by Stan Crawley
posted December 12, 2002
It comes as no surprise that two-time national wrestling champion Turner Jackson will serve as tournament director for the Bradley Central Wrestling Invitational the week before Christmas.
It also comes as no surprise that Jackson, who won the two national titles while wrestling for Chattanooga's Mocs, laid the foundation for the powerhouse Bradley Central wrestling program. The Bears, who are ranked No. 1 in the state, are coached by Steve Logsdon, whose mentor is his former coach—Turner Jackson.
The surprise is how Jackson spends most of his time these days.
Jackson and his wife, Liz, travel across the country with the Tennessee Lady Vols and across the South with the Bradley Central Bearettes. Liz, of course, is Liz Hannah, one of the best to ever play for Bradley's legendary coach, the late Jim Smiddy.
One of the Turner's daughters, Brittany Jackson, is a sophomore starter for coach Pat Summitt's Lady Vols. Their other daughter, Lindsay Jackson, is a sophomore starter at Bradley Central.
Even though Brittany suffered a partial tear of her MCL in Puerto Rico against Saint Louis and will miss at least five games, the Jacksons will be in Los Angeles this weekend to watch coach Pat Summitt's Lady Vols play Southern Cal. Brittany, a 6-0 forward, is expected back on Jan. 4 when the Lady Vols play at Connecticut.
"For her parents, it's a dream for Brittany to play for the Lady Vols and coach Summitt,'' Turner Jackson said. "To be a starter for them is just a dream for her and for us.
"We're really proud of Brittany. When you go to Tennessee you have to learn to play a role. She has accepted that. She played great at the end of last year and the start of this year before she got hurt. We're pleased.''
Jackson said following the Lady Vols is quite an experience. And quite different from the athletic road he traveled in college.
"I won two national championships and was asked for maybe two autographs,'' he said. "Brittany was besieged for autographs before she played her first game at Tennessee.
"We drove to Boone, North Carolina, and to Alabama to wrestle with 15 of us in a van. The Lady Vols fly everywhere they go and stay in really nice places. They have a big, huge following. I try to tell her about reality, but I don't know if she realizes it.''
Also in the picture within the Turner family is Brittany's boyfriend—University of Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen. It sounds like Casey has also won Turner's heart.
"I think Casey's a great guy,'' he said. "I've been around him since March, and I think he's a great kid with a close family. A lot of people think he's cocky because he's blond and a California kid, but I haven't seen that. He's unbelievably polite and his parents are really neat people.
"Don't ask me if Brittany and Casey are serious. They seem to be petty serious. Liz would say they are.''
While the Jacksons are not following Brittany and the Lady Vols, they are watching Lindsay play for the Bearettes. A 5-10 sophomore, Lindsay is averaging 11 points per game. She made all-district and all-region teams as a freshman.
"Lindsay is doing pretty well,'' Jackson said. "I think she can get to the next level. She has the body type and she works hard. She's getting better.
"I try not to compare them, but they have similar playing styles. Lindsay has the same range that Brittany does. They look alike, but right now Lindsay can't put the ball on the floor like Brittany can. And Lindsay has to get more physical.''
The success of Brittany and Lindsey is connected more to hard work than bloodline, Jackson believes.
"I don't know how much the bloodline helps, other than their body type'' he said. "But we've had them in the gym since they were 2. We love athletics, and they love athletics.
"You can't teach 6-foot, but you can get better by working hard and being exposed to great players and great coaches.''
As the Jackson family prepares for the holiday season, they are thankful for the success of Brittany and Lindsay and already looking forward to tournament time.
"There have already been good times and bad times this season,'' Turner said. "The Lady Vols got beat by Duke a few weeks ago and then Lindsay's team lost three straight games. I'm just glad the girls are involved in athletics.
"I complain sometimes, but we've been all across the nation watching Brittany play. And hopefully, we'll be in Atlanta for the Final Four.''
(E-mail Stan Crawley at scrawley@mindspring.com)
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