On Friday morning, former Texas A&M DB Lance Jackson will finish what he started more than 30 years ago when he walks across the stage to accept his college degree.

Jackson played for the Aggies from 1981-85 and was a part of the 1985 Texas A&M team that defeated Auburn and star RB Bo Jackson in the Cotton Bowl.

Jackson told KBTX.com that a mixup with the university prevented him from getting his degree in a timely manner his first time around in College Station:

“I can see a lot of similarities between my playing days and my education,” Jackson explained. “We struggled early in the 1980s but with the final two games of the 1984 season we knew we were coming together. That 1985 season was special with Coach (Jackie) Sherrill, Coach (R.C.) Slocum and Coach Curley Hallman, my defensive backs coach.

“In school, I was working on a kinesiology degree and there was a mix up with paper work and some paper had me withdrawn from school. I was tired of school at that time. Then in the spring of 1986, Miss Lillian Jean Clark Robinson hired me to work at the Lincoln Center in College Station.”

On Friday, Jackson will receive his degree, but it’s not the same kinesiology degree he started three decades ago. No, this time, he studied recreation, park and tourism sciences.

Though Jackson has had a good life working for the Lincoln Center, he said it was important for him to follow through and earn his college degree:

“I made a promise to myself and to many teachers and coaches to finish what I started,” Jackson said. “That Aggie Spirit of never giving up, keep pressing on, is very real. It’s important for me to walk the stage to thank the people who have supported me through the years. My seventh grade English teacher was also my English 4 teacher in high school, she is 90 years old and may show up Friday.”

It may be long overdue, but it’s always nice to see someone put the finishing touches on their college education, even if their playing days were more than 30 years ago. Congratulations, Lance!