For 24 years Hue Jackson was an assistant football
coach. In January Jackson was named Head
Coach for the Oakland Raiders. Jackson
is the second African American Head Coach that has been hired by Al Davis the
Owner and General Manager for the Raiders.
On Saturday Davis pass away at his home in Oakland while. the team
traveled to Houston on Friday night to prepare for the Texans.
Davis is one of the most recognizable owners in the
NFL. Davis has established phases like,
“Commitment to Excellence”, and “Just Win Baby”. Davis has always been considered a Rebel
among the NFL Team owners. Davis is the
only owner who abstained from voting to end the NFL lockout earlier this
year. Davis was not a stranger to going
against the grain. Davis Hired Art Shell as his Head Coach in 1988 when no
other team who hire a African American as their coach.
Davis has held every position in football from position from
position coach to Commissioner of the American Football League before they
merged with the NFL in 1966. Davis has
always been an advocate for diversity in the NFL not only in coaching, but
throughout the entire organization. The
following is Coach Jackson’s thoughts on Davis following his team’s win over
the Texans:
He(Davis) would be happy because we won the game and I
have to thank my players and one thing that is truly becoming evident is that
our players are beginning to believe if you playing and working at it good
things are going to happen so I am very happy for the young men, the other day
was a tough day but I can see the gleam in their eyes, they were not going to
stop fighting and we truly and honestly
believe that Coach(Davis) is with us today I believe that whole heartedly, but
I have people I can lean on Amy Trask, Mark Davis and Eddie Anderson are people who are my confidants that I can
trust and they have been there for me and all the said were Just Win Baby, and
that is what we did today.
The emotions I felt
before the game, I did not want to talk too much. I thought we just needed to play. The game was
up and down the defense fought their tails off we couldn’t find a way to make a
play in the first half and we just kept at it kept searching. One thing Coach always taught me, don’t
believe in plays believe in players that eventually players will make plays
that is what we did. I could hear him
saying that to me the whole time. Believe in your players and not the plays we
would give it to Darren (McFadden), and Darren starts to make a few plays here
and there and things started to change and again we have got some work to do
and we understand that, but to be 3-2 and headed home for 3 games 3 big games
at the O for our fans and an opportunity to keep getting better there is none
like it.
Today is a great
for the Raiders all across the world sad day yesterday but I want everybody to
know that I know without a shadow of doubt that Coach is somewhere up there
rejoicing for this football team did what he said to always do, commitment to
excellence, pride and poise, and just win.
This is Coach Davis’ football team and I am getting a chance to run
it. I have listened to him on so many
occasions about our players on what they can and can’t do and that’s going to
be my guiding light for the rest of the season. Mr. Davis pushes me
to be great, even today.
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