ALAMEDA -- The University of the Pacific no longer has a football team. It did back in 1989, though the Tigers were terrible against all comers. They finished 2-10, including brutal losses to Top 25 teams Auburn, Arizona and Pittsburgh.
Jon Gruden and Hue Jackson both remember it fondly. They shared an office back then, with Gruden coaching tight ends and Jackson in charge of running backs.
"That was a fun time, man," Jackson said Wednesday. "Probably more fun for me than it was for Jon. I went to school there, and we became office mates.
"Honestly, Jon taught me football. I always tell that story, and I'm always grateful and thankful for what he taught me.
They've come a long way since. Both guys are NFL head coaches, and will line up on opposite sidelines with the Raiders and Browns clash Sunday at Oakland Coliseum.
"I know Hue well," Gruden said. "He's a good friend, he's a good coach, and I look forward to seeing him."
Sports
Jackson has several football influences, Gruden among them.
"There is a lot of him that still runs through me as I coach, as I've made my stops," Jackson said. "I appreciate the growth I've had from my time with him to where I am today."
They were both former Raiders head coaches mentored by late owner Al Davis. Al Davis traded Gruden to the Buccaneers after the 2001 season. His son, Mark, brought him back in January.
Jackson was the Raiders' offensive coordinator in 2010 and head coach in 2011 -- Al Davis died during that season -- and was fired by general manager Reggie McKenzie in early 2012.
Jackson wasn't happy about it, but Sunday's game isn't about revenge.
"It means we got a chance to win another game," Jackson said. "I've been back there since I've left (as Bengals offensive coordinator) so I've been through that process, not as the head coach, but it'd be fun to come back to Oakland to see a lot of great people that I have respect for. To lead our team to victory would be very good."
While his tenure didn't end as he would've liked, Jackson looks back on his years with the Raiders and speaks fondly of Al Davis.
"Obviously, learning from Al Davis," Jackson said. "Contrary from what anybody believes, I had an unbelievable relationship with Al Davis and the other coaches that were on the staff. To be able to become the head coach there, which was a dream, to be a kid from South Central, Los Angeles and to be able to become the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. That's what you dream about.
"When that opportunity was done, I went back to Cincinnati and what I learned was, ‘Hey, look, I don't have all the answers.' There is some things I need to get better at, need to keep growing, need to keep finding ways to better myself, and I was able to do that."
Jackson's last press conference of the 2011 season didn't go great. His Raiders missed a playoff spot after losing the season finale to San Diego, and he lamented his players' effort, and that he wanted more control over personnel and his defensive staff.
That went over like a lead balloon.
"I'll never forget, I can laugh about it now, my last press conference," Jackson said. "I know exactly what I was trying to convey, but obviously I did it in a wrong way, so you grow from that, you learn from that and you move forward."
Jackson moved to the Bengals for four seasons before becoming Browns head coach in 2016. Cleveland was in a full-on rebuild, which is why ownership has remained patient with Jackson despite a 1-31 record over the past two seasons. The Browns are 1-1-1 this season, and are competitive now with recent high draft picks paying dividends.
That should make for a competitive game between Jackson's Browns and Gruden's Raiders, who are 0-3 despite holding third-quarter leads in each game.
"That's a better team than people think," Jackson said. "Their record is no indication of what I think is there. Again, we are going to have are hands full, and we need to play well."
