University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Lacrosse Hopes To Earn NCAA Bid
November 2, 2001 | Men's Lacrosse
Nov. 2, 2001
By Bill Freehling
Student Assistant
UNC Athletic Communications
As North Carolina's famous summer humidity gives way to the crisp air and brilliant hues of autumn, senior midfielder Pat Jackson says the men's lacrosse team is ready to turn over a new leaf in the upcoming season.
After failing to make the 12-team NCAA tournament for the past three seasons, this year's seniors are determined to lead the squad back to postseason play.
"We have team goals and team objectives for the first time since I've been here," Jackson said. "When we first got here, it was kind of unclear what we wanted to do. Coach (John) Haus does a great job of getting everyone on the same page."
Haus, who is entering his second year as Carolina's head coach, knows a thing or two about winning. In 1981 and 1982, he helped lead the Tar Heels to two of its four national championships and was named the team MVP on the latter squad. Jackson said Haus' high standards influence the team's goals.
"He knows how to win," Jackson said. "He's used to winning. He's getting us used to winning, which is something we've never been privy to."
Jackson added that Haus should benefit from a year of experience at UNC and his first recruiting class. "He's got some of his own guys in that he's worked closely with. And he's got a year with us under his belt. He knows everybody, and he knows what we can do."
Jackson has shown what he can do during his time in Chapel Hill. A three-year letter winner, Jackson scored eight goals last season and played in all 12 games. He said he has been working hard to contribute even more this season, both offensively and defensively.
During the offseason, Jackson played in the Maryland Summer League with many of his high school friends. "It's a lot of fun," he said. "It's kind of like playing in high school again. You look forward to that."
ecause there weren't many substitutes available in the league, Jackson said he generally played the entire 60 minutes. Combined with a regimen of running and lifting four to five times each week, this experience has left him in good physical condition for the start of fall practice.
The Tar Heels began practicing as soon as they returned to campus in August, Jackson said. The fall season culminated with the Blue-White intra-squad game on October 27. The team will continue to run and lift together during the months leading up to spring practices, which start after students return from winter break.
Jackson said fall practices have gone well, giving returning players a chance to "get the dust off." They have also given the team's 12 freshmen a chance to show off their stuff.
"It's a really good class," he said. "The kids are doing great. Some of them are going to start this year."
Having been around lacrosse his entire life, Jackson should be a good evaluator of talent. He grew up in the suburbs of lacrosse-crazy Baltimore, where he attended Loyola Blakefield High School, Coach Haus' alma mater. Jackson was a three-year lacrosse starter, was named to a first-team all-state squad his senior year and was a finalist for the C. Markland Kelly Award, a distinction given to the state's top senior.
Jackson was not the only talented athlete in his family. He has four older brothers, one of whom played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins and another of whom played on Team USA.
Athletics are not the only thing in Jackson's life. In high school, he carried a 3.96 GPA and won the Loyola Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. He has served on the ACC Student-Athlete Advisory Council while at UNC.
An economics major, he plans to get into investment banking in New York City after graduation. He interned this summer at Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown, a prominent investment firm in Baltimore.
When he isn't hitting the books or playing lacrosse, Jackson said he enjoys playing golf and hanging out with his friends. He lives with two sophomore lacrosse players - midfielder Dan Stringer and defenseman Matt Pessagno.
Jackson is confident that the team can improve on the results of his first three campaigns. He said the offense has been playing together for a couple of years now, and the young defense -- anchored by senior tri-captain and goalie Kris Blindenbacher - is beginning to gel.
Jackson said Coach Haus frequently stresses that there is no better place to come to school than Carolina - both academically and athletically. As Jackson's career at UNC enters its winter, he has nothing but positives to say about the university.
"This is the best place in the world to go to school," he said. "It's the best of both worlds. So many kids want to come here. We're the lucky ones that have the chance. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
