New Hornets coach DeSean Jackson embraces underdog label ahead of Blue Hens showdown
DeSean Jackson’s debut season at Delaware State begins with no shortage of challenges; a one-win campaign to build from, a preseason last-place prediction, and a Thursday opener against in-state rival Delaware. For Jackson, none of it is overwhelming.
“In my life, it’s always been pressure,” Jackson said. “I don’t consider it added pressure. Growing up, figuring out how to eat at night, how to get to school, how to put clothes on my back, that was pressure. That makes you hungry in life. Put me in any environment, I’ll come out swinging.”
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It’s the underdog identity that Jackson believes can spark the Hornets. “I love being an underdog and in my career I’ve always been an underdog. We take it on our chin. We put our head down…the chin mentality and every day we’re working. That’s bulletin board material for us…but that’s not what we’re worried about. We’re focused on being the best team day in and day out.”
Jackson has made no secret of where the Hornets want to make their first statement. Delaware has won all 11 meetings in the rivalry. “University of Delaware has been the bullies in Delaware over the past few years,” Jackson said. “We praise them, but at the end of the day, when it’s time to line up versus them, it’s us versus them, and we’re going to do everything we can to go out there and win that game.”
For Jackson, Thursday night isn’t about talk. “Put us in between anybody, give us 60 minutes of ball, and let us play.”
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