Jaguar Fans Watching The Tropics
TS Isaac projected path from advisory 13A.
South Alabama is slated to open the 2012 football season on Thursday, August 30 against Texas-San Antonio with kickoff set for 6:30pm. However, the weather could cause problems with the game and possibly preparation.
Currently tropical storm Isaac is approaching Haiti and the Dominican Republic however the current track has the center of the storm very near Mobile by 2am Wednesday. If Isaac continues at it’s current speed, it should not gain much strength over the warm Gulf waters and make landfall as a Category 1. However if it slows then it could strengthen.
We will keep our eyes on the tropics this coming week and hope that it does not interfere with the game and preparation leading up to the game.
Help Jordan Means Kick His Cancer
Jordan Means – Photo from usajaguars.com
Former Jaguar kicker Jordan Means is fighting cancer. Friend Jacey Blaire has graciously announced that 100% of her tips from 5pm til close today will be donated to Jordan for his fight against cancer.
Jordan, the first Jaguar football All-American, graduated in May then diagnosed in June with cancer. After surgery to remove it in July, he received bad news from his oncologist that most recent bloodwork showed that he needs chemotherapy immediately.
Jacey works at Picklefish at 5955 Old Shell Road, right across from campus and the Jaguar Softball Complex.
Come out Jaguar Nation and help one of our own.
If you can’t make it out today you can also donate online at http://www.giveforward.com/insuranceexpired
AJC Reports GSU’s Bill Curry To Retire After 2012 Season
The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Georgia State’s Head football coach Bill Curry will retire following the 2012 season. It is believed that he will tell his players on Wednesday morning before practice.
This comes in the midst of the Panthers transition to FBS and joining the Sun Belt.
Curry began in college football when he played at Georgia Tech. He then went on to play in the NFL for ten years and was part of three championship teams. He then returned to the college football ranks by coaching at Georgia Tech before going to Alabama where he was named the national coach of the year. He then left for Kentucky before he went into broadcasting with ESPN as an analyst.
In 2008, he was hired by Georgia State to start their football program from scratch. His first two seasons he led the Panthers to a 6-5 record followed by a 3-8 record last season.
Curry’s expected announcement is not completely unexpected. He will celebrate his 70th birthday in October. He has repeatedly given the same answer when asked if he if he was going to stay on with the school. He continually answered that he would make that decision when the season ends in November.
Some of the factors that will play into his decision is his health and possibly spending more time with his family.
You can read the AJC’s full article here.
UPDATE: This morning Georgia State University has called a press conference for 1pm Eastern.
Jags Net A Player On CBSSports.com’s All-Sun Belt Team
The University of South Alabama has one of their own named to the CBSSports.com 2012 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
Staff Writers J. Darin Darst named guard Darius McKeller, a former Alabama recruit who transferred to South Alabama, as one of two offensive guards on his list. He calls McKeller his “darkhorse in the Sun Belt”. McKeller is at 6’6″ 295 in the article but on the Jaguars roster he is listed at being 325 now.
Look at the rest of the All-Sun Belt team here.
Go Jags!
Jaguar Men’s Basketball To Hold Public Scrimmage On Friday
The USA Men’s Basketball team will hold a public intrasquad scrimmage on Friday afternoon. The scrimmage will be held at the Striplin Practice Facility next to the Mitchell Center.
The scrimmage will begin at 4pm.
This is the teams final prep before they begin a preseason exhibition tour through Canada. They are scheduled to play three games next week against Canadian universities.
Go Jags!
Jags Basketball Prepping For Canadian Tour
A Frustrated Coach Arrow sheds his coat.
The Jaguar basketball team is gearing up for its summer exhibition tour through Canada. While preparing for this trip, Coach Arrow knew a few things must be addressed from last season. Last year’s Men’s basketball team ranked near the bottom of the SBC in the assist/turnover ratio and in turnover margin.
But with the experience of returning seniors Trey Anderson and Wendell Wright to help steer their new teammates Dre Connor and Barrington Stevens, Coach Arrow believes this team will be better. Anderson finished sixth in the conference in assists per game.
Coach Arrow has plans to help improve ball security. He is utilizing basic drills with high-pressure, game-like conditions with pressing defensive intensity to help ready them for game time.
“It doesn’t do you any good to dribble and pass with nobody on you—you have to do it with ‘heat’ on you to be able to fully develop those skills,” Arrow said. “We’ve tried to put as much pressure on those guards as we can. Today we’ll start working on our presses and working full court, which will enable them to not only do it in half-court situations, but in full court, with double teams and making decisions in the full 94 feet.”
Connor is a JuCo transfer while Stevens is a freshman. The third new member of the backcourt is Junior transfer Antoine Allen. He is formerly from Miami and will give the Jags an additional outside shot threat. “Antoine is further ahead than the other two guards,” Arrow commented. “I think a lot of it has to do with strength. He’s a lot stronger than they are and he’s able to maneuver and get open better because of that strength factor. He’s played at a higher level than they did at Miami. All of those things combined have allowed him to be further ahead than those two.”
The Jags will continue to work throughout the week before opening their exhibition tour on August 13 against Windsor.
Odumosu Falls Short Of Medal Stand
Former Lady Jaguar Track and Field star Ajoke Odumosu finished eighth in the finals of the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday.
While she finished eighth in the finals and fell short of the medal stand, she did not go home empty handed. Odumosu was already the national record holder, but she extended her all-time mark in the semifinals with a 54.40-second time.
Odumosu was an eight-time SBC individual champion, three time title holder in both the outdoor 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles and two titles in the indoor one-lap sprint.
She was a three-time NCAA qualifier as well as the first female Jaguar to receive All-AMerican honors. Then in 2006, she was named to the SBC All-Time Outdoor team. Odumosu still holds the South Alabama records in the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash, the 400-meter hurdles and the indoor 4×400-meter relay.
She was on the Jaguar Track and Field team from 2004-2007.
Former Women’s Hurdler Competes In Olympic Final On Wednesday
As reported before, former Jaguar track and field standout, Ajoke Adumosu advanced into the semifinals of 400-meter hurdles for her home nation of Nigeria.
Odumosu finished atop her heat and advances to the finals of the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the 2012 London Olympics. Odumosu ran a personal and Nigerian best time of 54.40 seconds in her semifinal heat. She will compete against sevel other world-class hurdlers on Wednesday to see if she can place on the medal stand.
This will mark her second finals appearance in the Olympic games. She made the finals four years ago in Beijing China.
NBC will air coverage of the Women’s 400-meter hurdles finals with a rolling broadcast schedule beginning at 2:45pm CDT.
Go jags! And Good luck Ajoke!!
Former Jag Into The Olympic Semifinals Of Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles
A former University of South Alabama track and field standout is participating in the London Olympics. Ajoke Odumosu finished third in her heat on Sunday to advance through round one in the Women’s 400-meter hurdles.
Odumosu, a native of Lagos, Nigeria recorded a time of 54.93 which is just shy of her season-best 54.75 to finish third in the second of five heats to qualify for her second semifinal appearance in the Olympic Games. Four years ago she qualified for the semifinals in the same event in Beijing, China in 2008.
Odumuosu participated with the Jaguars from 2004-2008 and was an eight-time SBC individual champion. She recorded three titles each in both the outdoor 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles while also earning two titles in the indoor one-lap sprint.
She was also a three-time NCAA qualifier and was the first Jaguar female to receive All-American honors. She was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Time Outdoor Team in 2006. She still holds records at South Alabama in the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash, the 400-meter hurdles and the indoor 4×400-meter relay.
Odumosu is scheduled to run in the third heat on Monday, August 6.
Junior WR Corey Waldon Undergoes Knee Surgery
South Alabama’s Junior Wide Receiver Corey Waldon underwent knee surgery on Friday. Waldon, who was held out of practice on Thursday, will likely miss 3-5 weeks but aim to have him ready for the Jaguars season opener against UTSA on Thursday, August 30.
Trainer Jinni Frisbey said that his surgery went well.