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’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.
Great Article Covering USA President Emeritus Gordon Moulton’s Memorial Service
President Emeritus V. Gordon Moulton 1940-2013 | Photo southalabama.edu
Cassie Fambro, a former editor in chief of the Vanguard now with AL.com, wrote a great article covering the memorial service for South Alabama President Emeritus Gordon Moulton.
Moulton passed away on Saturday after a year long battle with brain cancer, he was 73.
During the vigil, Gordon’s wife Geri shared a number of memories of president Moulton. Possibly the most poignant quote of the night was his words to his wife after finding out they what they were facing. He told her, “If you hug me, I can do it.”
Click here to read Cassie’s article, view the photos and please make sure to watch the video of Geri Moulton.
USA Sports Teams To Honor President Moulton This Season
All of the South Alabama sports teams will honor president emeritus Gordon Moulton by wearing a uniform patch or helmet sticker, whichever is most applicable.
The patch/sticker will be black and will simply have the initials VGM in white letters. Athletics Director Joel Erdmann hopes to have the helmet stickers ready for the Jags game against Troy on Saturday. However the patches will take longer to produce for other uniforms such as volleyball and soccer.
Moulton Memorial Set For Wednesday, Oct 2
President Emeritus V. Gordon Moulton 1940-2013 | Photo southalabama.edu
President Emeritus Gordon Moulton lost his battle with cancer on Saturday, September 28 at the age of 73. He has been with the University through most of it’s 50 years of existence.
Moulton joined the faculty of the brand new USA College of Business in 1966 at age 26. Later Moulton established the department of Computer and Information Sciences, now the School of Computing. He served as director of computer services, dean of administratove services and a 15-year appointment as vice president for services and planning. He served as president of the University since 1998 and was only the second president in USA’s 50 year history.
In his 15 years as president he was instrumental in transforming the University into one of the nation’s finest educational institutions. He created an economic development engine at USA that provides countless jobs and resources for citizens throughout Mobile and the region.
Moulton, a native of Donalsonville, GA, earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his master’s degree in business administration from Emory University.
In addition to more than 46 years of service, the Moultons have supported USA with more than $7 million in gifts toward numerous institutional priorities, including the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza, Geri Moulton Children’s Park at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, student scholarships, faculty support, USA’s creative writing program, athletics and many others.
Moulton’s contributions have been widely praised by the community. He was awarded the Civitan Mobilian of the Year award in 2002, and the Moultons’ service was forever commemorated in 2009 with the naming by USA’s Board of Trustees of the new landmark Gordon and Geri Moulton Bell Tower and Alumni Plaza.
During Moulton’s presidency, USA has:
• Grown in enrollment by a third to a record 15,000.
• Nearly doubled the number of degrees awarded to 75,000.
• Quadrupled its scholarship program and created the University Honors Program.
• Expanded its academic reputation and degree programs.
• Implemented student life enhancements including football and marching band and new recreation, dining and housing facilities.
• Completed more than a half-billion dollars in construction, supporting every mission of the University.
• Expanded health care through creation of the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and a major addition to USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, complementing efforts of the USA Medical Center and the physicians and professionals of the USA Health System, who treat more than 250,000 area citizens annually.
• Initiated the first comprehensive fundraising campaign at USA, generating more than $93.5 million to support all missions of the university.
• Become one of Mobile’s most powerful economic drivers, employing more than 5,600 people, and adding $2 billion annually to the area economy.
• Doubled its contract and grant research program, achieving the same Carnegie research ranking as Auburn University and the University of Alabama.
• Created the USA Technology and Research Park, employing 600 private sector professionals.
• Made numerous enhancements to the art, history and culture of the Mobile region.
One of the most visible transformations at the University during Moulton’s 46-year tenure has been an ambitious $500 million building program to provide a state-of-the-art atmosphere for learning, and to enhance the quality of student life.
Highlights of campus improvements during the Moulton administration include:
• USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
• USA Technology & Research Park
• USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital Expansion
• Student Recreation Center
• Shelby Hall (Engineering and Computing Sciences)
• Health Sciences Building (Nursing and Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions)
• Mitchell Center Arena
• Meisler Hall student services building
• University Library addition
• Gordon and Geri Moulton Bell Tower and Alumni Plaza
• Faculty Club
• Specialized Laboratory Building
• Stanky Field Renovation
• Laidlaw Performing Arts Center (Dramatic Arts and Music)
• Mitchell College of Business Renovation
• Joseph & Rebecca Mitchell Learning Resource Center
• JagTran Campus Transit System
• Geri Moulton Children’s Park
• Alfred and Lucile Delchamps Archaeology Building
• USA Baldwin County College of Nursing Complex
• Student Dining Facility
• Living-Learning Residence Halls, including Stokes Hall
• Campus Entry Portals
• Intramural Fields and Fieldhouse
• Football Fieldhouse and Practice Fields
• Marching Band Practice Field
• Multi-Use Facility — Track, Softball, Soccer
• Bookstore Renovation
• Student Center Bookstore Mall
• Student Center Renovation
• Renovation of PE Building and Old Recreation Center
• Glass Arts Building
• Sorority and Fraternity Houses
A community memorial is set for Wednesday, October 2 at the Mitchell Center. The memorial will begin at 4pm.
Moulton is survived by his wife, Geri (Shelley); a brother, Charles (Rita) Moulton, Albany, Ga.; and a sister, Anne Odom (Donald), Donalsonville, Ga. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gwen and John Curtis Moulton.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative at the University of South Alabama, in care of the USA Office of University Development, 300 Alumni Circle, Mobile, AL 36688-0002.
Jags Scheduled To Travel To South Carolina In 2014
The 2014 SEC schedules were released today and there was a surprise for South Alabama fans. Originally the Jags were scheduled to play against the University of Georgia in Athens, but it seems a shuffling of schedules occured between the announcement of the game and the actual schedule being released.
Georgia’s schedule now has Troy going to Athens on September 13, 2014 and the Jags going to Columbia, South Carolina on November 22, 2014 to face the Gamecocks. Originally Troy was scheduled to play South Carolina. Some sort of scheduling problem must have occurred at the SEC office causing the shuffling of schedules but the Jags will still come out with an SEC opponent and presumably a hefty payday for travel.
In 2014, the Jags also play non-conference games at Kent State for their third and final game of their two-for-one contract, at home against Mississippi State for the second game of their two-for-one contract and also host Navy for the final game of their home-and-home series.
Fans who were planning on going to the Georgia game now have a longer commute if they want to see the Jags against another SEC foe, but the upside will be that South Carolina will not have Jadeveon Clowny on their roster then. Just as a reminder, look at the hit he put on Michigan in their bowl game in January: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2013/1/1/3825442/jadeveon-clowney-dot-gif
Romelle Jones And Enrique Williams Among 14 From Sun Belt Named To Senior Bowl Watch List
Romelle Jones and Alex Page give chase to the FAU quarterback during the Jaguars win in 2012.
Two South Alabama Jaguars were among 14 Sun Belt players to be named to the Senior Bowl’s watch list that was released on Tuesday.
Romelle Jones, a 6’2″ 280-pound defensive lineman from New Orleans, and Enrique Williams, a 6′ 235-pound linebacker from Mobile’s Blount High School, were announced to be on the Senior Bowl’s watch list.
Jones was credited with 18 tackles last season with 11 of them being solo and two of them were behind the line of scrimmage. For his career he has 70 total tackles, 41 solo, 19 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two pass deflections, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. Last season Jones was hampered by a nagging injury.
Williams was the Jaguars number two tackler last season with 105 total tackles, 50 solo tackles, six tackles for loss, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. During his career he has 239 total tackles, 114 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight pass deflections, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and an interception.
South Alabama has had three players selected for the Senior Bowl. Courtney Smith was the first to be selected and played in the 2011 game. Last season Jake Johnson was a late add but tore his achilles on the first day of practice and was unable to participate in the game. B.J. Scott was another late add at defensive back and participated in the game.
The 12 players from the rest of the Sun Belt are: Arkansas State had defensive tackle Ryan Carrethers and running back David Oku; Georgia State had wide receiver Albert Wilson; Louisiana-Lafayette had wide receiver Darryl Surgent; Louisiana-Monroe had the most named to the watch list with quarterback Kolton Browning, wide receiver Je’Ron Hamm and wide receiver Tavarese Maye; Texas State had defensive tackle D.J. Yendrey; Troy had quarterback Corey Robinson; Western Kentucky had running back Antonio Andrews and inside linebacker Andrew Jackson.
The Senior Bowl is scheduled for January 25, 2014 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and will be televised by the NFL Network.
Coach Joey Jones Names Metheny Starter
Head Coach Joey Jones looking on as the Jaguars warm up for their game at North Carolina State in 2012.
Head coach Joey Jones announced on WNSP this morning that Ross Metheny will be the starting quarterback for the Jaguars when they open the season against Southern Utah in just over a week at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
After the coaches reviewed the film after the Saturday scrimmage, they began setting the depth chart to go into game-week preparation. Ross Metheny got the nod for the starting positionm however Brandon Bridge, who will also see playing time.
Quarterback has been the talk of the offseason and spring with Brandon Bridge being eligible after sitting out a year for transferring from Alcorn State to the Jags and a good spring practice earlier in the year. Coach Jones believes he has two quarterbacks he can win with and he will find a way to get those kind of players on the field. Also look for Trey Fetner to continue his wildcat ways when called upon. Just don’t expect the same rotation as last season between C.J. Bennett and Metheny.
The running back position will see Jay Jones, Cris Dinham (both transfers) and Kendall Houston share playing time with Julien Valentin and Terrance Timmons also getting some playing time. Valentin really impressed coach Jones in the scrimmage on Saturday with his performance. Kaleb Blanchard and Xavier Johnson may be redshirted this season.
The deepest position on the Jaguar offense, wide receiver, will see a lot of rotation. Senior Bryant Lavender, JuCo transfer Shaverez Smith and immediately eligible transfer Danny Woodson Jr. will all see lots of field time on the outside with Jereme Jones and T.J. Glover as inside slot receivers. Corey Besteda, Cameron Broadnax, Nathan Sassaman, Corey Waldon and Jake Howton will all see playing time, just how much time they will see in the rotation will be determined later.
Preseason All-Sun Belt pick Wes Saxton will be the starting tight end but Rush Hendricks and Davin Hawkins will all see the field as well. Ryan Onkka may be used as either tight end or as a full back in short yardage. Onkka, Jared Palmer and Kyle Sappington will all see some time but again, how much will be determined later.
Defensively the deepest position for the Jaguars is on the defensive line. Alex Page and Pat Moore will be the defensive ends with Theo Rich rotating in. Senior Romelle Jones and Montavious Williams will be the key inside defenders. Jesse Kelley, Ceasare Johnson, Jerome McClain and Randon Carnathan will all rotate in and may also see time at defensive end as well. Ridge James is listed as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker and will see some time in rotation.
At linebacker Enrique Williams, Clifton Crews and Bryson James will be joined by Maleki Harris as the big four. Harris will be a hybrid Linebacker/Safety player. Desmond LaVelle will also see time and each of the player can play inside or out on the defense.
The secondary was the most suspect position on the defense last season and as such has received the most offseason focus. JuCo transfer Montel Garner will most likely be an opening day starter at corner. Qudarius Ford, C.J. May, Anthony Harris, Tyrell Pearson and Darrius Morrow are all in the mix. And if they are not starters, they will see time in rotation. At safety Terrell Brigham, Charles Watson, Steffon Fuller and Steven Fuller are all in play. Charles Harris has been moved to linebacker and may join Maleki Harris and David Hawkins as hybrid safety/linebackers.
T.J. Glover and Shavarez Smith were mentioned as kickoff returners but expect Jereme Jones to be involved as well. Glover will be used on punt returns but Jones or Smith could be used as well.
Special teams has not been settled yet. Aleem Sunanon has been mentioned as the field goal kicker but he has competition from Logan Gunn. Incoming freshman Brandon McKee will probably handle kickoffs with Gunn possibly in the mix as well. Senior Scott Garber continues to hold the punter position but McKee is also giving him some competition for the position.
No surprises on the offensive line as senior Matt Calcagnini will get the starting center job with juniors Drew Dearman and Shaun Artz as guards and fellow junior Ucambre Williams and sophomore Chris May at the tackles.
Sun Belt Adds New Bowl As Tie-In
The Cramton Bowl will be the host site for ESPN Regional Television’s new Camellia Bowl. Photo Credit: Chris Pruitt | wikimedia.org
The Sun Belt Conference has a new bowl tie-in starting in 2014. ESPN Regional Television announced that they will create a new bowl game that will be named the Camellia Bowl and will be played at the newly renovated Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.
The new bowl game will pair the Sun Belt against the Mid-American Conference with former Troy Athletics Director Johnny Williams serving as the game’s Executive Director.
This bowl becomes the third in the state of Alabama along with the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile and the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham. Originally the Legends Bowl Group had expressed interest in developing a bowl game at Alabama State but they concentrated their efforts on an effort in Charleston, South Carolina after ESPN moved to create the Camellia Bowl.
With the addition of the Camellia Bowl, ESPN Regional Television now owns nine bowl games after they added the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho to their lineup last week. They also own the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg, Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Las Vegas Bowl, New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, Texas Bowl in Houston and the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.
This new bowl game is driven by the new college football postseason and smaller conferences that have more money due to the College Football Playoff contract. Those small conferences are seeking more bowl tie-ins.
Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said the geographical consideration and ESPN’s involvement made the Montgomery bowl game a sensible choice for the conference as a third bowl tie-in. “The fact that ESPN is involved in the game from a business standpoint makes the bowl an immediate good business deal,” he said. “It eliminates the investment that the Sun Belt has had to make in other bowls.”
Benson continued, “Some of these deals in the past were advertising a $750,000 guarantee (to schools) and be required to buy $750,000 in tickets. What we expect out of Montgomery is a business model that will actually guarantee the Sun Belt and the MAC some revenue that isn’t tied to ticket sales. There will be more revenue on the front end.”
The deal with the Camellia Bowl is that the Sun Belt will guarantee to purchase 2,500 tickets. This is a new trend in college football bowl contracts where conferences buy fewer tickets and have more leverage with bowls in contractual terms.
The Sun Belt already has primary bowl tie-ins with the GoDaddy.com Bowl and New Orleans Bowl but commissioner Benson has not given up on a fourth bowl tie-in in Little Rock, Arkansas. “We haven’t given up on Little Rock yet,” he said. “The Sun Belt is still very interested in Little Rock, but we obviously need to have an opponent. I think Little Rock, for some of the same reasons that Montgomery worked, makes just as much sense as a game in Memphis or Shreveport or Birmingham or anyplace else in the footprint.”
Two other bowl sites continue to be interested in the Sun Belt conference. Orlando and Charleston, South Carolina. However, Charleston has a NCAA ban due to the Confederate flag remains on display on the State House grounds.
But the issue that some may be asking themselves is ‘Will there be enough eligible teams for the bowl games.’ That is a good question. Last season we were talking about how South Alabama could have been eligible for a bowl game even though they were not a FBS member and thus eligible for a bowl choice. In the end, the new rule passed by the NCAA did not need to be used as, in the end, they had enough bowl-eligible teams to fill all the bowl slots.
Montgomery has spent about $10 million to renovate the Cramton Bowl. The stadium was built in 1922 and has a listed capacity of 25,000. It hosts the Raycom College Football All-Star Classic held each January. It previously was the site for the Blue-Gray Football Classic, an all-star game that was normally held on Christmas day, from 1939 through 2001.
Danny Woodson Jr Cleared To Play Immediately For Jags
Danny Woodson Jr. catching a pass in practice in preparation for the Crimson Tide’s National Championship game. Photo credit: C. W. Griffin | Miami Herald
The University of South Alabama received some huge news on Friday afternoon. The NCAA approved a waiver filed by the University on behalf of Danny Woodson Jr. which will make the wide receiver eligible to play immediately for the Jaguars.
Woodson is a 6’1″, 201-pound native of Mobile. He spent the last two seasons at the University of Alabama and appeared in six games for the Crimson Tide during last year’s national championship run. He will have three years of eligibility remaining at South Alabama. He enrolled at the University over the summer.
Woodson graduated from LeFlore High School and was a four-star recruit according to ESPN.com recruiting services. Three other national recruiting services had him listed among the top 30 in the nation. As a senior at LeFlore, he caught 78 passes for 1,360 yards with 25 touchdowns as the Rattlers advanced to the quarterfinals of the state 5A playoffs.
During his senior season Woodson earned a first-team all-state honors from the Alabama State Writers Association.
He has eligible to practice with the team while his waiver was being considered but now he will be able to continue practicing with the team through the rest of camp and preparation for the season including the Jaguars second preseason scrimmage set for Saturday beginning at 9am at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.