By John Klima
Staff Writer

As a studious young freshman intent on sacking his way into the spotlight, Lawrence Jackson took a short break from team meetings one day to head to the restroom. As most guys will tell you, some of the best thinking a man does is when hes staring at the tile on the mens room wall.

Former USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron had business of a different kind to take care of. He followed Jackson into the restroom and pulled Jackson aside. He told him that he had grand visions of what Jackson might accomplish, but that these aspirations could not be met if Jackson did not meet the goal that Orgeron established for him.

Three years and 20 sacks later, Jackson, USCs standout defensive end, is readying for his senior year. His sack numbers were down last year, and Jackson knows this as well as anyone who follows USC football. He doesnt cite those numbers specifically.

This is because talking about individual numbers on the same field with Coach Pete Carroll isnt going to happen. The computer chips implanted inside the minds of USC players prevent such nonsense. And if they should talk, well, the twitching and the pain caused by the implants wouldnt be worth it.

Twitching and pain, however, were two characteristics that Orgeron never minded and, in fact, urged his defensive linemen to adopt as their own. Though Orgeron is long gone, soon to be entering his third year as the head coach at Mississippi, that fateful encounter resonates with Jackson. Its not the sack numbers that fuel him, though he admits he wants them to be better. Its the specific goal Orgeron had in mind for him.

You can find Jacksons stats written anywhere, but you will not find Orgerons goal. Jackson says this is intentional.

(Orgeron) told me he wanted me to do something before I left USC, Jackson said. Thats something Im working towards. I dont want to put a lot of pressure on myself, so I wont say it.

Jackson invites you to draw your own conclusions. For starters, while his sack numbers were down last year, he feels like he became a better lineman, especially against the run. It is true, he admits, that the lower sack totals frustrated him, but he also believes that they do not make up the sum of a lineman. Much of that, he feels, is tied to the goal he keeps close to his shoulder pads.

Thats my biggest goal, to leave here with that goal that he had for me, Jackson said. Im still looking for it. It was a goal that I had to accomplish while I was (at USC). Ive had that goal with me the whole time. Im anxious to see how it comes out.

This leads to inevitable speculation. Is it to be an All-American? Is it to be a first-round pick? Is it to play in the NFL? Jackson isnt saying, but he doesnt have to. Whats evident is that while he feels that hes a better player than he was two years ago, he still needs to prove it with cold numbers.

If you saw Barry Bonds and hes not hitting 30 home runs in a season, youre gonna ask, Whats wrong? Jackson said. But maybe hes driving in and scoring runs. Its the same type of thing.

Thats part of being an athlete and having critics. Those guys out there who have great numbers, they may be good, they may not. There are a lot of factors. I was still the same player I was (as a sophomore), I just didnt have sacks.

As a junior, Jackson had four sacks. This came after a sophomore season in which his progress came rapidly. He started all 13 games at defensive end, had 46 tackles, six deflections, two fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and a blocked PAT.

Now is the question that Jackson must face: Did he peak as a sophomore? Or does he have more in him?

Jackson isnt above finding his motivation in books, but this summer, he looked within himself first. He committed himself to physical conditioning, a better diet and time in the weight room.

He also uses the secret goal Orgeron established for him three years ago to remind him of what he wants to be, a challenge that guided him then as much as it does now.

Its something that means a lot to me, Jackson said. I took it to heart. It is something that I have to go out and accomplish.

Now, hes got one last chance.