Jaguar Football Fan Day
The Jaguar football team will hold their annual “Fan Day” at the Mitchell Center on Sunday, August 24 from 4-6pm. Head coach Joey Jones, his staff and student-athletes will be there for fans to take photographs and get autographs.
Additionally, the ticket sales office will be there so you can purchase tickets for the 2014 season and the bookstore will be there for you to purchase game day merchandise.
What: Fan Day
Where: Mitchell Center
When: Sunday, August 24 4-6PM
Jaguar Soccer To Play Friendly Match Friday Evening Against JSU
South Alabama women’s soccer team will host Jacksonville State for a friendly match on Friday at The Cage beginning at 7pm.
The Jaguars, after winning the Sun Belt Conference title last season, began their training this week with four days in Gulf Shores to allow the coaches and players to focus on training without the distractions of campus life.
“They’re working extremely hard,” head coach Graham Winkworth stated. “We went away and got everything we wanted achieved: we increased the intensity on our workload while we were away, we managed to train in the heat on a nice, quality field and we became closer as a team. I give us an A-grade in terms of our attitudes. From a playing standpoint, we’re at a C-plus right now and have some work to do, but we are putting the effort in and hopefully by the time we start playing games on a regular basis, we can start getting used to playing with one another. We look like we just met each other a week ago, which we did, but we’re getting there and have a long way to go.”
Winkworth has 12 new faces on the team and, after practicing against each other, he is eager to see how they will match up against another team.
“I want to get some match fitness, but more importantly, just get us used to playing with one another,” Winkworth said. “We just met a week ago and so we’ve had to learn how I want the game played from scratch, so we’re a long way behind where we were this time last year with respect to that. The more we practice and the more we get used to playing with one another, the better it will be. Playing against another team, who we’ve never seen before, gives us an opportunity to see us in that setting because we only carry 22 players and we don’t get to train 11-v-11 very often, so it gives us an opportunity to try a few things out against somebody that hasn’t seen us. Along with that, we have so many new faces it will give them a chance to get their first-game fears and nerves out of the way so they’re a little more relaxed going into the UAB game next week.”
Jacksonville State had a 4-13-2 record last season while going 0-9-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference in head coach Neal Macdonald’s first season. They return eight starters from last years team while adding two transfers from Mississippi State University.
Come out to The Cage to see the 2014 Jaguar Soccer team in action.
Jags Add Another Commit For 2015
Nigel Lawrence gave his verbal commitment to the Jaguars on Sunday. Photo: rivals.com
Head coach Joey Jones and his staff hauled in another recruit on Sunday when Smiths Station High School student-athlete Nigel Lawrence announced he had chosen South Alabama to play football and baseball.
His recruiter talked to him last month and went over how he would be able to achieve his degree and how he would compete for playing time at safety immediately. This sat well with Lawrence and the three-star prospect selected the Jaguars over Georgia State, Western Kentucky, Cincinnati, Mercer, UAB and Troy.
Lawrence, a 6′ 178-pound prospect fell in love with the atmosphere on campus when he visited in July and plans to attend the Mississippi State game in September. He also wants to attent football games at a couple other schools as well, including Auburn. But Lawrence hit social media hard after making his commitment public. He touted the rise of the Jaguars team and how he wants to be part of making history at the University.
Phil Steele Updates 2014-2015 Bowl Projects
Phil Steele Publications updated their 2014-2015 Bowl Projections and currently project South Alabama to play in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. | twitter.com/godaddybowl
Phil Steele of Phil Steele Publications and his College Football Preview has updated their 2014-2015 Bowl Projections. They currently have three Sun Belt teams in bowl games.
In the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl they project Air Force and Louisiana-Lafayette, in the Raycom Camellia Bowl they project Central Michigan and Louisiana-Monroe and in the GoDaddy.com bowl they project Northern Illinois and South Alabama.
If USA were to go to the GoDaddy.com Bowl, they would have their postseason game held at their own home stadium and would be on January 4, 2015 and would be the final bowl game prior to the College Football Playoff Championship on January 12, 2015.
This is another historical moment in USA history. Heading into only their sixth season of football ever and only their second season of full FBS membership and bowl eligibility, they are being projected to be a bowl team. But don’t count your chickens before they hatch, they have 12 games this season before they can even look towards a potentional bowl game.
They cannot look ahead, they have to take each game on their own and if they take care of business each week, then selection for a bowl game will come on its own.
Jags Report For Preseason Camp In One Week
The South Alabama Jaguar football team is scheduled to report for preseason camp in just one short week.
They are scheduled to meet Tuesday evening August 5 then hit the practice field on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm for their first workout that is slated for two hours. That will be the first of four workouts, each scheduled for two hours, that will conclude with a 3pm workout on Sunday to wrap up their first week of camp.
The next week the Jags have two-a-day’s scheduled for Monday and Thursday with the morning session scheduled for 7:15AM and the afternoon session scheduled for 4:30PM. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday practices will be held from 7:15 to 9:40AM then the first fall scrimmage will be held on Saturday, August 16.
Sunday, August 17 the Jaguars will have an off day before resuming on Monday morning with five consecutive days of workouts prior to their second scrimmage on Saturday, August 23 at 9AM.
The last week of camp will begin with three consecutive days of practice and culimnate in their final scrimmage on Thursday, August 28. After which they will have two days off before going into in-season mode and practice for their first game of the season.
They will open their season on Saturday, September 6 at Kent State before returning home the next week, September 13 when they hold their home opener against Mississippi State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium
The school’s annual Fan Day will be held at the Mitchell Center on Sunday, August 24 beginning at 4pm.
Former Jag Augustine Rubit Signs Pro Deal With Walter Tigers
Rubit becomes the second player from the 2013-2014 team to sign a professional contract. Photo by John Adams | usajaguars.com
Former South Alabama men’s basketball player Augustine Rubit has signed his first pro contract with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen of the Beko BBL, Germany’s top professional league.
As a Jaguar, Rubit was named to four All-Sun Belt Conference teams, voted Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year for 2012-2013, and finished his career as the All-Time leading rebounder in conference history as well as set school records with: free throws made (550), free throws attempted (763), and double-doubles (54). He also ranks in the schools top five in points (1,917, 2nd), field goals made (673, 5th), field goals attempted (1,360, 3rd), rebounding average (10.0, 3rd), blocks (139, 3rd) and games played (118, T-2nd).
He is the second player from last year’s team to play professionally after Mychal Ammons announced he was leaving school early and signed with Macedonian club Feni Indistrijia back in May.
Rubit joins a team in the Tigers who were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2005 and have finished as high as 10th on two occasions (2007, 2013).
He will leave for Germany on August 7 to begin working out with his new team.
Congrats Aug!
Dodge City CC Wide Receiver Latest To Verbally Committ To Jaguars
William French of Dodge City Community College verbally committed to the Jaguars for the 2015 class. | photo: speedzonerecruits.wix.com
South Alabama received another verbal commitment on Monday, this time it was a wide receiver from Dodge City Community College.
William French, a 5’9″ 180-pound wide receiver, committed to join teammate and also a Jaguar commit James Bynes at South Alabama for the 2015 class. Last Season French caught 32 passes for 574 yards in 10 games while averaging 17.9 yards per catch and leading the team with four touchdown receptions.
French joins quite a group of verbal committments in St. Paul’s cornerback Jalen Thompson, offensive lineman Steven Clark, tight end Julian Allen, quarterback/wide receiver Reid Rials of Satusma, defensive end Anfernee Mullins, quarterback Aaron Johnson, tight end/offensive lineman Zach Davis, defensive tackle Roy Albritton, and juco cornerback Quinton Lane to name a few.
French is believed to be a Jereme Jones-like receiver. One who can block, catch a short pass, go deep or catch a short pass and turn it into a big gain. He can also make people miss.
In an interview with Alabama Media Group he said he was already going to choose South Alabama but his teammate Bynes “gave me more confidence” in his choice.
South Alabama opens fall football camp in about a week with their first game on Saturday, September 6 on the road against Kent State.
Go Jags!
USA Football Picks Up Defensive Verbal Commitment
Anfernee Mullins de-committed from Mississippi State and verbally committed to South Alabama. | Photo: espn.go.com
South Alabama picked up another big name recruit. Anfernee Mullins de-committed from Mississippi State and verbally committed to the Jaguars over the weekend.
Mullins, a 6’4″ 245-pound defensive end from Aliceville High School, decided that what mattered the most to him was playing time and he thought he could get the most from South Alabama. He feels that South Alabama is a better fit for him than Mississippi State.
“The way I was looking at it was how many players they were recruiting at my position,” Mullins told 247Sports. “It was going to be a lot for me to get on the field (at Mississippi State). South Alabama said I’m No. 1 on its recruiting board. I believe I have a chance of getting playing time if I go to South Alabama.”
“They are in a conference that sometimes gets overlooked, but they are still playing good football, and I like that,” he said. “It’s a small conference, but I believe they’ll give me a chance. It’d be harder for me to get a chance at Mississippi State than at South Alabama.”
Mullins said he committed to the Bulldogs in early June after a strong camp performance in Starkville, but was never publicly listed as a commit by any of the recruiting services. He then told MSU defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and defensive line coach David Turner this week that he intended to change his commitment to a different school.
Mullins has yet to visit Mobile and the USA campus, but he likes what he has seen online. The Jaguars thinks he will be a good fit at outside linebacker while other schools recruiting him have been recruiting him as a defensive end.
South Alabama’s defensive ends and linebackers coach Freddie Roach, was has been recruiting Mullins, sold him on the idea of South Alabama and outside linebacker through their frequent talks.
He is unranked by the major recruiting services and attended camps at MSU, Alabama and Auburn prior to his commitment to the Bulldogs.
2014 Sun Belt Media Day Is Here
The 2014 Sun Belt Media Day will get underway at 9am this morning in the Bienville Club Lounge in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Each school will have their head coach, except for Troy’s Larry Blakeney who recently had surgery and has been advised against making any long trips, and two student-athletes available to the media. Then at 3pm Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson will deliver the State of the Sun Belt Conference, after which he, Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw, College Football Playoff CFO Reid Sigmon and Sun Belt Athletic Directors will be available to the media.
The SBC will also have two outlets for those who cannot be in attendance.
The “Sun Belt Social Suite” will allow fans access and connections to media day activities by featuring fan submitted questions in a one-on-one interview setting. Fans can submit questions to various coaches and student-athletes via Facebook and Twitter by using the hashtag #SunBeltMediaDay. Questions will be answered in real time as the event is live streamed on the Sun Belt Sports website SunBeltSports.org. The morning session will go from 10am-12pm then the afternoon session will run from 1-3pm with Danielle Percival hosting.
Secondly ESPN3 will have a live show from the floor of the Sun Belt Media Day with a two-hour broadcast starting at 1pm and featuring a selection from each coach and student-athletes from all 11 Sun Belt schools participating. Below will be a schedule of the ESPN3 coaches.
For a full bio for each of the schools, coaches and student-athletes visit the Sun Belt Sports website by clicking here.
The itinerary in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome:
- 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM – Louisiana-Monroe – Head Coach Todd Berry – Student Athletes: Ray Stovall (Sr LB) and Rashon Ceaser (Jr WR)
- 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM – Appalachian State – Head Coach Scott Satterfield – Student Athletes: Kameron Bryant (Jr QB) and Ronald Blair (Sr DL)
- 10:00 AM – 10:25 AM – New Mexico State – Head Coach Doug Martin – Student Athletes: Valerian Ume Ezeoke (Sr OL) and Travaughn Colwell (Sr DB)
- 10:30 AM – 10:55 AM – Texas State – Head Coach Dennis Franchione – Student Athletes: David Mayo (Sr LB) and Michael Orakpo (Sr LB)
- 11:00 AM – 11:25 AM – South Alabama – Head Coach Joey Jones – Student Athletes: Chris May (Jr OL) and Maleki Harris (Sr LB)
- 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM – Troy – Offensive Coordinator Kenny Edenfield – Student Athletes: Terrence Jones (Sr OL) and Wayland Coleman-Dancer (Sr LB)
- 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM – Lunch
- 1:30 PM – 1:55 PM – Arkansas State – Head Coach Blake Anderson – Student Athletes – Sterling Young (Sr DB) and J.D. McKissic (Jr WR)
- 2:00 PM – 2:25 PM – Louisiana-Lafayette – Head Coach Mark Hudspeth – Student Athletes: Terrance Broadway (Sr QB) and Alonzo Harris (Sr RB)
- 2:30 PM – 2:55 PM – Georgia Southern – Head Coach Willie Fritz – Student Athletes: Edwin Jackson (Sr LB) and Garrett Frye (Sr OT)
- 3:00 PM – 3:25 PM – State of the Sun Belt Conference with Commissioner Karl Benson
- 3:30 PM – 3:55 PM – Media Availability with Benson, Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw, College Football Playoff CFO Reid Sigmon and Sun Belt Athletic Directors
- 4:00 PM – 4:25 PM – Georgia State – Head Coach Trent Miles – Student Athletes: Joseph Peterson (Jr LB) and Keith Rucker (So. TE)
- 4:30 PM – 4:55 PM – Idaho – Head Coach Paul Petrino – Student Athletes: Maxx Forde (Sr DE) and Mike Marboe (Sr OL)
ESPN3 Broadcast Schedule:
- 1:03 p.m. – Sun Belt Commissioner, Karl Benson
- 1:11 p.m. – Mark Hudspeth, UL Lafayette
- 1:21 p.m. – Kenny Edenfield, Troy
- 1:31 p.m. – Dennis Franchione, Texas State
- 1:41 p.m. – Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern
- 1:51 p.m. – Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State
- 2:01 p.m. – Trent Miles, Georgia State
- 2:10 p.m. – Doug Martin, New Mexico State
- 2:20 p.m. – Blake Anderson, Arkansas State
- 2:30 p.m. – Joey Jones, South Alabama
- 2:40 p.m. – Paul Petrino, Idaho
- 2:48 p.m. – Todd Berry, UL Monroe
USA Softball Announces Hiring Of Assistant Coach
Rachele Fico of the National Pro Fastpitch Akron Racers will join the USA Softball team as an Assistant Coach after NPF season concludes. She previously played collegiately at LSU.
South Alabama head softball coach Becky Clark announced the hiring of former LSU standout pitcher and current Akron Racers ace Rachele Fico to fill the assistant coaching position formerly held by Mark Ryal who left for a similar position at Oklahoma State.
Fico will complete the 2014 season with the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch league before assuming her full-time coaching duties at South Alabama. This will be her first time as full-time coach after spending the last two season with the Racers and also after being selected number 1 overall in the 2013 NPF Draft.
Fico, an Oxford, Connecticut native, is currently the NPF’s leader in win with a 7-5 record this season. She has a 4.14 ERA and has struck out 42 batters in 72 2/3 innings pitched. She will look to help keep the Jaguar pitching staff on top after they finished last season with the NCAA’s best ERA at 1.29. Hannah Campbell led the way with a 0.95 ERA, good enough for third in the nation, while Farish Beard’s 1.23 ERA was good enough for sixth place in the country. Campbell was also selected third overall in the 2014 NPF Draft back in May and joined Fico at Akron. Beard will enter her senior season in 2015.
Fico, while at LSU, was a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First-Team All-American (2012, ’13), three-time NFCA All-South Region First-Teamer (2010,’12, ’13) and a three-time All-Southeastern Conference honoree (2010, ’12, ’13). She was a top-25 finalist for the USA SOftball Player of the Year award on two occasions.
During her freshman season at LSU in 2010 she was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and also made the All-SEC Freshman and Defensive Team lists. The next season she led the team to the 2011 NCAA College Station Regional where they eventually fell to Syracuse. Fico would be named to the All-Regional Team after an 18-strikeout performance against the Orange which tied her the second-most in LSU history.
She also brings Women’s College World Series experience to the Jags staff as she helped lead the Tigers to the 2012 WCWS in Oklahoma City after earning both wins over #9 seed nationally Missouri at the NCAA Columbia Super Regional. She also earned unanimous NCAA College Station Regional MVP after pitching back-to-back shutouts against Texas State and #8 national seed Texas A&M.
In her collegiate career at LSU she finished among the top-5 in appearances (149), starts (104), complete games (82), innings pitched (774), wins (78), saves (8), opposing batting average (.195), shutouts (32), strikeouts (797) and strikeouts per seven innings (7.21).
Welcome to JagNation coach Fico!