Nov. 15, 2007
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Vanderbilt football senior tailback Cassen Jackson-Garrison responds to your “Ask a ‘Dore” questions submitted online earlier this week.
What does it mean to you to go back to Knoxville to face the Vols in a must win game for a chance at a bowl game? “I think that pretty much speaks for itself. I think the fact we’re playing for a bowl berth is the most important aspect. We want that sixth win.”
Does playing at Neyland Stadium have any special meaning to you since you’re from Knoxville? “Not really. It’s the same as playing at any other stadium. People might think it means more since I know many people in Knoxville and on Tennessee’s team.”
Do you have any pregame rituals on gameday? “I listen to Kanye West. I also talk to my wife before I have to get ready for the game.”
How has marriage affected your life? “Getting married changed my life tremendously. It’s not about me wanting to do what I want to do. I always wanted to play football in the NFL, but right now, I’m worried about supporting my family.”
You recently had your first child. Do you seek advice on parenthood? “I like to figure it out for myself, on a trial-and-error basis. I have learned a lot from watching the Discovery Channel. I’ve got some parenting books at home that I’ve read, too.”
Is life more about others and less about you now since you have a family? “It never was about me ever since I got married. Ever since I got married, it’s been all about my wife. That’s fine with me. She’s my pride and joy. I love my son with all of my heart.”
What have been the positives about having a family? “It helped me to mature a lot more. I realized how precious life is. It’s hard to explain the love you have for your kid unless you’ve had one. My eyes have been opened in many ways, and I can relate now to many different people.”
How do you manage your time between football, school, and family? “It’s tough. I really think there’s a lot of skill and technique involved. I don’t know how I do it, but I think my freshman year at Vanderbilt prepared me for now. I pulled a lot of all-nighters with my schoolwork. It doesn’t bother me as much anymore to stay up and only get a few hours of sleep. I go about my day. I get schoolwork out of the day and then spend the rest of my time with my family.”
Compare your life now to where you were when you first arrived at Vanderbilt as a freshman. “What I know now versus what I knew as a freshman is night-and-day. When I first arrived at Vanderbilt, I thought this school would kick my butt, but now I have conquered it and I’m going to graduate on time plus I have a family.”
Talk about how it feels to have your Vanderbilt career winding down. “I was looking at my class schedule today, and I realized how great it was to pass all of my classes at Vanderbilt. I almost put myself in position to graduate in December. I only have one class next semester on Mondays. I’m already done with both of my degrees.”
Would you trust Jeff Jennings to baby-sit your child? “Jeff is my best friend, but I don’t know if I’d let him baby-sit yet. Jeff has needed help the last few times. He got to feed my son last night, but he’s still a little shaky. He needs a little more practice because he isn’t as natural as I am when it comes to dealing with kids.”
Both you and Jeff are from east Tennessee. You came to Vanderbilt at the same time and play the same position. Talk about your relationship with him. “We met each other and hung out some in high school when we both found out we’d come to Vanderbilt. After we both graduated high school, we came to Nashville at the same time during the summer before the season started. Ever since then, we have lived together. We connected and bonded. We have competed for playing time against each other, but we make each other work, and the work benefits each other.”
What’s your favorite food to eat before a game? “I try to eat as little as possible before a game. I eat only enough to give me energy to get through a game. I like to eat more afterward. I hydrate myself a lot before a game.”
What something that Vanderbilt fans don’t know about you that would surprise them? “I can crochet. I’m making my son a blanket right now. I also love to skateboard and am pretty good at it. Before I played football, my goal was to be a professional skateboarder. I still have my skateboard. I mess around with it a little in my garage. I still have the skill.”
Does crocheting take a lot of skill and patience? “It develops hand and eye coordination. I like it. It’s relaxing. My wife doesn’t have the patience for it. I learned my hobby at Tennessee Preparatory School. I had nothing else to do but sit around, so I picked up the hobby, and it’s like riding a bike now. I’m actually pretty good at it.”
When you reflect back on your Vanderbilt career, what are you going to remember most? “I felt like since I came to the Vanderbilt program, our class has helped give Commodore football a new name. We have changed the program around. We started something special, but I still have two games left to play, hopefully three.”
Do you know what you want to do after you graduate college? “I want to be a U.S. Marshal. I don’t know why, but I think it would be really interesting and fun. I don’t think I’d be really good at a desk job. I’m more of an on-the-go kind of guy. I want to be out-and-about.”
