TV And Radio Schedules Announced For Joey Jones Show
The University of South Alabama announced the schedules for the Joey Jones radio and television show for the 2014 season.
The Joey Jones TV Show will begin on Sunday at 6:30pm on UTV 44. Pat Greenwood, the Jaguar Sports Properties Director of Multi-Media will host the show along with Coach Jones. They will have post-game interviews and highlights with Jones and student-athletes and will feature members of the program.
The Joey Jones Radio Show will air on Monday’s at 6pm on WNTM 710AM starting on September 1 from Baumhower’s Wings Sports Grille. JSP Director of Broadcasting J.D. Byars will be the host along with Coach Jones. The hour long program will be available on the iHeartRadio app world wide.
Defense Plays Well In Last Practice Prior To Final Preseason Scrimmage
Head coach Joey Jones observes the Jaguars scrimmage on Saturday, August 15 2014 at St. Paul’s Episcopal School.
Wednesday’s practice lasted just over an hour-and-a-half in shells at the practice fields as their final week of camp dwindles down and they approach game week preparations.
Head coach Joey Jones was again pleased by the defense by saying that they are really coming together and playing with confidence. “They are bringing a lot of emotion to practice every day,” Jones said. “Offensively I think we executed some things pretty well, Brandon threw the ball really well today and our receivers were catching the ball. It was a good day.”
“As a coach you never feel like you’re completely ready, it’s a natural thing for a coach to go through because you want perfection and perfection is not possible,” Jones explained about how he feels about the team’s overall progress this month. “There are always things to worry about, but I know that our coaches have done a great job of preparing these guys to put them in the places they need to be. My philosophy is coaches get them ready for the game but when you get to the game players have to take over, so we’ll see how they perform next Saturday.”
With the Jaguars opening the season a week later than most other college football teams, Coach Jones talked about what it will be like for them this weekend. “I’ll probably watch a lot of football laying on the couch,” Jones explained. “I’m going to try and give everybody a day off on Saturday, even the coaches, because we’ve gone through a long, hard camp and we’ve already got our game plan in for Kent State. We’ll come in and work all day Sunday and be on our normal game week [schedule], but it will be nice to have one day with my wife and kids.”
Offensive player of the day went to tight end DeMarrion Buford-Hughes. “He’s a guy that has really been coming along and pushing for playing time at the tight end position,” offensive coordinator Robert Matthews explained. “He’s worked extremely hard this offseason and is starting to grasp the offense — the more he practices, the better he gets. He had some catches in drills today, and is a guy who is going to make that position deeper.”
Defensive player of the game went to senior cornerback Qudarius Ford. “It’s the same old story with ‘Q,’ he consistently does everything he is supposed to do every day,” defensive coordinator Travis Pearson explains. “He shows up consistently the same way he did in all 12 games he played last season. He’s a quiet leader, he does it on and off the field.”
The play of the day went to Jerome McClain for breaking through and sacking quarterback Brandon Bridge on third down in the red zone at the end of the team session. McClain contributed to a sack near midfield during the first part of the team session as well.
There was only one team session on Wednesday which focused on normal down-and-distance from around midfield and third down situations in the red zone.
Ford broke up a pass on the first play of the team period when he dove in front of a Jag receiver. Later, Bridge completed three third-down passes in the red zone. He found Tony Ray Parnell and Braedon Bowman both for first downs, then later he found Cameron Broadnax for a 14-yard touchdown.
After practice, the Jaguar offense was addressed by Chan Gailey, who formerly coached in Troy, Samford, Georgia Tech in college and professionally in Dallas and Buffalo. He worked with USA assistant coach Robby Brown at Georgia Tech. He also spent time with the offensive staff Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Thursday, the Jags will hold their third and final scrimmage prior to the beginning of their season. It will be a situational scrimmage on campus. The team will then have two days off before returning on Sunday to pick up with normal game-week operations.
Henley Helps Lead Jaguars Past Nicholls State 3-0
Henley, a freshman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, scored two goals against Nicholls State on Sunday in her first collegiate game to help lead the Jaguars past the Colonels 3-0. | Photo: usajaguars.com
The South Alabama soccer team rebounded on Sunday to defeat Nicholls State 3-0 to even their record at 1-1 in their opening weekend of play. They fell to UAB on Friday night 1-2 in 2OT.
Danielle Henley, a freshman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, recorded a pair of goals with classmate Rio Hardy from Workington, England netting the other goal in the match. Henley scored both of her goals in the first 15 minutes of play, the first on a shot from distance at the 5:40 mark, then the second by controlling a corner kick from fellow freshman Tiina Trutsi and knocking it in the net at the 14:12 mark.
Hardy scored her first career collegiate goal shortly before halftime by converting a breakaway off of a pass from freshman Alyssa Pejic at the 44:39 mark.
“They played excellent,” Winkworth said. “Dan’s first strike was with her left peg; the keeper nearly got to it but she managed to put it in the top corner. The second strike was a tidy finish under pressure, and then Rio’s was on a 1-on-1. Those things are stressful when you go 1-on-1 with a goalkeeper and she was composed and put it away.
“We created a lot of quality chances today and hopefully we can continue to do that because the more good chances we create, hopefully the more goals we’ll score.”
The Jags shined on defense as they only allowed four shots total and none on goal. Freshman Courtney Baum earned the win in her first collegiate start.
“We defended from front to back today,” Winkworth stated. “Steffi (Hardy) and Nini (Rabsatt-Smith) were brilliant back there together today. Alyssa (Mayer) and Nikki (Shirtcliffe) too, and Emi (Passini) when she came on as well, were excellent in getting to their outside players—they had a lot of running to do out there and they did it very well and stayed organized. We stayed compact, were organized defensively and if we don’t concede goals, we’ll be very difficult to beat.”
South Alabama will return to action this weekend when they travel to Troy to play in the Trojan Classic. The Jags will face Tennessee Tech on Friday and Kennesaw State on Sunday.
Jags Practice Begins Preparation For First Opponent
Head coach Joey Jones speaks to his team after their first scrimmage of preseason camp at St. Paul’s Episcopal School on Saturday, August 15, 2014.
South Alabama hit the practice fields in full pads on Tuesday for a practice that lasted over two hours. During this practice, they began preparing for their first opponent Kent State on September 6.
Head coach Joey Jones was pleased with the defense as he commented that they continue to get better and know their assignments. Offensively he noted that they executed better than they did in Monday’s practice. But he thought the team was coming together well.
“It was our first day to work on our first opponent, so most of the practice was geared toward that,” Jones said after practice concerning how much practice time was focused on their first game. “But you always have to work on fundamentals, you’ve can’t ever forget that aspect of the game.”
Offensive player of the day went to Jereme Jones. “Jeremé has had every rep this camp,” offensive coordinator Robert Matthews explained. “He has not missed a practice. He comes in, prepares and really takes care of his body. He is really working hard and is in great shape, and that allows him to be productive on the field.”
Defensively the Player of the day went to the entire defensive unit. “These kids are starting to grow up, and there are some leaders starting to develop,” defensive coordinator Travis Pearson explained. “It showed today. I thought we came out a little slow. We had two or three guys take over and call the defense out, and practice immediately sped up. That’s really exciting for me to see, because I don’t play on Saturdays. I want them to embrace this defense and know that this is their defense, and I’m just along for the ride. I know they are excited to play and I’m excited to watch them play, but we still have to put that hay in the barn.”
Practice only had one team period which lasted about 10 minutes, but during that stretch, Davin Hawkins came away with the play of the day when he made a diving pass deflection on a pass that was intended for Jones.
Special teams focused on kickoff and punt coverage during their sessions. Kickoffs were early in the practice and punt coverage closed out practice. The only takeaway on the day went to Margo Reed who picked off a pass down the right sideline during the team period.
After 7-on-7 drills, the offense and defense worked on seperate fields against the scout team to begin their preparation for Kent State. That session lasted around 20 minutes.
Jaguars Return To Practice After Second Scrimmage; Beginning To Shape Depth Chart
USA practiced for nearly two hours on Monday in shells. Head coach Joey Jones noted that the defense played well and played with emotion. Conversely, the offense did not have a particularly good day.
“The offense didn’t execute very well,” Jones explained. “We didn’t have the attitude we needed to have, but that’s one of the few bad days we have had offensively. There’s always tomorrow, and we will see how they respond.”
Offensive player of the day was senior offensive lineman Drew Dearman. “Drew brings a lot of experience and consistency to the offensive line,” offensive coordinator Robert Matthews said. “He is a tough guy, and we know that we can count on him.”
Defensive player of the day went to junior defensive end/outside linebacker Jimmie Gipson III. Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson said that Gipson brings speed and power to the defense.
Play of the day went to defensive back Margo Reed who intercepted Matt Floyd with an over-the-shoulder catch in the corner of the end zone during 7-on-7 drills.
Another highlighted play was when Floyd connected with freshman tight end Jarrius Hackworth for a 30+ yard gain during team drills.
Phase one of season prep finished with the scrimmage on Saturday. Now the Jaguars coaching staff are going into phase two, which involves solidifying the starters and the back-up roles. Once those are determined, the majority of reps during practice will go to the first and second team players with occasional work going to those beyond the two’s.
While most of the starting positions have been determined after the second scrimmage, head coach Joey Jones said that there are still many back-up roles that are still up for grabs. Though coach Jones hopes to have everything determined by the end of the week. But equally important is to give the players who are working hard to earn a back-up role as much of an opportunity as possible to win those jobs.
Since the Jaguars do not play the first week of the season, their preseason camp began a week later than all of the other teams. But they have the same amount of time to make those depth chart decisions as the other teams.
Call it an advantage or not, most of college football will begin play this week with one of the earliest is Abilene Christian playing at Sun Belt Conference foe Georgia State in the Georgia Done on Wednesday. But this will give the Jaguars the chance to get a look at some of their upcoming opponents, including their first test, Kent State, who will be hosting Ohio University.
The coaches will have to go beyond the one’s and two’s since they start the season on the road. They will have to determine a 70-man travelling roster, which is about 20+/- players beyond the one’s and two’s including special teams.
Meanwhile, the players have already looked at film on the Golden Flashes and they will begin preparation for them on the field beginning Tuesday. By Sunday, the team will be in their normal game-week preparation schedule.
Coach Jones and his staff are pleased with the overall progress of the team so far and they feel good about the starting lineup. Their concern, which is a concern every season, is finding quality depth behind the starters. They need players who can step in and give the starters relief and maintain a high level of production and play-making ability. Experienced players go a long way towards that goal.
USA has 30 student-athletes in their senior class this season, which is the most so far in the Jags short time playing football. They have been around a few seasons and have achieved a comfort level with the program that they can help teach the younger players about how to handle practice and games.
The Jags will practice again on Tuesday with their first game of the season kicking off on Saturday, September 6 at 1pm in Kent, Ohio against Kent State.
Jags Make Progress In Second Preseason Scrimmage
Head coach Joey Jones observes the Jaguars scrimmage on Saturday, August 15 2014 at St. Paul’s Episcopal School.
The Jaguars held their second scrimmage of preseason camp on Saturday at Fairhope Municipal Stadium as they continue to prepare for the season opener on September 6 at Kent State.
After the scrimmage the previous Saturday, head coach Joey Jones said there were a lot of areas that needed improvement and he saw some of those improvements in the second scrimmage. Some of the focus of the second scrimmage after execution was substitutions and organization. And by what he saw on Saturday, he thought the team was getting close to being game ready in those categories.
“I think the thing we challenged them with yesterday (Friday) coming out here today was to be mentally ready and I think they were,” Jones said. “I told them when they were warming up I could tell that their minds were on the task at hand and they treated it like a game. You’ve got to be ready to play.”
They also devoted a lot of time to situational work such as two-minute drills, goal-line situations and special teams play. Several times situational work was interrupted to send out the field goal unit or the punt team in order to practice those moves in a near game-like simulation.
On offense, the team really focused on substitutions, especially rotating offensive lineman. Defensively the team played much more solid after allowing some big plays in the first scrimmage.
Quarterback Brandon Bridge went 15-of-21 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Braedon Bowman caught one of Bridge’s touchdowns, a two yarder. The other touchdown went to Shavarez Smith for 20-yards. Hunter Vaughn went 2-of-5 for 47 yards and Matt Floyd went 1-of-7 for 8 yards.
Jay Jones was the top running back with three carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns, one of 48-yards and the other was 17-yards during red zone drills. Terrance Timmons carried the ball six times for 36 yards. Kendall Houston got four touches for 15 yards while Montavious Stewart carried seven times for 12 yards.
Smith narrowly led the wide receivers with two catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Broadnax had two catches for 36 yards. Jereme Jones caught three passes for 32 yards. Marvin Shinn caught two for 31 yards and Claude Garrett also caught two passes for 25 yards.
Defensively Antonio Carter led the way with five stops. Tre Alford, Akeen Lewis, Jerome McClain, Jeremy Reaves and Ridge James all recorded a sack. Terrell Brigham picked off a pass. Alford T’Quan Robinson, Demarius Rancifer and Roman Buchanan all added three stops.
In special teams work, Aleem Sunanon went 5-of-6 in field goal tries with a long of 47. Grant McLaurin went a perfect 3-for-3 with a long of 50 yards. Freshman Corlis Waitman wow’ed those in attendance when he ended practice by making his one and only field goal attempt of practice from 55-yards out with room to spare.
Waitman had one punt for 37 yards and Brandon McKee punted once for 46 yards.
Now Jones and his staff will review film and decide on a depth chart and travel roster for the Jaguars first game. This decision will determine what players get the majority of repetitions in practice over the next two weeks leading up to game on September 6.
Jones said that they will begin working on Kent State on Tuesday. He also said that with a travel squad of 70 players, it’s up to the players to figure out a way to get on the travel team by either being a starter, a backup or a special teams player. Ultimately it’s real life but it does not make the decision any less difficult. The reality is that they will have to leave some good players at home because of the travel limitation. “You have to fight for what you get,” Jones said.
Two Jaguars Named To 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
The Reese’s Senior Bowl announced on Wednesday that quarterback Brandon Bridge and tight end Wes Saxton are among more than 350 student-athletes that are on the 2015 watch list.
The Senior Bowl, who’s home is in Mobile, Alabama and play at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, will invite a total of 110 individuals to compete in a week of drills and workouts in front of NFL coaches and analysts leading up to the game that is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 24 at 3PM and will be broadcast on the NFL Network.
In South Alabama’s five seasons of football, three players have been invited to participate in the game. Courtney Smith was the first to represent the Jaguars in 2011. Both linebacker Jake Johnson and safety B.J. Scott were selected fro the 2013 game, though Johnson was unable to participate due to injury during drills.
Go Jags!
Jags Hear From Two Special Guests After Thursday’s Practice
Head coach Joey Jones speaks to his team after their first scrimmage of preseason camp at St. Paul’s Episcopal School on Saturday, August 15, 2014.
The Jaguars Thursday morning practice last almost two hours in shells just two days ahead of their second scrimmage of preseason camp. They were also joined by university president Tony Waldrop and vice president of student affairs and special assistant to the president Dr. John Smith where each spoke to the team after practice.
Head coach Joey Jones noted that it was another hot day but his team continued to work through it. “They are working hard and doing the things necessary to win, so I am proud of what they’re doing,” Jones said. “They are continuing to work hard through the heat. But we can’t let that bother us, it can’t be a factor. We just have to keep working.”
As the Jaguars second week of camp is quickly coming to a close and about to start the third week, coach Jones understands that their time is limited before the season starts and that the team is about to start the toughest part of camp. “The toughest time is always at that third week of camp,” Jones explained. “Next week is going to be very critical. We’re going to work Monday through Thursday, and we have to have great practices that week because after that we are in game week. We have to understand that every minute and every rep matters. We’ve seen so many guys get better on this football team, and the more that improve then the better we are going to be. But everyone has to understand what they have to do.”
Quarterback Brandon Bridge was selected as the offensive player of the day. Offensive coordinator Robert Matthews praised Bridge for his work during Thursday’s practice and all of preseason camp. “Brandon had a good day today,” Matthews said. “He made some good throws. We had some different situational-periods with two-minute (drill) and third downs, and he made some really good decisions. He just continues to come out here and grind every day and try to make himself a better player, so I am happy to see that. There are times he shows things that are really, really good, and there are some times where he is still learning. But he just needs to take it one day at a time and continue to press. He will be fine.”
Defensive lineman Jerome McClain was selected the defensive player of the day. Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson tauted his consistency through camp so far. “Jerome has been really consistent and played really well through camp,” said Pearson. “I’m impressed with his conditioning. His play has increased. Everyone expects him to be the best. I expect him to work like he’s the best, and he’s doing that.”
Play of the day went to Marvin Shinn who caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Bridge in the back corner of the end zone during the final team period on the final play of a two-minute drill.
Another big play was when transfer quarterback Hunter Vaughn ran for a 50-plus yard gain before it was whistled dead. At the time the first team was focusing on third-down conversions.
The team will practice once more on Friday prior to their 9AM scrimmage at Fairhope Municipal Stadium.
Jaguar Soccer Voted To Finish 1st In Conference; Two Named To All-SBC Team
South Alabama women’s soccer team, the defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions, was voted to win the regular season championship and had two players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
The Jags took first place with 98 points and 9 out of the possible 10 first-place votes. Louisiana-Lafayette was voted second with 81 points and one first-place vote.
Junior defender Nini Rabsatt-Smith and sophomore midfielder Monique Autmon were both selected to the All-Conference team.
Rabsatt-Smith was named to the 2013 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament team where he helped the Jaguar defense allow just one goal in 290 minutes. She had 21 starts last season and recorded two goals, four assists and eight points.
Autmon also made 21 starts and appeared in all 23 matches as a freshman. She finished in a tie for fifth on the team with three goals, two of them came against SBC opponents.
The Jaguars won their first SBC Tournament title in school history last season after they ranked second in the league in both shutouts (9) and goals against average (1.01).
USA begins the 2014 season on Friday when they host UAB.
Jags Date Against Mississippi State Approaching Sell-Out
As many fans hoped and expected, the Jaguars date with Mississippi State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium is getting closer to a sell-out. The USA Athletic Ticket Office announced that the West stands at the stadium are sold out for the September 13th game.
Additionally, only about 500 tickets remain in the East stands behind the visiting team bench in sections L and M near the north end zone. Once those tickets are gone the only remaining tickets left for the game will be general admission in the end zones.
Only students with a physical ticket that they can pick up at the Mitchell Center will be allowed in for the game. Those seats will also be in the end zones.