USA Rugby Victorious over USM
Match Report from Coach Darwin for USA vs. USM 9/22/2012
In their first match of the season the South Alabama Jaguars travelled to Hattiesburg, MS to face the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Many of the guys in the roster were starting in their first ever rugby match. The weather for the match was warm and sunny and for the first time ever the Jaguars were playing on turf.
The referee was Jim Harsh and the match was kicked off at 1:30. Both teams agreed to play 4 – 20min periods – Jaguars would receive the kickoff. The first period was back and forth with several knock-ons and minor infractions as both teams settled into their roles. The referee did well to manage the young teams but eventually the Jaguars were penalized deep in their own end for improper binding in the scrum.
The Golden Eagles weren’t able to capitalize on the penalty and the Jaguars roared back to push the Eagles back into their own half. Several back to back penalties against the Eagles allowed the Jags to kick for touch and move the ball into scoring position. Gabriel Torres touched the ball down in the corner of the end zone @35 min. into the match. The try went unconverted. 5-0 USA. The Eagles woke up and went back to work and were finally able to put points on the board with a penalty kick from just inside the Jags 22 meter line. 5-3 USA.
More loose play from both teams saw one knock on after another. The scrum that followed was penalized after the ref again noticed improper binding in the front row forwards. Golden Eagles took the opportunity to take a small lead with a penalty kick just before halftime leaving the score at 5-6 USM. Both teams retired at halftime but only one team returned – the Jags focused on getting it right at the breakdown and amped up their constant pressure on the #9 and #10. Once they got possession they drove down the field off a series of pick and go’s inside the 22 until CJ Leggett picked up the ball from the back of a ruck 3 meters from the goal line and dove in under the sticks to score his first ever try in his first ever game! Carlos Gemenez converted the try to bring the score to 12-6 USA.
The Jaguars minimized their penalties in the second half and were only dinged for an early push in the scrum, and a dangerous tackle over the entire second half. The Eagles however were not quite as disciplined and the Jags marched down the field. Gabriel Torres bagged his second try from a pick and go off the back of the scrum and dotted down to the right of posts with 10 minutes remaining in the match. The conversion missed and the Jags led 17-6. The Golden Eagles played physical until the end but not before Carlos Gimenez was able to break through a tackle and swerve around the Eagles fullback to score his first ever try in his first ever match! Conversion was kicked wide right ending the match and leaving the final score at 22-6! Jags win! Jags win!
USA Rugby Team poses after a victory against USM
Taylor Broke Two Bones In Right Leg Against MSU
South Alabama’s Anthony Taylor, a 6’3″ 225-pound senior defensive end/outside linebacker, will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken leg early in the first quarter against Mississippi State on Saturday.
Initially it was reported that he had fractured his fibula. However during surgery, doctors found that he had also fractured his tibia. Director of sports medicine Jinni Frisbey reported that Sunday’s surgery to repair the break went well.
Taylor has been a member of the Jaguars since the programs first season in 2009. He came into this season with 49 total tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks with an interception and four pass deflections. This season Taylor had recorded eight tackles, two sacks and three tackles-for-loss.
With Romelle Jones’ injury that will keep him out for a couple weeks, Taylor’s loss will affect the depth the Jaguars had at defensive line. But worst of all is that Taylor will miss the remainder of his senior season.
Jaguar Nation will be pulling for Taylor to make a full and speedy recovery.
Mobile Native John Hartwell To Be Introduced As Troy’s New AD On Friday
On Wednesday, Troy University announced that Mobile native John Hartwell was selected to be the next Athletic Director for the University. Hartnell comes from Ole Miss where he has spent the last nine years in their athletic department. He is in his third year as the schools senior executive associate AD which is the schools number two administrator in athletics.
He will be officially introduced as the Troy AD in a press conference scheduled for Friday.
He will take over for Steve Dennis who abruptly resigned from his position earlier this year to seek other career opportunities. Dennis was in his eighth year as the Trojan’s AD.
Former South Alabama athletic director Joe Gottfried has known Hartwell for a long time. Hartwell played basketball alongside his son Mark, who is the head basketball coach at NC State.
Hartwell is a 1987 graduate of The Citadel and spent more than four years as a CPA with Ernst & Young before returnig to The Citadel to act as the director of an internal audit in 1991. During his three years at The Citadel, he was also the color commentator for the Citadel Network covering basketball. He then served as the CFO for a beverage distributor on the South Carolina coast from 1994-1997.
Hartwell began in athletics administration as an assisstant AD for business at Georgia State in 1997. He was later promoted to associate AD for internal affairs in 1999 and his reponsibilities grew to include sport supervision for Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Golf and Men’s and Women’s Track and Cross Country.
Hartwell also had oversight of athletics facilities and game management in addition to his previous responsibilities of all financial aspects of the department. While at Georgia State, he would earn a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration.
EA Sports Is Making Good On Their Promise
Earlier this year, it came to fans attention that South Alabama was not “in the game” as EA Sports commercials suggest. When a preview was released, fans scoured through and could not find South Alabama. That’s when Jaguar Nation started making waves and their pleas did not fall on deaf ears.
At first EA ignored the fans and simply said that they didn’t know in time to include them in the game. An answer us fans refused to simply accept. Then EA announced that, due to the oversight, they were going to give the Jags the first class treatment usually reserved for the top tier teams.
Fast forward to this week. EA Sports has been in Mobile at Ladd-Peebles Stadium since Thursday collecting data, photographic and video scans and interviewing the coaching staff for inclusion in the 2014 edition of the game due out next summer.
According to Ben Haumiller, EA Sports site producer, South Alabama was not included in the 2013 game that came out earlier this year. They were the only team of the 124 FBS Schools that was not included. Last weeks opponent, Texas-San Antonio, is included even though they started football after South Alabama. So is Texas State. But EA Sports offered to make it up to the school and Jaguar Nation by providing extras for the Jags when they are included in the game next year.
EA Sports sent a four-person crew for a three day information gathering trip in preparation for their addition to the game. They have performed a stadium scan that will duplicate Ladd-Peebles Stadium exactly. Also crowd noise and fan chants during the game will be use “In the game”. Interviews with members of the coaching staff will help the developers make the play-calling and offensive and defensive formations as accurate as possible. South Paw was also filmed on Thursday for inclusion in the “Mascot Mash-Up” option in the game.
The crew will film the cheerleaders and the football team as they run-out of the entrance onto the field today. They will recreate that in game.
“It’s neat because a lot of the players are fans of the game and a lot of coaches may have played (similar) games when they were younger but have probably gotten away from it. But they understand the significance of it and for their team it can be a great team-building exercise,” said Haumiller of their reception in town this week. “The (players) will get together on a Friday night and play the game all night long. … Kids are learning about the sport. They’re learning what a cover 2 defense is at a younger age because they learn it playing the game. They love the fact that we are here to promote their school because it’s a big recruiting tool as well. To be able to say that EA was at South Alabama, hey we weren’t anywhere else this weekend.”
Haumiller said he was disheartened when they realized South Alabama had been omitted from the game. Their next step was to make sure South Alabama were “taken care of” for the next version of the game. “We could not have been any more embarrassed and saddened that it happen,” Haumiller said. “So that was one of the things where we wanted to make it right and how this trip became involved, getting everything we possibly can get to represent South Alabama so when they do make their debut it’s the right debut. It’s not just, yes, we added them, it’s yeah, here they are, and this is everything about them.”
Thursday, two EA Sports representatives met with coaches about their playbook, which the team is going to put together a DVD of some of its plays for them to use in the game. They also filmed South Paw and talked with other school officials as well.
Meanwhile, environmental artist Gregory Palinkas and Dan Goodman worked 12 hours at Ladd-Peebles Stadum to collect photographs, scan the stadium’s interior and exterior all to painstakingly recreate the look of South Alabama football in the game.
“We’re doing scans and photograph references, capturing material information, so we can get everything down to the gravel so that we can capture everything as true to life as we can,” Palinkas said.
The main work was doing the scans. “That scan is amazing,” Palinkas continued. “… We’re capturing 44 million points per scan. We’ll be able to pick up every nut and bolt that makes up this place. It’s insane. It’s fantastic. It not only will scan the points but it will take color photographs and when you put it into the software (in process of building the stadium for the game) you can overlay the color into those points and you get an accurate representation of the colorization of the lights during the day, what the different materials look like. It’s really outstanding.”
This is what Palinkas referred to as the “Big Tour” which is work normally reserved for the upper-tier teams. And now, South Alabama. All because we were omitted.
“We’ll be here Saturday for game day to capture what the crowd sounds like, get some crowd audio in, get more photograph references of the crowd itself. Because this is going to be South Alabama’s first time in the game we want to make sure that we absolutely nail it and get everything as close as we can to perfection so when you guys buy the game they’ll see the stadium just as it is,” Palinkas stated.
When they finish collecting data today, they will head back to their offices in Orlando, Florida and begin the process of putting all that information together for the Jags inclusion in the game. While this process will take about four to five weeks to complete, it will not stop there. After the stadium is recreated, the crowd noise is added and the plays and formations are added there will be continual updates and tweaks make until the last moment before the game is shipped off for disc pressing. Then the Jags will be included with all of the other 123 FBS schools “In the game”.
While the fans may be sad that they were left out from the beginning. In hindsight it was a blessing in disguise. Now South Alabama will be included the same way as Alabama, Michigan, USC and other “top-tier teams”.
May we suggest a limited edition cover while we are at it?
Mock-up of Kendall Houston on the cover of NCAA Football 13. But it would be just as good if it were NCAA Football 14.
C.J. Bennett as the alternate cover for NCAA Football 13.
Go Jags!
Mississippi State Planning White Out Against Jags
Away Game tickets to Mississippi State and North Carolina State Universities for 2012. Notice how much nicer the MSU tickets are than NCSU tickets. I guess things are bigger and better in the SEC.
I picked up my away game tickets ahead of trips to North Carolina State and Mississippi State and noticed something on the MSU tickets immediately. Well, not immediately, because comparing the NC State tickets to MSU tickets I was awed by how much nicer they are than the Wolfpack’s tickets. But once I got over that, I noticed that printed on the ticket was “White Out” as you can see in the photo.
Previous attempts at “Black out’s” and “White Out’s” have not gone well for teams. Look back at the famous “Black Out” by Georgia versus Alabama a few years ago. Hopefully the Jags can come into Davis Wade Stadium and add another nightmare to that “color Out” trend.
But the next question will be, do the Jags wear their Red uniforms, their Blue Uniforms or a mix and match? We’ll find out and let you know.
EA Sports To Be At Stadium On Saturday
Mock-up of Kendall Houston on the cover of NCAA Football 13. But it would be just as good if it were NCAA Football 14.
EA Sports is set to be at the Jaguars game versus the Nicholls State Colonels on Saturday. EA Sports admitted they made a mistake leaving out the University of South Alabama in their 2013 edition of NCAA Football back in July (Coverage here).
Encourage everyone you know to show up for the game and BE LOUD!
In case you missed the previous post, the team will be wearing their BLUE uniforms. So, if you have them, bring your BLUE shakers and wear your BLUE shirts on Saturday.
Make sure to drink plenty of water or gatorade before the game as the high will be near 90 degrees. There is a chance of rain so pack a poncho just in case.
Go Jags!
C.J. Bennett as the alternate cover for NCAA Football 13 by J.T. Crabtree.
Ross’ Lingering Knee Injury Career Ending
Brandon Ross watching the Jaguars taking on UTSA on Saturday, September 1, 2012.
South Alabama running back Brandon Ross’ career appears to be over. Ross was working to return to the field after missing a year and a half following a knee injury and two surgeries.
Ross had looked good in preseason practices and scrimmages, even breaking a 55 yard touchdown in one of the scrimmages. He complained of occasional pain and soreness but he and doctors had said he would have to work through it and that it would get better.
Prior to the game on Saturday against UTSA, Ross had began experiencing more trouble with his knee. However, on Saturday he stood on the sideline only dressed out in his jersey and sweatpants.
“I think he’s done,” head coach Joey Jones said when asked about Ross’ status after the game on Saturday. “We had pretty much decided he would have to have a little more surgery again and I don’t think he wants to go through that again, so I think he’s going to hang it up. It was a little bit (of a surprise). He had performed well in the scrimmage but we knew he had been having some issues with the knee. I think it’s the best decision for him. I tell you, he’s a heck of a young man and I really respect his decision.”
Before his injury, Ross led the Jaguars in rushing in 2009 and up to the injury in 2010. Ross transferred to South Alabama after playing his freshman season at Memphis.
Fans Encouraged To Wear Red For UTSA
Jaguar fans, wear red tomorrow for the South Alabama vs Texas-San Antonio. Your Jaguars will be sporting their red jerseys and white pants.
According to equipment operations manager Jeff Bailey, the Jags have white and blue jerseys ready for this season along with red and blue pants. He also said that the team will wear a variety of combinations of uniforms this season.
Overview Of 2012 Football Rules Changes
Review of the 2012 football rules changes.
Kickoff and touchback starting line
Most football fans have already heard the news that kickoffs have been moved from the 30 yard line up to the 35 yard line. Also the kicking team’s players cannot line up any further than five yards away from the 35 yard line at the kick. The NCAA rules committee adopted this change in order to limit the running start kicking teams have during the play. They also voted to move the starting yard line for a touchback to the 25 yard line instead of the 20 yard line, which had been the starting spot for a very, very long time. This rules change was adopted to encourage more touchbacks.
Loss of Helmet During Play
The rules committee voted to treat the loss of a helmet during play, unless it was the result of a foul by the opponent, like an injury. If a player loses their helmet during the game, they will not be allowed to participate for the next play. Also, if a player loses his helmet during a play, he must not continue to participate in the play.
Blocking below the waist
The NCAA rules committee made a change last season that was meant to allow blocking below the waist when the opposing player is likely to be prepared for thsi contact. However that was not the case. Their clarification changed blocking below the waist is only allowed by offensive players in the tackle box at the snap that are not in motion. All other players will be restricted from blocking below the waist with a few exceptions such as straight ahead blocking.
Shield Blocking on Punts
The Rules committee reviewed several examples of shield blocking from last season. This new scheme has become more popular for teams. Viewers may have seen teams have players on the line of scrimmage and usually a line of three players half-way between the line and the punter. In several cases, the receiving team player who attempts to rush or block the punt will attempt to jump over this type of scheme. In some cases, these players were contacted and ended up flipping in the air and landing on their head or shoulders. They decided to adopt a rule similar to the leaping rule on place kicks. That rule on place kicks does not allow the receiving team to jump over blockers unless the player jumps straight up or between two players.
Additional protection to kick returners
Officials will have to interpret the rule that provides a one yard cushion to field the catch before the kicking team is allowed to make contact. This one yard cushion will only extend in front of the returners.
Bounty Program Education
The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports which is responsible for overseeing NCAA health and safety rules, along with the NCAA Committee of Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct, dicussed the issue at their summer meetings. They reaffirmed the rules prohibiting such activity. Specifically they strictly prohibit the targeting of opponents with intent to injure and will not be tolerated. Any programs proven to be in violation of these rules will be held accountable by existing NCAA rules. NCAA members, and student-athletes are encouraged to anonymously report potential violations involving bounty programs.
Health guidelines for the start of football practice
Preseason football practices begin with a five-day acclimatization period that applies to all student-athletes, including those who start practicing after the first day. Here is how the process is conducted:
- All incoming student-athletes must undergo a medical examination administered by a physician prior to participating in any preseason workouts.
- During the acclimatization period, participants are not to engage in more than one on-field practice per day which can last no more than three hours.
- During the first two days of that period, helmets are the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear. After that, only helmets and shoulder pads may be worn on the third and fourth days of acclimatization. On the final day of that period, and on any days thereafter, student-athletes may practice in full pads.
The remaining preseason practice period follows these steps:
- Teams can practice in full pads after the five-day period. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions (e.g., two-a-days or three-a-days) on consecutive days.
- Student-athletes can not participate in more than three hours of on-field practice activities on the days in which one practice is permitted.
- Student-athletes may not participate in more than five hours of on-field practice activities on the days in which more than one practice is permitted.
- On days that teams conduct multiple practice sessions, student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the last practice that day. During this time, student-athletes may not attend any meetings or engage in other athletically related activities (e.g., weightlifting). Time spent receiving medical treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time.
General Guidelines For All Fall Sports
The NCAA recommended additional procedures to be followed as a best practices for fall sports.
- Plan for a heat acclimatization period where student-athletes gradually increase exposure to hot, humid summer weather for a minimum of 10-14 days at the beginning of preseason activities. Activity during each exposure to heat should gradually increase in intensity and duration until the exercise is comparable to the exposure likely to be experienced in competition. During periods of intense heat, it is recommended that practices be scheduled during cooler times of the day.
- Walk-through sessions are not considered practices during the preseason, but just like multiple practice days, student athletes should also be given a rest period of at least three hours between practice and the walk-through. During the walk-through, student-athletes should not wear any equipment related to the sport or perform conditioning exercises.
- Student-athletes should not participate in practice sessions for more than six consecutive days. This includes any organized physical activity related to the sport, such as warm-ups, stretching, scrimmaging, weight lifting, fitness testing, conditioning, pilates, cool downs and non-medically related rehabilitation or captain’s practices.
Johnson And Scott Named To 2013 Senior Bowl Watch List
Just two short years ago South Alabama had it’s first player, Courtney Smith, selected to participate in the Senior Bowl. As the Jags enter into it’s fourth season, they have two players placed on the 2013 Senior Bowl watch list.
Linebacker Jake Johnson and Safety B.J. Scott were both named to their first-ever “Watch List” on Thursday. The comprehensive list names over 300 seniors and top NFL draft prospects from 114 different schools.
Johnson, a 6’1″ 240lb inside linebacker lead the Jags with 83 tackles last season and finished second with 6.5 TFL’s. He was selected as a Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection by Phil Steele Publications. He led the team in tackles in all 10 games last season with two games where he reached double-digits in tackles.
Scott, a 5’11” 205 pound safety, is set to begin his second season with the Jags after transferring in from the University of Alabama. The Prichard, AL native started the first seven games last season before suffering a season-ending injury to his knee. Even after missing the final three games he still finished fifth in tackles with 48 and a team-best four passes defended. He also set a school record with 180 kick return yards against Georgia State in the Georgia Dome last season.
The 2013 Senior Bowl is set for Saturday, January 26 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The top 100 seniors will be invited to participate and appearing on the watch list is not a requirement for a player to earn an invitation.
Go Jags!!