New Valdosta State head football coach Tremaine Jackson speaks during his introductory press conference Thursday , January 6 at The Complex . Photo by Shane Thomas
“ Being obedient – I remember hearing that word ‘ obedience .’ I grew up in the church too , so everybody talks about the obedience of the church . I heard that word my whole upbringing . Then , when you really think about it , submitting and complying with the authority that ’ s parenting . I had to submit and comply with my grandma . I didn ’ t have a choice .
Jackson continued , “ Then having grit , which is having passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals . That ’ s how I got into the situation I ’ m in . I learned that a long time ago . Most people never accomplish anything because they never fully submit themselves and have the passion and perseverance to finish it . So the # DOG mentality was formed well before I knew it was a # DOG mentality . The # DOG mentality was my upbringing , and it was a lot of people ’ s , and I think that ’ s why people relate to it .”
Jackson went to Waltrip High School in Houston , where he walked the same halls as his mother , his brother , Patrick Swayze , and WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker . “ It was the best time of my life ,” Jackson said . When he was a sophomore at Waltrip , Jackson was a nose guard standing a shade under six feet tall , playing for head coach Van Malone .
While most high school football players dream of making it big and playing in the NFL , Jackson ’ s dream was to make it out of his neighborhood .
“ I was just trying to play football to go to college , to get out of my neighborhood ,” Jackson said . “ The NFL was a dream , like every kid , but the immediate need was to get out of the neighborhood . That ’ s all my grandmother kept saying , ‘ You ’ re going to the military or going to school . You ain ’ t gonna stay around here .’
“ I wasn ’ t going to the military , so the day they came to do the ASVAB test , I made sure I was in the weight room .”
During that time , Jackson ’ s relationship with Malone became one that would lay the foundation of a coaching career that has taken him all over the country with stops at Texas A & M Kingsville , Abilene Christian , Sioux Falls , Colorado Mesa , and now , Valdosta State .
Malone grew up in the same neighborhood as Jackson , who stayed at his house on the weekends . “ I told Coach Malone , ‘ I want to do what you ’ re doing for me ,’” Jackson recalled . “ I was
26 Valdosta Scene | July 2022