Statement from Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson
The 2013 regular season was the most competitive in the 13-year history of the Sun Belt – we had seven teams with records strong enough to qualify for bowls, the best ever non-conference win record, and a 6-1 record against our peer conferences – Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference and the Mountain West Conference.
When it was all over, UL-Lafayette and Arkansas State emerged as the league’s co-champions with the Cajuns accepting a bid to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and Arkansas State being selected by the Sun Belt’s second primary bowl, the GoDaddy Bowl.
The seven Sun Belt bowl eligible teams breaks the league’s previous record of five teams set last year and of all the other nine FBS conferences, the Sun Belt had the highest percentage of teams reach the bowl eligible mark – a tremendous achievement for the conference.
With seven bowl eligible teams from the Sun Belt along with a number of teams from other conferences in the at-large pool, we have known for several weeks that it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to place all of the bowl eligible teams from the Sun Belt into bowls that had open spots.
And during the past several weeks, I have been in discussions and negotiations with all the bowls that might be open. Specifically, the Sun Belt targeted the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl and Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl and was in negotiations with both up until final decisions were made.
The Sun Belt Conference Presidents and Chancellors authorized me two weeks ago to use Sun Belt funds at my discretion to entice both bowls to take a Sun Belt team. As a result, the Sun Belt made very significant financial offers to both bowls that clearly exceeded anything the Sun Belt has done in previous years.
I am extremely disappointed, that while our efforts were very aggressive, we ended up not being able to place more than two of our bowl eligible teams – especially Western Kentucky University with an 8-4 record. While the current bowl system is beneficial, the system is flawed when in the last two years three teams with eight or more wins – WKU, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech – are denied post season opportunities when 12 teams last season with 6-6 records and seven teams this season are allowed to play in bowl games. This comes in addition to 6-7 teams being allowed to play in bowl games in 2012 and 2011.
With all of this being said, it is important to reiterate several important facts.
First, the champion of the Sun Belt Conference does not automatically go to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Second, while the Sun Belt has suggested guidelines on how we would like teams to be selected for bowls, both the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and GoDaddy Bowl ultimately have the freedom to choose the team that they feel is best for their game.
Lastly, once our two current bowl slots are filled there becomes a great deal of competition for open bowl slots. The discussions that we had with these open bowls involved significant financial contributions that put our teams in a position where they could be at or near the top of each bowl’s list of potential invitees.
We salute and congratulate the two bowl representatives from the Sun Belt. This is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of Sun Belt teams this season – and not focus on the negative. The Sun Belt continues to evolve, grow, and mature as one of ten FBS conferences. Beginning next season the Sun Belt will have a third primary bowl partner with the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama and other guaranteed spots in the Bahamas Bowl and the Miami Beach Bowl, along with other potential new bowls that we are trying to develop. And of course, a major goal of ours will be to have a team in the newly formed College Football Playoff.
“Together we Rise” is the theme of the Sun Belt Conference because we stand firmly committed to our membership and our communities and we embrace the growth and evolution of the Sun Belt.
No Bowl For The Jaguars
The Senior class posing together at mid field prior to defeating Louisiana-Lafayette 30-8 to get bowl eligible.
Unfortunately the South Alabama Jaguars football team were not extended an invitation to a bowl game their first season eligible. Though it was a long shot, many took to social media to plead USA case to a couple bowl committees. Their hard work and determination was fruitless this season, though it may not be forgotten in the future. A fan base as passionate as South Alabama’s are hard to silence.
The entire team including the group of 15 seniors who represent the first freshman recruiting class in South Alabama history, did their part. They rebounded after the season opening loss to Southern Utah. They went to Tennessee and were one play away from a tie or 2-point conversion attempt to defeat the Volunteers.
Again they rebounded after three consecutive losses and sitting at 3-6, they fought and dominated the remaining games, including the statistical top team in the conference, to get bowl eligible. Unfortunately beyond that, the bowl selections were out of their hands.
Had the bowl scenario had been similar to last season’s or next season, then the Jaguars may have fared better. Last season it went down to the final games of the season before enough teams were bowl eligible to fill all of the bowl slots before relying using newly passed rules to determine which teams could fill bowl slots who were not normally bowl eligible.
Also, beginning next season, there will be a couple new bowl games with tie-ins from the Sun Belt Conference. The Miami Beach Bowl will feature the American Athletic Conference facing a team from a six-year rolling rotation with Conference USA, Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. There will also be a Bahamas Bowl where the Sun Belt will be in rotation with up to five conferences including the Mountain West, Mid-American, American Athletic conference and Conference USA. Finally the new Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, AL will feature the Sun Belt and the Mid-American Conference.
Though, the new bowls are not a comfort for the sting of being passed over by the bowl committees this season, it does lend hope for next season. Though the team will be aiming at winning the conference title next season and not just getting bowl eligible and hoping one of the bowls extend an invitation.
Most of all, I am saddened that the inaugural recruiting class do not get to go to a bowl game and suit up one final time in the Red, White and Blue of South Alabama.
I think those of us that watch as many bowl games as they can will watch a game and think, ‘South Alabama could have done better than that.’ Unfortunately we will not know that.
To the Seniors, thank you. You chose a school that was short on facilities but long on dreams. You believed in the vision that Coach Jones, his staff, the administration and the students had. But it was you who made that vision possible. Anyone can build a building, but it takes a team to go out every day, working together, to the accomplish what has been accomplished over the past five seasons.
There will never be another inaugural class of recruits to the South Alabama football program. And there will not be another class of recruits that will accomplish what you have. Everything from here on out will be building on the foundation laid back in 2009 through 2013.
Again, thank you and we hope to not only see you but to see all of the graduates back in some form or fashion in the future. Because Jag Nation is a family and we always welcome family back.
Go Jags!
South Alabama Gets Bowl Eligible With 30-8 Win Over Louisiana-Lafayette
The Senior class posing together at mid field prior to defeating Louisiana-Lafayette 30-8 to get bowl eligible.
Three weeks ago South Alabama’s chances to get bowl eligible was looking dire. They had just lost their third consecutive game to fall to 3-6 on the season and had just been ran all over by Navy’s triple option attack. They were facing three consecutive Sun Belt teams that were must-win games if they were to hold onto any hope for a bowl bid.
They handled the first two games handily so it came down to last night’s regular season finale against conference leader Louisiana-Lafayette in order to get bowl eligible for the first time in their short five-year history and in their first year eligible for post-season play.
With the 30-8 win the Jags end the regular season 6-6 overall and 4-3 in Sun Belt play. With the 6-6 record, South Alabama became bowl eligible in their first season as a full NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision member after defeating the conference co-champion. Lousiana-Lafayette finishes the regular season 8-4 overall and 5-2 in Sun Belt play. They will play in the R+L Carriers Bowl in New Orleans at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 21.
This Jaguar team came out ready to play and did not resemble the same team I have watched play all season long. They came out with a fire that was unequaled on the playing field.
“Our guys had a look in their eyes, they wanted to get to a bowl. That was one of our goals this season,” explained South Alabama head coach Joey Jones after the game. “It was the mindset ever since we were 3-6.”
“The first thing I did after the game was talk to the team and tell them how proud I am of them and the way they turned the season around. They fought through a lot of tough things. The Lord taught us a lot this year from the standpoint of persevering through trials. There was a time when everyone was down on us and we had to fight through that. But they fought every day.
They came out to practice and fought through that time, and I told them to remember that the rest of their lives. They are going to face times in life when things are going to get tough, and they can remember back to this year and how they fought back from 3‐6 and ended 6‐6 and bowl eligible in our first year in Division I. I am so proud of them for doing that.”
“My hat’s off to our defense,” Jones said about his team jumping out to an early lead. “They have played great all year, but especially these last three games, they ahve played light out. I’m really proud of those guys. Offensively, when we had those opportunities to punch it in, we did. It was just a total team effort, offensively, defensively and special teams. We kind of got conservative in the second half because I didn’t want to turn it over. But my hat’s off to Lousiana-Lafayette, those guys are the class of the league and have been the last few years. We certainly beat a very quality opponent…they have kind of set the standard in this league.”
“I wish we had playoffs because we’re pretty hot right now,” Jones said about the progression of the team. “We’re 6‐6 and bowl eligible, and there has to be somebody out there that would take this team in a bowl. If you look at our story and how we came back at the end of the year in our first year in Division I, we would be a great story for some bowl somewhere. There are some bowls that are going to miss out if they
don’t take us because we’re playing really well right now. I’m so proud of our team and where we are. We’re so much better this year, and three or four times better than we were last year. We’ve really improved. Our program is going in the right direction.”
They have done what they could on the field to earn a bowl invitation, now they wait out selection Sunday and hope that USA Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann gets a call extending an invitation. Currently, there is some buzz on social media for the Little Ceaser’s Pizza Bown in Detroit, Michigan. However, until an official announcement is made by the school or a bowl game, nothing is finalized.
South Alabama did a number of the top rushing team in the conference by holding them to 69 yards on 33 attempts. Their league leading offense was also held to a mere 212 yards of total offense in the game with 12 first downs.
The Jags gained 22 first downs with 363 total offensive yards, 192 of them coming on the ground. Jay Jones led the rushing attack with 105 yards on 19 carries. Metheny rushed for 46 yards on 16 carries, Timmons added 28 yards, Houston added 18 yards on 9 carries with two touchdowns.
Metheny finished his final regular season game with the Jaguars by going 13-of-23 for 171 yards.
Wes Saxton finished the game with 88 yards receiving on five catches. Shavarez Smith had 40 yards on three catches, Jereme Jones extended his consecutive games streak with 18 yards on two catches. Bryant Lavender, Jake Howton and T.J. Glover all caught a pass as well.
Senior Scott Garber punted six times for an average of 37.7 yards.
Enrique Williams finished with eight total tackles and a tackle for loss. Pat Moore finished with seven tackles and two tackles for loss. Clifton Crews, Jesse Kelley and Alex Page each recorded a sack and each finished with three tackles each.
Romelle Jones was credited with three tackles though his impact was felt througout the game as he and the rest of the defensive front filled running lanes and got pressure on the three quarterbacks who played for the Cajuns.
South Alabama was 5-of-16 on third down conversions while their defense held Lafayette to only 2-of-13 on third down.
Keep reading below for more coverage of the game.
It didn’t take long for the Jaguars to begin showing what they were made of. The Jaguar defense held the conference leading rushing attack of the Cajuns in check.
After getting the ball on downs near midfield, the Jags would drive and score a 40-yard field goal to get on the board first. But turnovers would be the true defining factor in the first half.
On Lafayette’s first possession after the score, Romelle Jones would make his way into the backfield and force a fumble and recover it at the Cajuns 28 yard line. Jay Jones would rush for five and 22 yards on back-to-back carries before Kendall Houston’s number was called and he would carry it into the end zone for the touchdown to give the Jags a 10-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, ULL’s Torrey Pierce fielded it at the 17 and returned it 10 yards to the 27 before Bryson James forced another fumble which was recovered by Charles Harris at the Lafayette 30 yard line.
Metheny opened the possession with a 24 yard completion to Wes Saxton to set up Kendall Houston to carry twice with the final covering four yards for his second touchdown of the game. With 3:29 left in the opening quarter the Jags had a commanding lead 17-0.
Lafayette would be forced to punt on their next possession after they got to midfield. Starting at their own 16, Metheny and the offense continued thier march. Jay Jones opened with an 11 yard rush followed by a 27 yard completion from Metheny to Shavarez Smith to get into Cajun territory again as the opening quarter came to an end.
South would continue driving until they got down to the one yard line where the Lafayette defense finally stiffened and refused to allow Houston into the end zone for a third time in the game. Coach Jones settled for a 19-yard field goal by Sunanon with 10:16 left in the second quarter. The drive spanned 12 plays and 83 yards and took 5:35 off the clock.
Lafayette would drive 31 yards in 10 plays over 5:11 before being forced to punt from the Jaguar 44 yard line. Glover would do an excellent acting job getting all of the Cajuns away from the ball and allowing it to hit and roll into the end zone for a touchback.
Metheny would open their drive with a 14 yard pass to Smith which would be followed up with runs by Metheny for 12, 2 and 3 yards respectively. Then on 3rd and 5 at the Lafayette 49, Metheny found Jake Howton open for six yards and a first down. After setting it up for several plays, offensive coordinator recognized a mismatch with Wes Saxton and dialed up a play for him. Saxton would run a seam route and would be wide open down the middle of the field, Metheny would deliver a great ball and Saxton would put the Jags at the Cajun 7 yard line for a 36 yard gain. The Jags would not manage to get into the end zone, but Aleem Sunanon added his third field goal of the game from extra point distance to put the Jags up 23-0 with 0:55 left in the half.
But the scoring was not over just yet.
Lafayette started at their own 30 yard line after a three yard kickoff return. Haack would connect with a receiver for nine yards as the Cajuns were hoping to get something going to put points on the board before halftime. But on the second play cornerback Qudarius Ford would read Haack’s eyes and step in front of the receiver he was throwing to on the left sideline for the interception and he would return it 39 yards for a touchdown to put the Jags up 30-0 with 39 seconds left until halftime.
The second half was just steady as they go for the Jaguars as Coach Jones was satisfied to cruise to victory in the cold, windy night.
Lafayette finally got a drive going with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter. Facing 4th and 1 at their own 39, Harris would rush for 14 into Jaguar territory. This set up quarterback Jalen Nixon to find Ricky Johnson for a 47 yard touchdown to break the shutout. Nixon would run on the two-point conversion to put the score at 30-8.
An unsuccessful onsides kick would give the Jags the ball at their own 40 after an illegal touching call on Lafayette as they touched the ball prior to it traveling 10 yards.
On the next drive the Coach Jones pulled out the starting offensive players one at a time beginning with Ross Metheny, who received an ovation from the Jaguar fans who stuck out the cold, damp weather. Center Matt Calcagnini would be pulled next, but not until after Terrance Timmons rushed around the right side for 25 yards plus a personal foul put the Jaguars at the Cajun 19 yard line. Calcagnini also received an ovation.
The final senior pulled from the game that was announced was Rush Hendrix who also got a big cheer from the crowd.
The coaching staff was content to keep the ball on the ground and running the clock until they turned it over on downs at the Cajuns 17 yard line with 2:21 left in the game.
Lafayette did not give up as they continued to push the ball down the field. On 4th and 19 at their own 49, Nixon’s pass would be intercepted by Charles Watson, but a roughing the passer call would overturn the turnover and give the Cajuns a first down. But two plays later Watson would get his revenge as he picked off Nixon at the Jaguar 27 and returned it eight yards to the 35 yard line.
Bridge would kneel on the ball to seemingly end the game, but a moment of inexperience had him chunk the ball downfield thinking the game was over, but instead drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. He would kneel on the ball again after Louisiana-Lafayette declined the 10 second runoff to finally end the game.
South Alabama Vs Lousiana-Lafayette: By The Numbers
Let’s break down South Alabama and Louisiana-Lafayette by the numbers so far this season.
Last season the Jags fell to ULL 52-30 in Lafayette and remain as the most points ever scored against the Jaguars in program history. Season-long starting quarterback Terrance Broadway will miss the game with a broken arm. This will put more pressure on running back Alonzo Harris who has rushed for 808 yards and 13 touchdowns this season with an average of 4.7 yards per carry this season.
Lafayette has already secured at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference title, but with a win could claim it outright. The Jaguars are looking for their sixth win of the season to become bowl eligible in their first season as a full FBS member and only the fifth season of football.
ULL has already accepted an invitation to play Tulane in the New Orleans Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday, December 21. Arkansas State, who with a loss by ULL could claim a share of the SBC title, will play in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, AL.
South Alabama, after a season of close games, where four of their losses has been by two points or less, has finally won back-to-back games with relative ease the last two weeks as their offense and defense has found their groove. The Jaguar set a program-record with nine sacks against Louisiana-Monroe two weeks ago. Also Ross Metheny recorded a game with 100+ yards passing and rushing against ULM with a highlight reel 63-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cap off a great performance.
Shavarez Smith set a school record and recorded the best performance by a wide receiver by a SBC player this season with 10 receptions for 194 yards and a touchdown last week against Georgia State. Meanwhile the Jaguar defense held the GSU running attack to 24 yards on 25 carries.
Jereme Jones has caught passes in 38 consecutive games for the Jaguars.
South Alabama is 5-6 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 8-3 overall 5-1 Sun Belt.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as well as radio play by play by Lee Shirvanian and Rick Cleveland on WNSP.com and 105.5FM WNSP.
Offense:
Scoring Offense
ULL 37.0 points per game
USA 29.4 points per game
Read more
USA Baseball Add 10 For 2014-2015
The University of South Alabama baseball team added 10 student-athletes for 2014-2015. USA head coach Mark Calvi announced that USA signed nine to National Letter of Intent’s and added one more student-athlete.
The coaching staff worked hard to sign pitching and defensive players but, according to Calvi, they need one more hitter.
The players added were:
- Jared Barnes – Catcher/Infielder from Tallahassee, FL.
- Cameron Cochran – RHP from Baton Rouge, LA via Mississippi Gulf Coast CC.
- Jason Cryar – Utility Player from Altamonte Springs, FL.
- Mike Dolloff – RHP from Davison, MI via Northwest Florida State CC.
- Justin Flores – RHP from McDonough, GA via Middle Georgia State JC.
- Shane McKinley – LHP from Tylertown, MS via Southwest Mississippi CC.
- Zach McMullen – LHP/Outfielder from Sarasota, FL.
- Kevin Moore Jr. – RHP from Mobile, AL via Chattahoochee Valley CC.
- Luke Morgan – RHP/Infielder/Outfielder from New Lenox, IL.
- John Barr – RHP from Waynesboro, PA.
USA Prepares For Season Finale And Senior Day
South Alabama first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer talks with the defense on the sidelines during the Jags game against Kent State.
As the Jaguars are putting the finishing touches on their gameplan for Saturday night’s season finale, they hope to send out a group of seniors on a winning note. Of the 28 seniors who will be honored before the game, 15 of them and three coaches were part of the team from the very beginning.
“I don’t ever want to compare a class to another class because we have certainly had some great classes here,” head coach Joey Jones said to AL.com about the departing senior class. “But it would be very, very hard to beat this class in all phases, from the standpoint of what they’ve done on the field, what kind of character they have, how they’ve led these guys and just their true love for South Alabama. They are the guys who came here and built this program and I will forever remember them.”
But they will not have an easy game against Lousiana-Lafayette on Saturday night. They will be going up against big offensive line, two good running backs and a bit of an unknown at the quarterback position.
The Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback was injured in their previous game against Louisiana-Monroe and will miss Saturday’s game. Though he seemed to move the offense fairly well during his short time playing last Saturday, he will have a week to prepare for the game while South Alabama will be trying to prepare for a quarterback they have little film on to dissect.
But a huge motivating factor for the Jags is to send the seniors out on a winning note and to stay alive for a potential bowl big by getting bowl eligible in their final regular season game.
Arkansas State To Play In GoDaddy Bowl In Mobile
The GoDaddy Bowl is traditionally one of the last bowl games of the season. It typically matches up the #2 Sun Belt team vs the #1 MAC team. Arkansas State will represent the Sun Belt for the third-consecutive season. | twitter.com/godaddybowl
Arkansas State will be coming back to Mobile for their third consecutive GoDaddy Bowl as announced on Monday as they accepted an invitation to play in the game on January 5 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Arkansas State finished the season with a 7-5 record and will finish no worse than second in the Sun Belt Conference. They could gain a share of SBC title with a Louisiana-Lafayette loss to South Alabama on Saturday night though.
As this is the third consecutive year ASU has been in the GoDaddy Bowl, it’s also their third different head coach. Hugh Freeze guided the Red Wolves to the first appearance before leaving for his current head coaching position at Ole Miss. Gus Malzahn led the team last year to their second appearance before leaving for his current head coaching position at Auburn University. Current head coach Bryan Harsin was the co-offensive coordinator at Texas prior to accepting the head position at ASU.
ASU fell to Western Kentucky last weekend to end a four-game winning streak.
In 2011, the Red Wolves lost to Northern Illinois 38-20, in 2012 they defeated Kent State 17-13 in postseason play. Again, they will face a Mid-American Conference opponent in the bowl game, but the team has not been announced yet.
This will be Arkansas State’s second trip to Mobile this year as they held on to defeat South Alabama 17-16 on November 2 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Challenging #JagNation To #PackLadd Against ULL
The Jaguars rally at mid field after they enter the field to just prior to kickoff against Western Kentucky on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
While the Jaguars are uncertain that they would receive an invitation to a bowl game if they win on Saturday and achieve bowl eligibility in their first season as a full FBS member, they can only do their part and hope the chips fall where they may.
South Alabama will host conference leader Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday in what may prove to be one of the best games of the season. South Alabama is fighting to earn bowl eligibility in their final game of the season. The Ragin’ Cajuns are fighting to win the conference crown outright.
Though the possibility of a bowl invitation is remote, it does exist but requires a win. The Jags entered the season with two goals: one, get bowl eligible and two, win a conference championship. The second goal is unattainable this season, however they can defeat the conference leader to achieve the first goal.
South Alabama enters the game on a roll with convincing wins in their last two games against Louisiana-Monroe, who defeated ULL last weekend, and Georgia State.
But it may take more than just their will to accomplish the task. I wrote an article earlier this season to challenge the fanbase to come out to the game and to encourage those around you to stand up and make noise in order to make Ladd-Peebles Stadium one of the most feared stadiums in the Sun Belt.
I am challening you again.
I am challening you to not only stand up and be heard, but to also pack the stands at Ladd. The stadium currently seats 33,471 for South Alabama football. We are averaging 15,886 for home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, that is less than half capacity. ULL Averages 25,976 for every home game this season.
I will repost my challenge from earlier this season below, but my challenge to you is to #PackLadd. We not only need you to encourage everyone to come out to the game to salute the seniors who have built the foundation for future growth of the South Alabama program, but to encourage them as they fight to make history in getting bowl eligible in their first season as a FBS member.
Let’s do this!!
Below is being reposted from my September 11 article here.
Jaguar Nation, I have a challenge for you.
I challenge you to send this to your friends and family. Tell them to read this and take it to heart. I also want you to be an example at home games. Encourage those around you to stand up, make noise and help make Ladd-Peebles Stadium one of the most feared stadiums in the Sun Belt.
If you went to the game last Saturday in New Orleans at the Superdome, you were part of something very special. You may have noticed how loud we were during the game. This was not the first time the Jaguar Nation “road crew” was impressive on the road.
Back in 2010 when South Alabama traveled to Lamar, we got loud. Really loud. Lamar fans knew where we were and that we were excited. Then the following week in Davis, California the fans were loud and well known again when the Jags came from behind to defeat UC Davis.
During the 2011 season when the Jags faced their first FBS school, in a game I refer to as USA vs NC State 1, the Jaguar fans who made that trip really let them know that we were there and proud of our team. In a stadium with a capacity of 60,000 our small group gave their rabid fans an impression. Way up in the pressbox, the broadcasters could hear Jag Nation getting rowdy and letting everyone know about it.
You can say the same thing about the road trip to Texas-San Antonio and Georgia State. The Jags were loud and proud.
The same happened in 2012 when during USA VS NC State 2, but more so on the road in Starkville against Mississippi State.
There is no doubt we are proud of our team. But we need EVERYONE at home to be as good as the ‘Road Crew’ when it comes to making noise. When there’s a first down yell ‘That’s another South Alabama….FIRST DOWN’. When the defense is facing third down, make noise so they cannot communicate and to pump up our team. Make up your own thing. Chant USA or South In Your Mouth after a big play. Or the guy who yells ‘hubba hubba hubba’ and key defensive plays. Whatever it is, do it and be loud.
It’s obvious that when Jaguar Nation is loud, the team get pumped up and excited.
Bottom line is, they need us. They need us to be loud this weekend against Western Kentucky. They will need us to be loud when Kent State plays here. When Arkansas State plays here. When Louisiana-Monroe plays here. And when Lousiana-Lafayette plays here.
Wear your RED shirts, Jersey’s, hats and bring your RED rally towel and shakers. Let the Hilltoppers know we mean business and that they cannot get comfortable anytime they are in Mobile. Let them know that we are the new kids on the street and that we mean business.
That’s my challenge to you, Jaguar Nation. Will you accept it? Will you send this to your friends and family? Will you be that first one to stand up, wave your rally towel, yell encouragement and get those around you to do the same?
I hope you will, because I will.
Go Jags!
Monday Press Conference
Head coach Joey Jones held his Monday press conference where he spoke about the Jaguars victory over Georgia State and previewed their regular season finale against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. Below are highlights from Coach Jones.
Coach Jones’ opening statement. “I’m excited about this last ball game. We’re playing a great team in Louisiana-Lafayette. Obviously, they are already conference champions. But it is a chance for us to go to 6-6. We are excited about that and are looking forward to playing this ball game.”
Jones then spoke about momentum heading into this week’s game. “There’s no doubt we have played really good ball the last two weeks. I feel like we have played well all year, but for the last two weeks we have played extremely well in all three phases. We just have to keep that up. We want to finish strong. Our kids have kept fighting, and I am so proud of that they have been able to do that.”
He then spoke about the balance of the offense in this game and over the last two weeks. “Our offensive line is blocking really well right now. They’re doing a good job of protecting the quarterback and giving him time to throw. It starts there. And our quarterback play has been good. Ross (Metheny) has done a good job. He is leading the league in total yards, and is just playing extremely well. Shavarez Smith has come up and made some great plays. We have a lot of people who can step up and make good plays.”
Jones then began talking about Louisiana-Lafayette by beginning with their offense. “They are really big upfront. They are the biggest offensive line we have faced other than Tennessee. They probably have the best two backs, as far as a tandem goes, in the conference. They have a great scheme in the running and passing game. One thing I admire about what they do, is they continue to do the same things over and over all year long and just get good at it. They do a great job as far as run-pass ratio is concerned and keep the defense on its toes.”
He talked about last week’s game between ULL and Lousiana-Monroe which the Warhawks won 31-28. “Louisiana-Monroe won the game last weekend. They (ULL) lost their quarterback and that hurt them. But I think everyone in the Sun Belt Conference is fairly close. I think Lafayette is a step ahead talent-wise the way they are playing. So we’re going to have to play at a higher level to beat them. I think our players understand that, but we’re playing pretty well right now and that’s all we can control.”
Jones then talked about how the injury to ULL’s starting quarterback affects it’s offense. “In watching the little bit of time that the backup quarterback has played, he is athletic and can throw. He is tall and very capable, I just don’t know that much about him because he hasn’t been on film quite as long. But I don’t know if it will change anything we’re doing. They are going to run the same offense, I think, regardless of the quarterback that is in the game.”
He spoke about Senior Night and what these Seniors have meant to the program. “This is the largest senior class we have had and a lot of them were here when we started the program. It’s going to be a little extra-special with those guys. I’ll miss them. I love all of those guys. They have done a lot to start our program. They care about our program, they understand what being a Jaguar is all about and they have done things the right way. They have great academics and great character. The foundation that they’ve built is going to last for a long time because of the way they have acted and how much they care about South Alabama.”
Finally, he spoke about what finishing with a win to get to 6-6 on the season would represent. “It is one of our goals. One of our goals for a brand new Division I program is to become bowl eligible. That would mean a lot. We wanted to win a conference championship as well. Those were our two goals. If we win this ballgame and go to 6-6, I think we would have had a successful year in a lot of ways. Could it have been a lot better? Heck yes. But there’s no doubt that doing that in our first year in Division I would be a great accomplishment.”
USA and ULL kickoff at 7pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday.
USA Basketball Defeats Spring Hill 91-41
The South Alabama men’s basketball team improved their overall record to 5-3 with a win over in-town NAIA opponent Spring Hill College at the Mitchell Center on Monday night in a 91-41 victory. The Badgers fell to 0-6 on the season.
Augustine Rubit who was recognized in a pregame ceremony for setting the school’s all-time rebounding record in a recent game, finished the game with 18 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes on the floor. His rebounding total moved him into second place all-time in career rebounds in the Sun Belt.
Ken Williams added 13 points and three rebounds while Dionte Ferguson scored nine points and had five rebounds. Actually all but one Jaguar player scored at least two points in the victory.
The Jags will travel to Houston, Texas to face Rice on Saturday, December 7 for a 5pm tipoff.