Normally, punt returns are some of the most exciting plays in football, but they can also be the most frightening.
Homecoming night, in a game against Southern Utah earlier this season, Asa Jackson found himself on his back clutching his foot when two Thunderbirds tackled him after fielding a punt. The electric atmosphere at Alex G. Spanos Stadium quickly turned funeral-like, as 9,000 Mustang fans prayed that their All-American cornerback was not seriously injured.
“I knew exactly what the injury was,” Jackson said. “It was the same injury I had in my last game of the sophomore season. I was upset because I had to spend six weeks in a boot then, so I didn’t know how much I would be able to play the rest of the season.”
His anguish was clear as he sat on the sidelines inconsolable. Teammates and coaches came up to him each offering their sympathies.
Jackson, a senior from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, is suffering from a broken sesamoid bone in his foot. The sesamoid bone is connected to the tendons that raise and bend the toes. When it is broken, the toe’s ability to grip and push off the ground is compromised. The pain centers around the great toe in particular, and the injury is commonly referred to as “turf toe.” Many NFL players have suffered from “turf toe,” including defensive backs Deon Sanders and Champ Bailey.
“The biggest thing it affects is my ability to drive and break on the football,” Jackson said. “Other than that, it’s just a mental thing that I don’t want to worry about when I’m on the field.”
Jackson’s speed and acceleration set him apart from other defensive backs in the Football Bowl Championship Subdivision. He is also one of the many Mustang football players that have kept the training staff on their toes this season.
Starters Mark Rodgers, Gavin Cooper and Nico Molino also missed time this year due to injury, while many others have played through various nagging injuries. However, the resiliency the team has shown this season under adverse conditions is a source of pride to head coach Tim Walsh.
“A lot of guys are playing hurt, and (Jackson) is one of them,” Walsh said. “That’s the character of our football team. (Jackson) is a part of that in a big way. That’s a quality that we love about him, and he cares about all 104 guys on the team.”
Middle linebacker Kennith Jackson said he takes pride in his team’s toughness, especially the defense’s, which has been hit particularly hard by injuries.
“In football, you are going to have injuries, and we all know that,” Kennith said. “On this team though, there is always someone who is willing to step up and play.”
Jackson entered his senior year as preseason All-American and was named to the Buck Buchanan Award List. He was also named one of the top ten players to watch in the Football Bowl Championship Subdivision by ESPN’s Bruce Feldman.
Jackson has lived up to the hype in his final season: he returned an interception 100 yards against South Dakota State in Cal Poly’s home opener, as well as returning an interception 52 yards for a touchdown against Central Oklahoma.
Even though he has played most of his senior season hampered by the toe injury, Jackson has missed only one game — a feat which Jackson credits to Cal Poly’s training staff for helping him get ready to play each week.
“I’ve been managing the injury pretty well,” Jackson said. “I’ve had a lot of support from the training staff and coaching staff. They put me on a different schedule, and it’s helped me stay healthy enough to play on Saturdays.”
Cal Poly, the 2011 Great West Champions, will look to end the year strong against two challenging opponents.
The Mustangs play their final home game on Saturday against the defending Football Championship Subdivision National Champions Eastern Washington. They then travel to Mobile, Ala., the following week to play South Alabama, which was undefeated last season and has a roster filled with transfers from the Football Bowl Subdivision.