Solich means it. Whoever wins the battle, Solich said, will be what the team bases its offensive schemes around going into fall camp.

Bottom line: Solich doesn’t want the flip-flopping that occurred between Bower and Scott last season.

Which makes Jackson just as viable a candidate as any.

“We’re going to give him an opportunity to show what he can do,” Solich said. “We’re excited about him coming in.”

— Andrew Gribble is a senior journalism major and The Post’s sports editor. Send him an e-mail at ag358604@ohiou.edu.

Boo Commits; Kellie Leads; Romar Credits Joel's D

Boo Commits, Probably

"El Camino sophomore quarterback BOO JACKSON committed to Ohio University during his visit over the weekend. Jackson led El Camino to a California state championship last year as a freshman and took his team back to the SoCal playoffs this year. He had also been recruited by Memphis and Utah. His goal is to enroll at Ohio in March, in time for spring ball."

So wrote Kevin Lustgarten of JCFootball.com today.

Contacted by phone later in the day Boo left the door open slightly in case Washington State, or any other PAC-10 school, should make an offer by the end of the week.

But indeed, barring a last-minute offer, he is off to Athens, Ohio and the Mid-American Conference.

“It was snowing when I got there,” Jackson said about his visit to OU last weekend. “Their facilities are great—the weight room, the football field, the practice field. The university is set in the middle of the town so when they have a game everybody comes.”

Jackson said the Bobcats will be going to a spread formation next season and expect to pass more than run. “Coming from El Camino I’m a spread offense guy, so that’s a plus for me.” He will be competing with a junior who saw limited playing time in 2007.

His other suitors in varying degrees at various times included Boise State, San Jose State, Memphis, Utah, Utah State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas, Washington and Washington State.

Washington State is still acting interested and Jackson would still like to play in the Pac-10.
“I can’t sign until tomorrow,” he said. “I think I’ll give them another couple of days.”

And if the Cougars don’t make an offer?

“I’m real happy. Finally I’m a Division I player. It’s been a long process.”

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Kellie George Dominates Early PC Votes

The opening of the Lompoc Locker Room “Peoples Choice” Awards Monday night was met by a collective yawn apparently, by everyone not a relative or friend of KELLIE GEORGE.

The Cabrillo girls golf promoter/organizer/fundraiser/all-league player and all-around dynamo received a landslide total of eight votes in the first 24 hours.

That does not sound like much, but consider this: no other candidate, in any of the four categories, received more than ONE!

Now we know how she brought CHS girls golf into existence—she has an ORGANIZATION.

Also receiving mention:
Male Athlete: Ryan Church, Danny Duffy, Miguel Ortiz
Female Athlete: Kathryn Nelson
Coach: Jim Allen, Roy Baca, Corey McIntyre
Team: Babe Ruth League Elks, Cabrillo girls water polo, Lompoc girls soccer

To vote just e-mail pressboxprod@verizon.net and give us the name of your fave. Voting closes Sunday night. The winners will be announced, and will be invited to be guests on the New Years Eve Lompoc Locker Room TV Show.

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Joel

JOEL SMITH sank a three and Portland State never got closer than 10 points Tuesday night in Seattle. Smith's Washington Huskies won easily 84-65. Smith continued in his starting guard role playing 18 minutes and contributing four assists as well as his trey.

And he played tough defense. Coach Lorenzo Romar addressed Smith's status in the starting lineup without mentioning him by name.

"I feel like we're making progress. With this lineup, there are some guys that aren't in the lineup who, if they could catch these guys defensively, would be in the lineup because they're better offensive players. At this point, since these guys give us the best defensive presentation, we're going to continue to go with them."

The Huskies play again on Saturday hosting CS Northridge.

Taua a Starter; Church Finishes at .272

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

In Reno Saturday the Nevada Wolfpack got past UNLV 27-20 as VAI TAUA (pictured here with his high school coach DON CROSS) made the first start of his collegiate career, this as an H-back. His primary role was as a blocker as he registered no carries nor pass receptions.

In Champaign, Illinois, the Penn State Nittany Lions fell 27-20 to Illinois. LYDELL SARGEANT ranked #3 on the PSU defense with seven hits—five solo tackles and two assists plus one pass broken up.

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In Salt Lake City MATT SIMS started his second straight game at tight end as Utah knocked off Utah State 34-18. Sims made no pass receptions. Once again the Utes used only three wide receivers instead of the four WR’s they utilized earlier in the season.

In Moorhead, Minnesota Upper Iowa lost its fourth straight game Saturday, this one by 31-28 to Minnesota State-Moorhead. MIKE SLAUGHTER came off the bench to register two solo tackles and four assists but JUSTICE CLEGG apparently saw no action after starting at offensive tackle the week before. Slaughter started the Peacocks’second and third games at defensive end but came off the bench last week. UIU is now 1-4.

In Valdosta, Georgia, Ouachita Baptist lost its second straight after a historic three consecutive victories to open the season. The Tigers fell to #5-ranked Valdosta State 31-3. Starting cornerback DONALD WHITE was in on four assisted tackles for the Tigers. OBU is now 3-2.

In JC ball Saturday in Torrance BOO JACKSON bounced back from a rocky start to finish 15-for-25 for 281 yards and a touchdown as #8-ranked El Camino handed #2 Saddleback its first loss, 31-24.

Jackson suffered two first-half interceptions, but from late in the second quarter to the end of the game, he was 11-for-12 passing for 214 yards and a touchdown.

"He shakes it right off and comes back strong," coach John Featherstone said told the Torrance Daily Breeze.

Jackson ranks #1 in the tough Mission Conference in passing efficiency. After five games Jackson has attempted 103 passes, completed 65 for a 63.1 percentage and 1178 yards. He has had only three interceptions vs. 11 touchdowns. His efficiency rating is 188.6. Next highest in the conference is David Pittman of Pasadena at 172.5. Among the schools who have him on their favorites list are Oregon, Boise State, Hawaii, North Carolina, Kansas, and LSU.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

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In Major League Baseball RYAN CHURCH saw no action Sunday as the Washington Nationals were mesmerized by slowballing Jamie Moyer of the Phillies who won 6-1 to win the National League East title. Nationals slugger Wily Mo Pena, who replaced Church in left field in August went 0-for-4 with all four at-bats resulting in strikeouts. Church’s final numbers read .272, 15 HR, 70 RBI with 43 doubles and a slugging percentage of 464. His slugging percentage was second on the team behind all-star Dmitri Young and his doubles total ranks #8 in the National League. All seven hitters above him on the list had at least 50 more at-bats.

CHURCH REFUSES TO GO QUIETLY

As the Washington Nationals were nearly no-hit by John Smoltz of the Braves Friday night RYAN CHURCH (pictured left courtesy Mike Collins of wwwcollinsphotography.com) once again was used only as a pinch hitter. He delivered a double, his 38th of the season, to drive in the Nats’ only run. Wily Mo Pena, the hot stuff power guy who was brought in to take Church’s left field job, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Then Sunday Church was given a rare start, rare at least since August 18 when he was benched. And what did Churchie do? He delivered a game-winning three-run homer, his 12th of the season. Here’s the report from Bill Ladson of MLB.com—

“The Nationals were losing, 3-1, when they rallied to score three runs in the top of the sixth inning against right-hander Lance Cormier. With runners on second and third and one out, Church hit a 3-2 curveball over the center-field wall to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead.

“In this case, it was one too many curveballs. In the previous two at-bats, Church struck out on the pitch. In the sixth inning, the curveball hung for Church to hit it out.

"’The first at-bat, he hung one and I tried to crush it, and I swung through it. The second one, I just chased the ball down in the dirt. I was trying to get it up, but I kept fishing for it,’ Church said. ‘[In the sixth], I figured he was going to throw it in that situation -- 3-2, guys on base -- and try to strike me out. I was able to stay on it. In that situation, you want to elevate the ball. I was fortunate it went out. It took nine [curveballs] to finally get it. I was being stupid the first two at-bats.’"

“Since he was benched, Church is 11-for-40 (.275) with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Asked if he feels satisfaction that he could be productive, Church said, ‘It feels good. It's one of those things where you have to take advantage of the opportunity, because you don't know how many times you are going to get it.’"

And Wily Mo Sunday? He went 1-for-5. He’s batting .223. Church is at .266.

FOOTBALL

Before 110,000 fans including his high school coach DON CROSS, starting Penn State cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT made one solo tackle and three assists Saturday, with one of those assists throwing a Notre Dame ballcarrier for a loss. In so doing the Nittany Lions sacked (collectively speaking) Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who was last seen by Lompoc fans at Huyck Stadium a year ago leading Oaks Christian to a lopsided victory. Penn State won this one 31-10. The crowd was the second largest in Penn State history.


Meanwhile before 17,600 at another Big Ten venue, Ryan Stadium in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern came from a two-touchdown deficit to stop Nevada 36-31. Running back Luke Lippincott rushed for 140 yards and VAI TAUA did not get a single carry even though he led the Wolfpack in rushing last week. He was on the field but no carries.

In Salt Lake City before 43,000 Air Force dealt Utah its first defeat in five tries Saturday 20-12. MATT SIMS saw action for the Utes but had no offensive stats to report either.

In Kirksville, Missouri, Upper Iowa fell 55-31 to Truman State though defensive end MIKE SLAUGHTER registered two solo tackles and two assists One of the solos went for a five-yard loss. Slaughter was making his first start for the Peacocks in the contest. This after starring at Hancock and sitting out a year at Baylor. Also in the UIU starting lineup for the second week was offensive tackle JUSTICE CLEGG, who as a member of the O-line of course got no statistical mention.

In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist advanced its record to 2-0 with a 46-19 victory over East Texas Baptist Saturday night as starting left cornerback DONALD WHITE collected the team high in solo tackles with four.

From Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, at Iowa Wesleyan the word is that RUBEN GARCIA will wear #60 and perform on occasion on the Tiger offensive line. IWU fell Saturday to Ohio Dominican 46-0 but Garcia saw no action. ARYN GARCIA of Lompoc will be redshirting at the school.

In California community college play BOO JACKSON completed 18 of 28 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night but Bakersfield connected on a last second TD (0.00 on the clock) to defeat top-ranked El Camino 33-31. “Sometimes all the hype gets into a player's head,” Jackson told David Saunders of the Torrance Daily Breeze. “This was a real wake-up call.” After two games this season Jackson, an El Camino captain, has completed 31 of 49 passes for 478 yards (63%) and no interceptions. According to Boo’s mom the two schools hottest in the running for his services next season are Oregon and LSU. Jackson wears No. 8…. Hmmmmmm, who else from Lompoc wore No. 8 in college……??

Also on the field Saturday night in Bakersfield was TYLER CHAGOYA, wearing No.33 for Bakersfield.

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In minor league baseball CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-5 Sunday as the Oneonta Tigers nipped the Auburn Doubledays 1-0 in 11 innings in the first of their three-game New York-Pennsylvania League playoff series…. With the Northwest League season ending Sunday, catcher BRIAN AGUAILAR’s closing statistics are available. AGUAILAR posted a solid .311 batting average in 2006 for the Tri-City club, a Colorado Rockies’ affiliate but injured himself early this spring. As a result he came off the disabled list only in July, was sent back to the same club, and never really got a chance. In just 34 at-bats in only 11 games over two months he collected three hits (.088).

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On Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show BRAD MEMBERTO talks about sports writing and broadcasting and DANNY DUFFY talks about pitching in Arizona. See the schedule on the left.