B.J. Scott Heading To Bears’ Rookie Minicamp
B.J. Scott, along with Romelle Jones, Alex Page and Greg Hollinger serve as Game Captains for South Alabama in the Jaguars game against Troy in the two schools’ first meeting and the Jaguars first Sun Belt Conference game.
B.J. Scott is heading to Chicago. While he was not selected in the NFL Draft last weekend, he has been asked to attend the Chicago Bears’ rookie minicamp on May 10-12.
Scott, a 5’11” 205-pound defensive back, ranked third on the team with 84 tackles, 49 of them solo, with six tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. He was also selected as an honorable mention selection to last season’s All-Sun Belt Conference team.
Prior to landing at South Alabama, Scott played for Vigor High School before signing with the University of Alabama. He spent three years in Tuscaloosa with one of them being a redshirt season. He was part of the team for the 2009 BCS National Championship and a record of 36-5.
After an ankle injury and being tried out at different positions, Scott transferred to South Alabama. He started the first seven games of the 2011 season before a knee injury sufferred against Georgia State forced him to miss the remaining games of the season. But he still finished fifth in tackles with 48 and a team-high four passes defended.
Prior to the injury, he set a single-game school record with 180 yards in kick returns against Georgia State, including a 71-yard return on the game’s opening play. The Jags would eventually lose the game in overtime unfortunately.
He was a late addition to the South team’s roster for the Senior Bowl in January.
2013 Rumble In The Jungle 7pm In Jaguar Gym
The 2013 edition of the Rumble in the Jungle is set for Monday, April 29th at 7pm in Jaguar Gym. Admission is free! Come out and support your Jaguars as they perform feats of strength as they continue their offseason strength and conditioning program in preparation for their first season as a full FBS member and their first time being eligible for a conference championship and a bowl berth.
GO JAGS!!
NCAA Football ’14 Preview Now With More Jaguars
Image by EASports.com
We covered the controversy last year when EA Sports failed to include South Alabama in the 2013 edition of their yearly NCAA Football franchise. Many Jaguar fans were annoyed and mad about being overlooked and they took to social media and email to let EA know about their displeasure.
EA responded with an initial, “oops, sorry we’ll get you next time.” But that was not enough for the fans. They continued to contact EA and they finally relented and gave the school their “first class treatment.”
Last season EA sent a crew to do detailed stadium scans, fan and tailgating photos and audio recordings to be included in the 2014 edition. They spent the week leading up to the game to collect data on the stadium and information about the team’s playbook. They also experienced gameday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and have been using it to digitially recreate it “in the game,” as they say. This oversight may have worked out in South Alabama’s favor after all.
This was posted by EA Sports on their website previewing the 2014 game. “This year, South Alabama makes its long-awaited debut in NCAA Football along with Old Dominion and Georgia State. The Jaguars stadium has been accurately recreated, as has Texas State’s. That’s right, Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium will be in the game. Both big and small schools received attention, with TCU’s stadium updated to reflect their recent renovations. Horned Frogs fans should feel right at home.”
You can read the entire EA article here.
Our previous articles covering this topic can be viewed below:
https://www.thunderjags.com/2012/06/06/south-alabama-being-left-out-of-eas-ncaa-football-13/
https://www.thunderjags.com/2012/06/14/south-alabama-gets-lots-of-press-over-ea-fumble/
https://www.thunderjags.com/2012/06/22/ea-fesses-up-and-pledges-extras-for-south-alabama/
https://www.thunderjags.com/2012/09/07/ea-sports-to-be-at-stadium-on-saturday/
https://www.thunderjags.com/2012/09/08/ea-sports-is-making-good-on-their-promise/
Blue Defeats Red In Annual Jaguar Spring Game
Trey Fetner leading the Blue Team to a score just before halftime of the 2013 Spring Game.
The Blue team, lead by Brandon Bridge, defeated the Red team 33-24 in the annual South Alabama Red-Blue JagDay game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday.
Bridge went 10-of-18 for 169 yards and two touchdowns while Trey Fetner found the end zone twice on the ground for the Blue team. Bridge opened the scoring with a 25 yard toss to Kyle Sappington less than three minutes into the game. Bridge would connect with Tryome Bivins for a 44 yard touchdown about midway through the third quarter.
Fetner carried the ball six times for 35 yards in the game with his two touchdowns. He gave the Blue team the lead for good with a one yard scoring run :32 seconds before the halftime break. He also closed out the scoring with a touchdown as time exired.
Blue took the lead early with Bridge’s throw to Sappington. The Red team would even it out on the next possession though. Metheny would completed a pair of passes to Waldon for 20 and 14 yards respectively, both for first downs. Then Metheny would cap it off with a seven yard touchdown toss to Jay Jones to cap off the 10 play, 65 yard drive with under five minutes left in the opening quarter.
Jereme Jones would put the Blue team back on top 14-7 on a 36 yard touchdown reception with less than seven minutes left until the half.
There were three scores in the final three minutes of the first half. Logan Gunn would connect on a 41 yard field goal to draw the Red team within four points of the Blue squad. Then a Desmond LaVelle interception would let Jay Jones cap off a four play, 27 yard drive with a two yard touchdown run to give the Red team it’s first lead of the game at 17-14.
Roster Released For Red-Blue Spring Game
Head Coach Joey Jones speaks to his team after the conclusion of the Jaguars first practice of 2012 preseason camp.
As the Jags finished up their final practice prior to the Jaguars annual Red-Blue Spring Game, they released the roster for Saturday.
The team worked out for about an hour and a half at the practice facility on campus. In addition to working on things for the spring game, the coaches also took the time to instruct the players on drills to focus on between now and the beginning of fall camp.
Coach Jones spoke about how he thought his team did this spring prior to Saturday’s scrimmage. “I thought it was a great spring, our guys came to work,” Jones said. “I’m just proud of their leadership, focus and commitment to building this program at South Alabama. They are doing the right things. We’re a much better team now then we were at the beginning of the spring. That’s not just trying to pump them up, they have really gotten better, we didn’t waste any days.”
Ross Metheny and Jay Jones highlight the offensive backfield for the Red team. But Metheny also has T.J. Glover, Savarez Smith and Corey Waldon as targets on the outside with Wes Saxton at tight end. Melvin Meggs, Drew Dearman, Matt Calcagnini, James Elliot and Darius McKeller will make up the offensive line.
The Red teams defense include Romelle Jones, Alex Page and Montavious Williams on the line with Desmond LaVelle and Maleki Harris backing them up at linebacker. Charles Harris, David Hawkins, Alonzo Long and Darrius Morrow in the secondary among others.
The Blue squad has Brandon Bridge and Trey Fetner as their two quarterbacks with Kendall Houston and Julien Valentin as running backs. Jereme Jones and Bryant Lavender highlight the receiver corps which includes Cameron Broadnax and Jake Howton. The offensive line includes Chris May and four redshirt freshmen from last season Daniel Aust, Steven Foster, Clay Machen and Joseph Scelfo.
Defensively, the blue squad is highlighted by linebackers Clifton Crews, Bryson James and Enrique Williams. Terrell Brighan, Qudarius Ford, Tyrell Pearson and Charles Watson will be in the secondary. The defensive line includes Jesse Kelley, Pat Moore and Will Thompson.
The Red-Blue game will kickoff at 2pm on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The parking lot will open at 10am for tailgating and also the College of Medicine’s Gumbo and Chili Showdown starting at 11am.
After the game there will be a 30 minute autograph and photo session with the players on the field.
Commissioner Benson Released Statement On WKU Departure Announcement
After Western Kentucky announced that they entered into an agreement with Conference USA to join the league on July 1, 2014, Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson released a statement.
“Today’s announcement that Western Kentucky University has accepted an invitation to join Conference USA is not a surprise given the communication that I have had with university officials and the rampant speculation over the past several months,” Benson said in the statement released by the conference office.”
“I have long understood the implications of the move and what it means for the Sun Belt Conference. In fact, the Sun Belt Conference has been preparing for this possibility for quite some time and with the support and guidance of the Sun Belt Conference board of directors, I will continue to make recommendations on what options the Sun Belt Conference has in terms of future members and divisional structure.”
“I remain confident that we have numerous options and that there are universities that have a strong desire to be members of the Sun Belt Conference. Last week’s additions to the Sun Belt of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern as all sports members and Idaho and New Mexico State as football-only members gives proof that there are universities that want to join the SBC and be part of its dynamic future.”
In 2013 the Sun Belt football season will consist of eight football teams. South Alabama, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisana-Monroe, Troy and Western Kentucky along with newcomers Georgia State and Texas State.
Currently the 2014 membership will include Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, who will be in the final year of their two-year transition from FCS to FBS. It will also include Idaho and New Mexico State as Western Kentucky will leave for C-USA.
Texas-Arlington and Arkansas-Little Rock both are Sun Belt members but do not sponsor football. Two top mentioned potential replacement schools for WKU have been James Madison and Liberty.
A timeframe for announcing any new members to the Sun Belt Conference is not known. Though it is known they intend to go to divisional play in football, which will require one more school who sponsors football in order to do so. That would pave the way to holding a conference championship game. This could happen as soon as 2014 unless the seemingly ever moving target of conference expansion continues to plague the Sun Belt.
Jags Enter Final Week Of Spring Practice Before Spring Game
Offensive lineman Drew Dearman, his father and Offensive Coordinator Robert Matthews after the annual Red & Blue Spring football game in 2012.
The South Alabama football team has only two practice sessions left this spring. The Jags hit the practice field this morning for their final true practice prior to the Red-Blue Spring game on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium that gets underway at 2pm.
Thursday morning the Jags will work out in shorts.
Admission and parking is free to the public and will feature two 10-minute quarters for the first half. Then after a 10-minute break they will return to the field for two 12-minute quarters with a running clock (clock will not stop for normal stoppages in play).
Ladd-Peebles parking lot will open at 10am for tailgating. The USA College of Medicine will hold it’s annual Gumbo & Chili Cookoff in the east parking lot.
Stadium gates will open at 1pm with seating in all but the east stands. Limited concessions will be available in the west concourse.
JagWear, Jag_Gals and the USA Athletic Ticket Office will be in the west concourse as well.
After the game, fans will be allowed on the field for 30 minutes to get autographs and photos with Jaguar players and coaches.
This week, coach Jones will split his staff into two squads and the players will be split by a draft later in the week.
Jones Is Pleased With Physical Practice On Tuesday
The Jaguars were greeted with a cool morning for their practice on Tuesday. The practice was marked with physical play in both position drills and team drills as the practice spanned over two hours.
Coach Jones said that the defensive line caught his eye in Tuesdays practice. “It was lively,” Jones said to AL.com about the practice session. “I thought the defensive front really stood out today. I thought the guys across there were playing harder and really put pressure on the quarterback and disrupted the run. I thought they played really well today and it was good to see them get after it.”
With the changes made on the defensive coaching staff in the off-season, the defense is still getting adjusted to the new members of the staff but their progress has been pleasing to Coach Jones. The offense continues to learn and perfect their understanding of the spread offense that was introduced last year by coach Matthews.
Jones praised the leadership he has on the team. He said that they continue to work hard as the number of practices remaining this spring are beginning to dwindle down. Jones said that they have practice on Thursday then a scrimmage on Saturday. Next week the Jags have Tuesday to practice then Thursday is in shorts prior to the Red-Blue Spring Game on Saturday.
“I think offensively, even though we’re doing some different things, I think the fact they have experience helps,” Jones explained to AL.com. “Our offensive line is working really hard. For the first time we’re going to have real depth there. I think we’ll go into next fall with 10 guys who can play once we get our injured guys back (Ucambre Williams, Shaun Artz). So I feel good about that. We’ve got some older receivers, some guys who have been around, some in their fifth year in the program. We’ve got a quarterback who started last year (Ross Metheny) and Brandon Bridge is coming along as well and we’re developing depth there and there’s a tight race. The competition is good.”
With only five practices left, which includes the spring game on April 6th, the Jags will try to get as much physical work in as possible. These will be the practices and scrimmages that will really lend themselves to good video for evaluating players prior to fall camp.
The Jags will return to the practice field on Thursday morning at 6am and again on Saturday for a scrimmage.
Appalachian State And Georgia Southern To Join Sun Belt
Many media outlets are reporting that two of the top FCS schools will be joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2015.
Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, who have combined to win nine FCS championships in football, will leave the Southern Conference for the Sun Belt. Both schools will join the conference in every sport except football beginning in 2014. The football programs will join in 2015 as they make the transition from FCS to FBS.
An announcement is scheduled for later this week by the schools and league officials.
The addition of these two schools will return the conference to 10 football members in 2015 with Arkansas State, Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy and Western Kentucky. Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas-Arlington, who will join in 2013-2014, do not sponsor football but will join in all other sports.
Appalachian State joined the Southern Conference in 1972 and has won or shared the league title 12 times, including seven of the last eight, with 20 appearances in the FCS playoffs. They commissioned a feasibility study two years ago about a transition to FBS. The result was that the program should seek membership in FBS.
Appalachian State won three FCS titles in a row from 2005-2007 under former head coach Jerry Moore and stunning fifth-ranked Michigan in the 2007 season opener, the first win for an FCS school against an AP Top 25 team.
Georgia Southern has won a record six FCS titles in 1985, ’86, ’89, 90, ’99 and 2000 and nine Southern Conference titles.
The students at Georgia Southern approved a $75 student fee increase to help make the move from FCS to FBS after the school announced their intentions to move to the FBS level last April. The university also announced a plan to expand Paulson Stadium by 6,300 seats.
Appalachian State would enter the Sun Belt with one of the highest average attendance for football. In 2011 a release by the NCAA showed that they led the FCS attendance records for the third time in four years with an average of 25,715 per game.
But they may not be the only schools added to the conference. It is expected that New Mexico State and Idaho may be added as football-only members of the conference. These two schools do not have a home as the WAC is set to dissolve this summer. This would expand the Sun Belt to 12 football schools and would make them eligible for a conference championship game.
Two weeks ago at the Sun Belt basketball tournament, Conference commissioner Karl Benson said that the majority of schools the Sun Belt was considering for expansion were in the FCS level.
On March 9th, Benson said about NMSU and Idaho. “They are in need of a conference and are being assessed. We are looking specifically for schools that will add stability and value. We also are exploring the possibility of football-only members, and it’s not just limited to NMSU and Idaho. We have created a lot of maps with different possibilities that would fit many of our needs including geography.”
But as the wheel of conference realignment continuing to turn, there is speculation that Western Kentucky may be the next Sun Belt school to defect from the conference for seemingly greener pastures in Conference USA. Only time will tell how this will eventually shake out.
Coach Jones Pleased With Thursday Practice Prior To Saturday Scrimmage
Head coach Joey Jones working with the field goal unit during South Alabama’s Scrimmage on Saturday, March 3, 2012.
The Jags hit the practice field Thursday morning for their seventh practice out of their 15 allowed practices during the spring. The workout lasted over two hours and coach Jones was very pleased with what he saw, more so than Tuesday’s practice.
“It was real good today, the effort was great,” Coach Jones explained. “The guys were lively this morning. I thought Tuesday was a good practice, but today’s was even better. There is no doubt we are putting more in and they are retaining it. These guys are coming to practice every day, that’s what I’m pleased with.”
South Alabama backs and receivers went through different formations and motions prior to coming together to run red zone 7-on-7 skeleton passing drills against the defense in a two-minute drill situation. They also went through some three-quarter speed rushing plays as they continued to focus on fundamentals and help the offense to run the ball better.
The special teams group worked on kickoff and kick returns. But Coach Jones has been stressing that, this spring, they had to slow down and work on fundamentals. However, on defense, he noticed that they worked at a faster pace after learning their new system and new terminology.
Not everything was good though. Jones expressed how many times the offense put the ball on the ground. Up until Thursday, this had not been a problem.
Spring practice is not only for fundamentals, it’s also a chance for players to seperate themselves and begin to make their case for positions on the depth chart. Maleki Harris and Jay Jones have both opened some eyes this spring. Additionally redshirt freshmen offensive linemen Daniel Aust, Steven Foster, Clay Machen and Joseph Scelfo are all working hard and pushing for playing time.
They closed out the practice session with nearly 35 minutes of team drills. One segment consisted of red-zone plays and a pair of two-minute drills to end the session.
Brandon Bridge had three long gains that eventually set up a six-yard touchdown to Jake Howton for the second team. In the latter portion of the practice, the first team defense did not allow any points.
“The two-minute drill was good,” Coach Jones explained. “The defense did a good job of stopping the offense our first time doing it. You have to familiarize yourself with situations, that’s what we’re trying to do this spring. If it’s third-and-eight and we have 20 seconds left on the plus-40 yard line and need three points, what are we going to do? We’re trying to teach them throughout these practices, it’s not as much about whether we are successful or not, so that they can learn from these situations on film.”
The Jags will return to the practice field on Saturday morning for their second scrimmage of the spring that is scheduled for 9:45am and will last about two hours.
“It will be a little different in that we will have a lot more special teams situations infused into the practice, but as far as the number of plays it will be very similar,” said Jones. “We’ll move the football around the field, we’ll be in the red zone and goal line more than we were the first time, which are the two changes we’ll make.”