UNLV’s Jackson recovering after heart ‘procedure’

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.

UNLV coach John Robinson confirmed Monday night that assistant head coach John Jackson, 67, underwent a surgical "procedure" on his heart last week and is currently doing well.

Jackson made the trip to Reno for Saturday's game, and a reporter found nothing abnormal or unusual about Jackson in a post-game interview with the coach.

"He took a couple of days off last week, and he took part of today off," Robinson said when reached at his home. "He's doing very well."

Jackson could not be reached for comment.

A senior defensive lineman from the Los Angeles area, Canterberry left the Wisconsin game with a sprained knee.

"Having him back will help us," Robinson said of the 6-foot-4, 310-pound tackle-turned-end.

The status of both sophomore right tackle Zach Gorham and junior cornerback Will Tagoai, the other Rebels sidelined by knee injuries, was not so certain, according to Robinson's most recent update.

Especially during an ineffective first half.

"He was running, trying to make a touchdown and make up for the two weeks he'd missed, and he wasn't doing a damn thing," Robinson said. "We were yelling at Larry on a pretty consistent basis to get the damn ball up the field, to get two yards, then try to get two more.

"Great runners do that, and I think Larry has excellent ability. When you run up the field, you get a chance to run by them. If you run sideways, they all just keep coming and they seem to multiply on you."

Dyante Perkins is still grasping a fullback's responsibilities.

"He's blocking, which he doesn't like so well," Robinson said. "He's still just learning this job."

Offensive coordinator Bruce Snyder employs Perkins as a runner in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and Robinson said he and Snyder have been happy with the junior's performance in those situations.

"He's going to be a very important player here," Robinson said. "I could very well see him playing two positions next year, but now he's just trying to learn one."

With 2 1/2 minutes remaining Saturday night, Perkins could have sealed the victory with a touchdown around his left side. But when he attempted to dive for the orange post in the left corner, he lost control of the ball.

It bounced out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback, resuscitating the Wolf Pack. Robinson joked Monday afternoon that Perkins was expected to return to Las Vegas shortly, after Snyder forced him to walk home from Reno.

"I've never seen Bruce quite that mad," Robinson said. "He did not accept that very well."