Throughout his career as a Bobcat quarterback, Boo Jackson has seen more hills and drops than a Cedar Point rollercoaster.
After Theo Scott's injury against Ohio State two years ago, the quarterback was thrust unexpectedly into action against the Buckeyes. Last season, a shoulder injury against North Texas ended Jackson's season and gave Scott the starting job.
Then, last week against Wofford, starter Phil Bates injured his hand, marking the third consecutive year an Ohio quarterback has been hurt in the opening two weeks of the season.
Jackson jokingly offered a supernatural reason for why so many quarterbacks have sustained injuries since his arrival.
Since I've been here it's always happened. I guess it's the Boo Curse or something
Jackson said. But hopefully it leaves with me after this season.
The Bobcats haven't had a definitive starting quarterback at the beginning of the previous three seasons, which turned out to be positive when one went down with an injury each year.
When one gets hurt, the other has been able to manage the offense without too much of a drop-off. Such was the case Saturday night, when Jackson, at times, showed flashes of being the quarterback that threw for 2,355 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2008.
The good thing is that we've had some depth at quarterback said coach Frank Solich. When anyone has gone down somebody's been there to take over.
Before Bates was sidelined with an injured hand, Solich had already planned on inserting Jackson early in the game to give both quarterbacks equal time.
With the uncertainty at quarterback the past three seasons, Jackson has become accustomed to coming off the bench at any moment.
The coaches have always told me
'You're one play away
' Jackson said. For most people it goes in one ear and out the other
but the last three years
that's exactly what's happened.
Jackson's return to the lineup marked the high point of his comeback from last year's torn labrum.
Because the injury occurred early last year, Jackson was able to secure a medical redshirt. At first, the quarterback thought his senior year was going to be cut short.
I didn't know what was going to happen with the redshirt
Jackson said. I was just sitting around my house just moping for a couple of days until I finally got word about it.
Unlike the season-ending injuries that happened to Scott and Jackson, Bates' hand injury appears to be less serious. He was in uniform at practice yesterday, but did not fully participate.
If Bates can't play, Jackson will have to handle the burden. He did it two years ago and was the Bobcats' starter before his injury last season.
You have to be really fortunate to get through a season without your quarterback getting a little banged up
Solich said. It's a very physical game and you're going to have injuries.
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