Adventure seems to chase Jackson
Steven Jackson is a punishment-delivering running back who also has received his share.
He suffered a groin injury and broken finger last season and in 2009 played through back pain.
But the former Eldorado High School star doesn't find adventure only while adding to his St. Louis Rams career rushing record.
He vacationed in New Zealand last month, departing Christchurch two days before an earthquake hit that killed about 150 people. Jackson made friends on the visit, and he received emails saying they were OK.
The year before, Jackson was on an African safari when a 3-year-old elephant began to feel his oats. "He got ready to charge our truck," Jackson said. "We had to be still. Thank God he walked away and I was able to tell about it."
Jackson said he likes to use the offseason as a chance to experience different cultures.
His African trip included stops in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia, and this offseason he spent 10 days in Australia and five in New Zealand. "We as Americans have so much in common with the rest of the world," Jackson said. "When it boils down to it, people are good."
■ BAD BLOOD -- Conferences can do little when schools decide to leave, but one way they can fight back is through football scheduling.
The Mountain West Conference switched a Boise State trip to Texas Christian to a home game for the Broncos, who enter the MWC this year. TCU, which next year goes to the Big East, wasn't happy.
Now the Western Athletic Conference has made life more difficult for UNR, which next year leaves for the Mountain West. The WAC put the Wolf Pack at San Jose State on Sept. 17, meaning UNR won't play a home game until Oct. 8.
But UNR athletic director Cary Groth also is to blame, scheduling a nonconference trip to Boise State on Oct. 1.
"I was shocked to hear that," Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault told the Nevada Appeal. "I just thought we were going to replace Boise next year with a home game. ... I didn't think twice about it.
"We're already playing Oregon on the road. We're already going to Texas Tech. Why do we need another road game like Boise?"
One of the state's worst-kept secrets is the bad blood between Ault and Groth, who many believe worked to get rid of the legendary coach before his 13-1 season in 2010 strengthened his hold on the job.
Maybe scheduling Boise State wasn't personal, but it sure seems that way. If Groth wants a coaching change, she should study UNR's past struggles when Ault wasn't at the helm.
■ ACT YOUR AGE -- This is what we know of Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant: While at Oklahoma State, he was suspended for lying to the NCAA; he refused to carry out a rookie ritual shortly after arriving in Dallas last year; and he believes in wearing his pants on the ground.
Bryant and three others were kicked out of a high-end Dallas mall Saturday after allegedly refusing to hike up their dropping pants and, according to a police statement, cursing out the off-duty officers working security.
This doesn't help an already shaky reputation -- for Bryant or the Cowboys.
COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
