Jags Continue To Prepare For Homecoming Game Against Kent State
The Jaguar football team continues to prepare for their homecoming match-up against Kent State set for Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. One of the positions that was problematic over the last few weeks, the placekicker position, was opened up for competition last week.
Coach Jones looks for more consistency and production at the position after a one-point loss to Troy. Redshirt freshman Aleem Sunanon missed a 22-yard field goal and had an extra point blocked. He also missed another field goal attempt, though it was unofficial due to a penalty giving the Jags a first down giving the the offense a fresh set of downs.
Sunanon is 6-of-11 on the season and has missed three of this last four attempts (four of five unofficially). The misses were from 17, 41 and 22 yards while making a 24-yard attempt in Tennessee.
Competing for the position are Sunanon, redshirt freshman Logan Gunn and freshman walk-on Conner Kammerlocher. Coach Jones will not choose one to fill the placekicker role on Saturday on Saturday until after the final practice on Thursday.
Since the Troy game and continuing through Thursday the coaches are charting everything they do. The position will go to the player who is the most consisten and successful through the two weeks leading up to Kent State.
In a season of close games, a consistent kicker will be the difference between winning and losing.
Jags Men’s Basketball Show Progress In First Intrasquad Scrimmage
The South Alabama Men’s Basketball team held their intrasquad scrimmage Monday afternoon at the Mitchell Center. First year head coach Matthew Graves put the team through four eight-minute quarters with a variety of lineups to gauge the progress made after two weeks of practice.
Last season’s Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Augustine Rubit, collected 17 points, 12 rebounds and a block in 26 minutes of playing time. Another returning starter for the Jags, Mychal Ammons, had six points, three rebounds and a block in 16 minutes of play.
Freshman guard Ken “Juice” Williams put in six points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Sophomore Barrington Stevens III put in 10 points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal.
Coach Graves did not point out any individuals, but said that certain guys had moments but that the team is still a work in progress. However, he said that they are heading in the right direction and is pleased with their progress over two weeks of practice.
The team will have Tuesday off before returning for two practices on Wednesday.
USA Soccer Drops First Match At Home
The South Alabama Soccer team dropped their first match at home on Sunday with a 1-0 loss to Western Kentucky at The Cage.
WKU’s Laurent Moats netted a ball in the 58th minute on a counter attak that the Jags were unable to recover against.
The Jags answered the goal with seven shots to the Hilltoppers’ two, but could not get one into the net.
The Lady Jaguars fall to 10-4-2 overall on the season and 3-1-1 in SBC play. WKU improved to 7-3-4 overall and 5-0-0 in SBC play.
They will travel to Troy on Sunday for a 1pm match against the Trojans as they have only three remaining regular season matches before the SBC Conference Championships get under way on November 6 in San Marcos, Texas.
USA Men’s Basketball To Scrimmage Today At 4pm; Open To Public
The South Alabama Men’s Basketball team will hold an intrasquad scrimmage on Monday at 4pm in the Mitchell Center. It will be open to the public.
First-year head coach Matthew Graves will preview an early look at what the Jaguars will look like in a game-type situation.
The scrimmage will have four eight-minute segments and in each segment the coaches will mix up the teams. This will allow the coaches to get a look at different combinations so they can try to put groups of players together consistently.
They will have three officials who will call the game. Though it will be similar to what they have been doing during practice, the coaches expect the players to respond to playing with real officials by “turning it up a notch,” Graves told AL.com.
The Jags will have an exhibition on November 5 at the Mitchell Center against the University of Mobile.
There is no charge for the scrimmage.
USA Jaguar Volleyball Win Both Weekend Matches
The South Alabama volleyball team won back-to-back matches over the weekend, having to rally from behind both times to do so.
On Friday the Lady Jags traveled to Louisiana-Lafayette and earned their first SBC victory 3-1 (16-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-17). After her second conference freshman of the week honor, Mechell Daniel recorded her third-consecutive double-double.
They then returned to Mobile to host Georgia State on Saturday and rallied back from losing the first set to win the next three and take the a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19).
Freshman Mechell Daniel earned her fourth-consecutive double-double with a team-high 16 kills and 17 digs. Sophomore setter Emily Hundt finished with 41 assists, three kills, four aces and three block assists. Jessica Lewis added 14 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Symone Stephenson finished one kill short of a double-double.
The Jags improved their record to 7-10 overall and 2-5 in SBC play. They will be on the road for a pair of matches next weekend as they are scheduled to play SBC newcomers Texas-Arlington on Friday nigh and Texas State on Sunday.
Lady Jag Soccer Defeate Georgia State 2-1 In Atlanta
The South Alabama women’s soccer team defeated Georgia State 2-1 in Atlanta on Thursday to improve their record to 10-3-2 overall and 3-0-1 in Sun Belt Play.
Freshman Monique Autmon opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after gathering in a Lauren Allison deflected shot. She then curled it past the conference leader in saves for the goal.
Jordan Duncan would add to the lead about half way through the second half. She came in as a substitute seven minutes before the score. Clarissa Hernandez kicked the ball behind the Panther defense. GSU’s Brie Haynes came out to clear the ball, but missed the opportunity and watched Duncan place her fifth goal of the year into the open net for a 2-0 lead for the Jags.
The Panthers managed a goal in the 85th minute to cut the lead to 2-1, but could not manage to get the ball into the net again.
The Jags will return home to face the conference leading and preseason favorite Western Kentucky at 1pm on Sunday at The Cage.
After A Good Practice, Jags Have Three Days Off
The South Alabama Jaguar football team had what coach Joey Jones said was probably one of the most spirited practices they have had all year on Wednesday. Maybe it was the thought of having three days off or maybe it was because the weather was nice with a hint of cool in the air.
“Defensively we came out ready to go, and that’s what we want out of them,” Jones told AL.com after practice
South Alabama Players thanking the fans for their support on the road in Knoxville, TN.
. “Come out – and you’ve got to have some fun. Our kids work, but you’ve also got to have some fun too. They brought that mixture of having fun and getting after it.”
This is the Jags second of three bye weeks this season. The team will have the next three days off before returning to the practice field on Sunday evening to resume preparation for homecoming against Kent State on Saturday, October 19.
Jones does not know if it’s a good time for the break in the schedule, but said that they will find out when the players return on Sunday. However he reminded them of their goals and that Kent State is a very good team so they will have to be ready for them by gameday.
The team has about three-quarters of the gameplan in place and should be quite healthy by kickoff on 2pm on October 19.
Get some rest Jaguars and come back ready to get a W against Kent State.
Go Jags!
USA Baseball Opens Fall Practice
The Jaguar baseball team opened fall practice on Monday and followed that up with its first intrasquad of the year on Tuesday morning at Eddie Stanky Field.
The Jags are looking to replace 15 seniors and two juniors who were lost to the Major League Baseball Draft, from last season’s Sun Belt Conference Championship team and NCAA Regional participant.
Bud Collura walked and doubled while COle Gleason and Cole Jarman added a hit each for the Red team. Andrew Tindell got the only hit recorded for the Gray team. The Red team earned a 2-0 decision after scoring an unearned run in the first inning and another run three innings later.
Ben Taylor, Dylan Eyler, Sam Givens, Brock Stevens and Jordan Touro each tossed one shutout inning for the Red team. Kevin Hill, Locke St. John, Brandon Hallford and Kyle Rovig each pitched one shutout inning for the Gray squad as well.
The Jags will have intrasquad scrimmages every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through November 16 at Eddie Stanky Field. They will scrimmage at 2:30pm on Friday and will scrimmage at 11am on both Saturday and Sunday.
USA’s Bryson James Nominated For Courage Award
Senior linebacker Bryson James was nominated for the FWAA Courage Award. Photo by John Adams | usajaguars.com
The University of South Alabama senior linebacker Bryson James was named as this week’s nominee for the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award as announced by the Football Writers Association of America.
James, a 6’2″ 235-pound New Orleans native was born prematurely and only weighed one pound. He had not developed skin and was able to be held in one hand. Doctors believed he would be mentally disabled and would never learn to walk. He proved them wrong.
Additionally, his mother Valorie has undergone two brain surgeries, the most recent was wen he was a high school senior to correct blood flow and to remove a tumor. His family has also suffered extensive damage due to both hurricane Katrina and tropical storm Isaac.
He has lettered four seasons for the Jaguars while tallying 107 total tackles, including four for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and six passes defended. So far this season he as 16 tackles with six of them coming in the Jaguars 31-24 win over Western Kentucky.
The Courage Award was created by ESPN’s senior columnist Gene Wojciechowski. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. To be nominated, a student-athlete must display courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.
This is the eighth straight year that the FWAA and the Discover Orange Bowl will announce weekly nominees throughout the season. A blue-ribbon panel of organization members will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner will be announced at the end of the season.
USA Soccer’s Allison Named SBC Offensive Player Of The Week
Lauren Allison was named the SBC Offensive Player of the Week on October 8 | Photo usajaguars.com
On Tuesday, Lauren Allison of the South Alabama women’s soccer team was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her performances last week.
She scored her third game-winner of the year against UALR on Friday then assisted on both Jaguar goals against Arkansas State on Sunday for a four-point weekend. That makes her season total 29 which is tied for seventh in South Alabama single-season history.
Allison, a freshman from Hicester, Oxfordshire, United Kingdon, has also broken into the Jaguars single-season top 10 in assists as she is now tied for eighth with nine total. Her 10 goals on the season is one shy of a Jaguar top-10 record.
She leads the Sun Belt Conference in every offensive category except goals per game which she is currently second.
Allison ranks in the NCAA’s top 25 nationally in five offensive categories which include Total points (29, 5th), Total Assists (9, 6th), Assists per game (0.69, 8th), Points Per Game (2.23, 11th) and Total Goals (10, 19th). She also ranks 30th in goals per game with 0.769.
She is the fourth Jag to earn a weekly conference honor this year and the first since goalkeeper Melissa Drish was named the Defensive Player of the Week on September 10.
The Lady Jags will face Georgia State on Thursday at 6pm in Atlanta and will face Western Kentucky on Sunday at The Cage at 1pm.