University of Minnesota Athletics
Black History Month: Daniel Jackson
2/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
In honor of Black History Month, Gopher Athletics is celebrating those who made us great. Throughout February, GopherSports.com will share short interviews with African-American alumni from almost every Gopher program. In these interviews, former student-athletes reflect on their time at the U of M, provide advice to current Gophers and share what Black History Month means to them personally.
Daniel Jackson
Sport: Wrestling
Years: 2003-08
Hometown: Janesville, Wis..
Occupation: Educator
What is it you honestly miss most about the University?
I miss the diversity of campus. I miss competing in wrestling. I don't miss the winter. And I miss my friends and teammates.
If you could give the current student-athletes any piece of advice, what would it be?
Take advantage of every second you are there. Training is hard. Everyone complains while you there. But now, being an old man looking back, I wish I would have just buckled down and said 'Hey, I am here now and I am enjoying it while I am here.' The time goes by so fast.
Please share your favorite university or athletic event you've attended since you graduated and what made it so special to you?
Returning for the Minnesota/Iowa wrestling meet a couple of years ago. It was special because of the rivalry between Minnesota and Iowa is so intense. Just being in that type of environment - with all those great matches that took place - it is a great dual meet.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for the training I went through. Coach Robinson would always talk about how, once you train in this sport and once you go through these workouts, everything else in life will be easy. That holds so true whether working towards my master degree, raising children, day to day tasks, everything just seems easier after going through that grind.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Definitely a celebration of achievement - of American achievement. Sometimes that title gets put on Black History, which is important and I would like to acknowledge that it is part of American history. It's not an isolated history, but in with all the other achievements that all Americans have put forth. It is a time of acknowledgement and definitely a time of celebration.