South Alabama Sports – Weekend Preview
Baseball
The Jaguar baseball team will host Arkansas State for a three-game weekend series at Eddie Stanky Field starting Friday evening at 6:30pm.
Locke St. John (3-1) will make his ninth start of the season against right hander David Owen (4-1) for the Red Wolves. USA enters the game after taking two of three games from Texas State last weekend but dropping a midweek game to Nicholls State 15-4. USA has an overall season record of 15-17 and a 5-6 record in the Sun Belt.
Saturday night the Jags and Red Wolves will get underway at 6:30pm again with right hander Kevin Hill (2-4) taking the mound against lefty Chandler Hawkins (2-4) for ASU. The two will round out the weekend with a 1pm start on Sunday with righty Bradley Wallace (3-3) taking the mound for ASU while USA has not named a starter for Sunday yet.
Arkansas State enters the game with an 18-15 record overall and an 8-4 record in conference play.
Softball
The Jaguars will be in Lafayette taking on fellow Sun Belt powerhouse Louisiana-Lafayette in a three game series. Saturday they will start it off with a double-header beginning at 2pm.
USA enters the game after a 3-2 win over Mississippi State and sporting a 31-6 record overall and a conference record of 8-2. ULL enters the weekend on a 13-game winning streak with an overall record of 28-6-1 and a perfect conference record of 9-0, which puts them on top of the standings for the conference.
Track and Field
The USA Men’s and Women’s track and field teams will compete in their third and final home event as they host the 14th annual South Alabama Invitational at Jaguar Track on Friday and Saturday.
Fellow Sun Belt schools Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Troy will be in attendance as well as Belhaven, Birmingham Southern, Loyola (La.), Tulane, West Florida and William Carey.
The Jaguars will also recognize 13 graduating seniors in a brief ceremony on Saturday. Tyler Agee, Nick Farell, Leah Hixon, Noelle Jones, Jarrod Kedzior, Tori Lawson, Jeff Long, Melissa McClusky, Adam Patterson, Garrett Schumacher, Alex Shields, Connor Smith, and Bobbie Williamson will be the ones honored.
Women’s Golf
The Women’s Golf team will compete in the Sun Belt Championships beginning on Monday at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Alabama. The event will run through Wednesday.
Football
Head coach Joey Jones announced that Quinton Dent has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to join the South Alabama football team this fall.
Dent played the previous two seasons at Laney (Ca.) Community College and is the second JuCo defensive back to sign with USA this spring and raises the number of secondary players in this recruiting class to ten.
Dent is a 6’3″, 180-pound native of Haines City, FL. He earned first-team all-Golden Gate Conference Central Division honors last fall as he helped his team to an 8-3 record. He recorded 32 total tackles, 23 of them solo, with three interceptions and a team-best 13 passes broken up.
USA Softball’s Campbell Selected Third Overall In NFP Draft
Hannah Campbell, selected third overall in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch Draft on Monday. She is the first Jaguar student-athlete and first female in school history to be drafted professionally. | usajaguars.com
South Alabama senior pitcher Hannah Campbell has blazed a trail since she stepped onto campus. She blazed a new one Monday afternoon when she became the first softball student-athlete and the first female in school history to be drafted professionally when she was selected third overall by the Akron (Ohio) Racers in the 2014 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft.
The Satsuma native has a 76-30 record in her three-and-a-half years at South Alabama with a career ERA of 1.66. She was the first Jaguar to ever be selected as an All-American when the National Fastpitch Coaches Association selected her for second-team honors.
She is also a three-time NFCA All-South Region selection and back-to-back Most Oustanding PLayer of the SBC Tournament in 2012 and 2013. She has thrown two perfect games in her career at USA, the only two in school history, and was named to USA Softball’s Top-50 “Watch List” for collegiate Player of the Year award.
She currently holds a number of USA Softball records including: Wins (76), Saves (15), Complete games (85), Shutouts (26), Strikeouts looking (162), and Fewest Walks Allowed per 7 Innings (1.28).
The Akron Racers finished third in the four-team NPF league last season with a 16-32 record. They are the oldest existing team in the league and are headquartered in Akron, Ohio. They competed in the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) for two seasons in 1999 and 2000 and has been part of the NPF since 2004.
Head coach Becky Clark said, “If you look at her body of work from the time that she’s been here, it’s incredibly impressive. For us to come in as quickly as we did into a conference that has such a powerhouse in Louisiana-Lafayette and for Hannah to be the pitcher on the mound that breaks their streak of Sun Belt Conference championships is phenomenal.”
“Her no-hitter last season against ULL was the crux of the [2013 Sun Belt Conference] tournament,” Clark continued. “She’s worked incredibly hard for all of this. She’s not scared to compete. She’s a great teammate, she has a great mental game and she wants to be the best at what she does.”
Congratulations Hannah! Not only is JagNation proud of you, but all of Mobile is proud of you!
USA Hires Mike Adams To Coach Linebackers
Former South Carolina State defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Adams will join the USA staff and coach linebackers. | Photo: scsuathletics.com
All but the official announcement has been released, but head coach Joey Jones has hired Mike Adams to fill one of the remaining positions on his staff.
Adams, the former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at South Carolina State will reportedly coach linebackers at South Alabama.
Adams joined the Bulldogs in 2006 as a defensive backs coach for two seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator and changed his assignment to the linebackers.
While at SC State, his defense was regularly considered one of the best units in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the FCS ranks. He helped lead the team to MEAC championships in 2008 and 2009 and a share of the championship in 2010.
Adams began his coaching career at his alma mater Ball State in 1997 as a student assistant working with the linebackers. He was then an assistant coach at St. Joseph’s (Indiana) where he coached several positions. In 1998 he coached wide receivers and running backs, then in 1999 he moved to the defensive side coaching defensive backs for two seasons.
After the 2000 season he accepted a position at West Georgia where he spent five seasons as a defesive backs and special teams coach prior to SC State.
Adams graduated from Ball State in 1998 with a bachelor’s in sports administration.
His 2010 defensive unit at SC State finished in the top five in several defensive statistical categories. They finished first in the nation in total defense, rushing defense and passing defense. They finished second in the nation in scoring defense, sacks per game, Pass Efficiency Defense and 1st downs allowed. They finished fifth in 3rd down conversions and sixth in the nation in tackles for loss.
He coached the defensive player of the year for the MEAC, had one player named to the 1st Team All-Conference honors and five named 2nd Team All-Conference.
In an interview with WNSP, it was mentioned he had a recommendation from Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage.
Welcome Coach Adams!
USA Softball Heads To Baton Rouge Instead Of Athens Georgia
The University of South Alabama softball team will not make their trip to Athens, Georgia this weekend. The 2014 Georgia Softball Classic has been cancelled due to wintry conditions.
Instead the Jaguars have picked up a trip to Baton Rouge. They will face Northwestern on Saturday at 10am then the #21 ranked LSU Tigers at 3pm.
“We were looking forward to facing some quality opponents in Athens [Ga.] this weekend,” said head coach Becky Clark. “But, fortunately, LSU was able to work us into their tournament, so we’re happy to still face a couple of quality teams on Saturday.”
Director Of Video Rumored For Position At BYU
It is being rumored that South Alabama video director Errol Seaver has accepted the same position at BYU. This has not been confirmed yet. He has been the director of football video at South Alabama for the past three seasons.
Robby Brown Set To Join Football Staff
Robby Brown, former assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Valdosta State is reportedly joining the USA Football staff as running backs coach. | Photo by Gary Hardamon – NSU Photographic Services nsudemons.com
According to the Shreveport Times, former Northwestern State offensive coordinator Robby Brown has tendered his resignation to join head coach Joey Jones’ staff as the running backs coach. If he is indeed going to be the running backs coach, this would signal another shift in responsibilities on the staff. But that will only be known for certain when the hire is officially announced.
Brown has an impressive resume.
Last season, NSU ranked 43rd in passing offense (234.6 yards per game) and 55th in total offense (390.4 yards per game) while setting a number of offensive records.
Previously he coached at Valdosta State who won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2012. As offensive coordinator, his offense averaged 469 yards and 40 points per game.
He also served as offensive coordinator at Henderson State in 2008 and Southwest Baptist in 2007 prior to joining Valdosta State from 2009-2012.
At Valdosta State, the offense ranked 13th nationally in total offense and 9th nationally in scoring in 2012. His offense led the Gulf South Conference in all major offensive statistics and his quarterback earned Division II All-Region honors.
His offense in 2010 ranked 25th nationally in total offense with 418 yards per game and 12th in passing with 286 yards per game while one of his receivers set the GSC career receptions reocrd.
His records continue to mount. In 2007 at Southwest Baptist, Brown’s players set 29 school records, six Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association marks and two national records. Flanker Nick Smart broke the NCAA All-Divisions record with 143 receptions and was an All-American.
In 2008 at Henderson State, his offense ranked third in Division II in passing with 330 yards per game and 18th in total offense with 448 yards per game. They set 12 school records including points per game (32.8) and yards per game. He had an All-American and two All-GSC selections including a receiver who ranked second nationally with 121 yards per game. Meanwhile his quarterbacks ranked sixth nationally in passing yards per game with 321.
He played quarterback at Georgia Tech under coach Chan Gailey as the Yellow Jackets won the 2002 Humanitarian Bowl and the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl as he played in the final series both years. He previously played at Georgia Military College and was a standout at Union County High in Blairsville, Georgia where he was a four-year letterwinner and was the team MVP and captain. He also played baseball and basketball and attended Hargrove Military Academy for one year.
He began his coaching career in 2005 at Troy under head coach Larry Blakeney. In 2006 offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and Neal Brown joined the staff and helped the Trojans win the 2006 Sun Belt Conference championship and a huge offensive performance during the season.
Brown, 33, is a 1999 graduate of Union County High and earned a bachelor of history, technology and society from Georgia Tech in 2004 and a master’s degree in sports and fitness management from Troy in 2007.
Quarterbacks Coach Bryant Vincent To Be Named Offensive Coordinator At UAB
Quarterbacks coach Bryant Vincent during preseason camp in 2012. Vincent accepted the offensive coordinator position at UAB under head coach Bill Clark, formerly the USA defensive coordinator.
South Alabama takes another hit to the coaching staff as AL.com reports that quarterbacks coach Bryant Vincent has accepted the offensive coordinator position at UAB under head coach Bill Clark.
Vincent has served as an assistant coach for the Jaguars for the last three seasons and has been coaching the quarterbacks for the last two seasons. Prior to USA he was the head coach at Spanish Fort high school for four seasons where he won the 2010 Class 5A state championship. He coached one season at Greenville prior to that and has a 49-16 record as a head coach in the high school ranks. He was also n assistant coach at Charles Henderson, Spain Park and Hart County (KY) high schools.
Senior quarterback Ross Metheny completed 62% of his passes last season for 2,622 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions under Vincent’s tutelage.
This is the third assistant lost this offseason from head coach Joey Jones’ staff. Wide receivers coach Jerry Mack was named the head coach at North Carolina Central University, defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer left to be a defensive assistant coach under longtime friend and University of Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
His loss comes as a very tough time for the Jaguars as it is just over a week from National Signing Day and the staff is now down three recruiters in a key period.
Duwan Walker and Chuck Dunn, who both coached at South Alabama at some point, are expected to join him at UAB to further deepen the ties between the two schools.
“First of all, he’s a great man and a great coach and he did an excellent job at South Alabama these last three years,” South Alabama head coach Joey Jones told AL.com. “We wish him the best. He deserves to call plays and I think that’s what he wanted to do and they’ve got a good one in him.”
South Alabama DC Hired By Georgia
Defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer coaching the defense on the sidelines during one of the Jaguars home games. Sherrer leaves South Alabama after one season to join his friend and new Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt’s staff.
South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones will have to fill the defensive coordinator position for the second consecutive season as first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer was hired away by the University of Georgia.
Sherrer, 40, joins newly hired Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to coach on the defensive side of the ball. Sherrer coached the defensive backs at USA, but will likely coach either linebackers or defensive line at Georgia as Pruitt is expected to coach the secondary.
This is not a surprise to many as Sherrer and Pruitt have long had ties to each other. They both played at the University of Alabama, coached together at Hoover High School and both worked at Alabama in recent years.
This past season under Sherrer, the Jaguar defense ranked first in the Sun Belt in sacks (38), 2nd in scoring defense (25.2) and total defense (384.3) and tied for fourth in interceptions (11). The Jaguar defense ranked 50th in the nation in total defense, just five spots behind the Bulldogs.
This news comes just two weeks before National Signing Day, when high school players can sign their National Letter-of-Intents for the school of their choice.
Not necessarily related though, was the news that Shaquille Jones, a 6’2″ 165-pound defensive back from Palm Bay, FL., flipped his verbal commitment from South Alabama to the University of Louisville. He becomes the first verbal commitment to new UL head coach Bobby Petrino.
The secondary has been a position where the Jaguar coaching staff has focused a lot of their recruiting effort over the past year.
Other defensive commitments have reaffirmed their commitment to South Alabama via social media.
The timeline for the hire is a bit up in the air right now. With two weeks until National Signing Day, the staff will be focused on the recruiting trail. However, Jones would probably want to fill the position sooner rather than later and he has an advantage that just a year ago he was in the same position looking for a Defensive Coordinator. He probably has a few names already in mind from the last search along with new names from the last year.
One thing we know from experience is Coach Jones has hired great coaches each time there was an opening.
Former Jaguar Luis Gonzalez Eliminated From BWAA Hall Of Fame Ballot
Former Jaguar baseball player Luis Gonzalez was eliminated from the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot on Wednesday. Photo: downtownphoenix.com
Former Jaguar baseball Star Luis Gonzalez was on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year. Unfortunately it will be his only appearance.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of American announced the results of their annual vote as to whom, if any, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and Frank Thomas were all elected to the Hall of Fame as they were named on at least 75% of the 571 ballots cast.
Gonzalez received five votes which totaled 0.9% of the ballots which is below the threshold of 5% in order to continue to be considered by the BWAA. A player can remain on the ballot for up to 15 years as long as they receive 5% of the vote annually.
Gonzalez was an All-American first baseman for the Jaguars in 1988. He set the school record for RBI’s in a season with 80, which still stands. When he left USA after three seasons he held the school career record for games, runs, doubles, and RBIs. Those marks have sence been overtaken.
Gonzalez was selected by Houston in the fourth round of the 1988 draft.
As an outfielder he spent 19 seasons in the Majors. He is most notably known for his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning in the 2001 World Series for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the New York Yankees.
In addition to the Diamondbacks, he also played for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, LA Dodgers and the Florida Marlins.
In 2,591 games in his career he hit .283 with 1,412 runs, 596 doubles, 354 home runs, 1,439 RBIs, 1,155 walks and a .479 slugging average. He was a five-time All-Star selection and led the National League in hits in 1999 with 206. He scored 100 runs in each season from 1999-2001 and drove in 100 runs each season from 1999-2003. He also hit a career high 57 home runs in 2001.
South Alabama retired his jersey and has named their hitting facility the “Luis Gonzalez Hitting Facility” in his honor.
Wide Receivers Coach Jerry Mack Accepts Head Coaching Position at NC Central University
Wide Receivers coach Jerry Mack was named the head football coach at North Carolina Central University. | WTVD-TV http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd
Former South Alabama assistant coach Jerry Mack has accepted the head coaching position at North Carolina State. He becomes the 22nd head coach in NCCU history and his first head coaching position.
He replaces interim head coach Dwayne Foster who led the Eagles to a 5-7 record after former head coach Henry Frazier III was fired in August after allegedly violating the terms of a domestic voilence order. Mack just finished his second season as the wide receivers coach at South Alabama.
Mack, 33, played wide receiver at Jackson State and Arkansas State. He was an assistant coach at Delta State, Jackson State, Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Memphis before coming to Mobile. He also had three internships in the NFL with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
This is the second Jaguar assistant coach to accept a FCS head coaching position in the last two seasons. Former defensive coordinator Bill Clark was named head coach at Jacksonville State University last year.
Good luck coach Mack!