The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Jackson signs with Notre Dame
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: April 12, 2007
As a key member of four state championship teams, Dexter's Dan Jackson will go down in Dreadnaught cross country history as one of the program's most celebrated runners.
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Adding to his already lengthy list of accomplishments, Jackson, who finished second to junior teammate Bobby Aprill in a classic back-and-forth, one-on-one final straightaway battle at last fall's Division II state meet, signed to continue his cross country career at the University of Notre Dame.
"There were many factors that were involved in my decision to go to Notre Dame," said Jackson, who was named the state's Mr. Cross Country this past season. "I was particularly impressed with the consistent success that their cross country and distance programs have experienced over the past several years.
"The men's team has had 10 top-15 team finishes at the NCAA Championship in the past 15 years. In 2005, they placed third overall."
Jackson was mentored and inspired the past four seasons by one of the state's top cross country coaches in Dexter's Jaime Dudash. He said he has the same confidence in the Fighting Irish coaches that he had with Dudash.
"(Notre Dame) head cross country and track coach Joe Piane is one of the most successful distance coaches in the U.S.," said Jackson, who led the Dreadnaughts to their fifth consecutive state title last fall and a No. 3 national ranking in the Nike Super 25. "I also got along with the team very well on my recruiting visit. I really enjoy South Bend and its proximity to Ann Arbor, it's not too close and not too far."
Jackson, who has a 3.4 grade point average, is undecided on a major at this time, but was also attracted to Notre Dame because of its academic reputation.
"The academics at Notre Dame are top notch," he said. "It's among the top 25 institutions in surveys by U.S. News World Report, Time and Princeton Review. Also, I like the smaller student body size, which is about 8,000."
Jackson, who will also run track for the Fighting Irish, finished second in the 3,200-meter run at last year's Division II meet. Earlier this season, he placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run at the prestigious Nike national meet in Landover, MD. As one might expect, Jackson was highly recruited by numerous schools.
"I went on recruiting visits to Notre Dame, Michigan and Oklahoma State," he said. "I was also considering Georgetown. It really came down to Notre Dame or Michigan. I just felt I needed to get away from Ann Arbor and experience something new and different."
Former Dexter All-State performers Lex Williams and Tony Nalli are currently members of U-M's men's cross country and track and field teams.
Jackson (6-foot, 140 pounds) said having the opportunity to attend Notre Dame and compete for the Fighting Irish is something that makes him proud.
"I have worked very hard at running throughout my high school career," he said. "It's very fulfilling to be able to continue my running at a higher level there."
Dudash said Jackson is an incredible athlete.
"You won't find a more focused and serious kid out there," he said. "Danny has distinguished himself as a young man who loves his team."
Dudash recalled a moment during Jackson's sophomore year when he witnessed his rising star's grit and determination.
"He had some major recurring plantar fascitis," he said. "He stopped running and I remember seeing him work so incredibly hard to come back and be able to compete for the team at full strength. His dedication to the team is just amazing. His commitment to others is key."
Dudash said Jackson has helped build Dexter's cross country program to a point where it is now nationally regarded.
"Dan has not only been a part of an amazing program these past four years, he has been a key cog in our team success," he said. "Certainly in his junior and senior years, Danny's had a commitment to individual success, but with his eyes on his team's success he has helped propel Dexter from a distinguished Michigan program into a nationally recognized cross country powerhouse.
"Dan has been a five-time All-State athlete and an All-American, but no honor is as important to Dan than that of being a quality teammate."
Jackson, whose Dexter squads have never lost to a Division I or Division II team from Michigan in head-to-head competition during his four-year prep career, said high school would have been dull without his cross country experience.
"I've done some very neat things that very few people ever get the chance to do," he said, regarding his four state titles and achieving a national ranking. "And I have made some very good friends and met a lot of interesting people. Coach Dudash has been fantastic. He brought so much energy and enthusiasm to running and really kept me interested in the sport."
Jackson, who is one of six student-athletes statewide nominated for the Detroit Athletic Club's Michigan High School Athlete of the Year Award, said he'd never forget his time as a Dreadnaught.
"Not so much the individual accomplishments," he said. "But I'll remember the things I was a part of with the cross country team. Standing on the podium four times at MIS (Michigan International Speedway) with my best friends right beside me is much more important than any sort of individual accomplishment."
Jackson said he's ready to tackle the challenge of Division I college athletics.
"I am very confident that I can be very competitive at the NCAA level," he said. "I'm ready to go out there and prove it."
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