Karl Benson Interview Outlines Two SBC Divisions In Future
Karl Benson was interviewed during halftime of the South Alabama vs Troy first round match-up at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
He indicated that the Sun Belt may move up the date he begins to take over to March 15 rather than April 1.
When Benson was asked what prompted the move from the WAC to the Sun Belt, he said that it took strong decision making and analysis before making his final decision. But he though the Sun Belt was more stable than the WAC. Also, after 18 years as commissioner of the WAC and his age, he asked himself where he would want to end his career. The Sun Belt was the best opportunity.
Benson’s goal is to hit at least 12 teams for a conference championship, but also for greater scheduling alliances. He said the Sun Belt needs to get to two divisions so they can reduce some travel, not only in football, but also in the other sports. They want to maintain current membership and grow new members.
When asked about membership changes as a couple teams have been mentioned as possible invitees to the new conference being formed by the merger of Conference-USA and the Mountain West Conference. Benson said that they will have to accept membership changes if they come. The Sun Belt is very stable and they have several schools lined up on their list in case any team leaves.
When asked about possible BCS changes, since he was part of the BCS meetings, he said he thinks that the BCS will eventually go to a four team playoff. He does not know if it will be part of the bowls or seperate from it.
Finally he was asked if he anticipated a merger of the Sun Belt with any other conference, Benson said he does not anticipate that.
2012 Football Schedule Released
South Alabama has officially released their 2012 football schedule.
9/1 Texas-San Antonio
9/8 Nicholls State
9/15 @ N.C. State
9/22 @ Mississippi State
9/29 Troy
10/13 @ Arkansas State
10/20 Florida Atlantic
10/27 @ UL-Monroe
11/3 Florida International
11/10 @ North Texas
11/17 Middle Tennessee
11/24 @ UL-Lafayette
12/1 @ Hawaii
Barefield Dismissed From Team
It was reported this morning that Ken Barefield has been dismissed from the team for breaking unspecified team rules. He was the fourth leading tackler last season and started every game for the Jags in it’s three season history.
Barefield ends his Jaguar career with 114 total tackles, 63 solo, 7.5 TFL, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. But his experience, knowledge and passion will be missed the most. However, the Jags focused their recruiting efforts in the secondary this offseason so from a numbers standpoint, the Jaguars should be fine.
Nebraska Added to 2015, 2019 Football Schedules
South Alabama Coaches talking together before the NC State game.
South Alabama Athletic Director Dr. Joel Erdmann officially announced a two-game contract between the Jags and the Nebraska Cornhuskers from the Big Ten conference.
The jags will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska twice. Their first game is scheduled on September 12, 2015 and the second game is set as the season opener on August 31, 2019.
In 2015, the Sun Belt will the first year conference schools will have a nine-game schedule. The Jags non-conference games that year already include hosting NC State in Mobile and a trip to Annapolis, Maryland.
As for the 2019 season, the Jags are schedule to also have the nine-game conference schedule with the only other non-conference game confirmed is a September 28th trip to New Orleans to play Tulane.
In the upcoming 2012 season the Jags have non-conference games again NC State, Mississippi State and Hawaii on the road plus University of Texas-San Antonio and Nicholls State both in Mobile. The 2012 season will feature 13 games for the Jags as a NCAA rule allows teams to schedule an additional game if they travel to Hawaii to play.
Other teams the Jags will face in the near future are LSU (2016), Tennessee (2013), Georgia (2014), Ole Miss (2017), Mississippi State (2012, 2014 in Mobile, 2016), Oklahoma State (2017 in Mobile, 2018, 2020), NC State (2011 loss in Raleigh, 2012, 2015 in Mobile), Southern Miss (2020, 2021 in Mobile), Navy (2013, 2014 in Mobile, 2015, 2016 in Mobile), Louisiana Tech (2017, 2018 in Mobile), Tulane (2013, 2019, 2020 in Mobile) and Kent State (2011 loss in Ohio, 2013 in Mobile, 2014).
Head football coach Joey Jones remarked about the addition of the Cornhuskers to the Jags future schedule. “We’ve got another team to add to the list of many that we’re playing, big-time schools. This excites our players and everyone else in the football program. We know that every year we are going to play two or three big-time teams around the country. That’s what we want to do, we are looking forward to it. I don’t think it’s so much the conference than just looking to play the top-20 type teams in the country. We’d love to play USC or Oregon one day too, we want to play those caliber of teams, to get to that level, we have to face them. That’s why we’re doing it.”
South Alabama completed their fourth practice of the spring this morning and will hold their first Saturday practice in two days with their spring football game scheduled for 2pm on Saturday March 24th.
Karl Benson Officially Announced As New Sun Belt Commissioner
As reported, Karl Benson was officially introduced as the Sun Belt’s new commissioner when Wright Waters officially steps down from his 12 years as commissioner in the coming months. Mr. Benson will join the SBC in April and will be full-time on July 1.
Troy University’s Dr. Jack Hawkins delivered the opening statement giving a history of the Sun Belt since it’s inception in 1976. The SBC is one of 11 BCS conferences since they added football in 2001. He also mentioned how the SBC is ranked sixth among the 32 Division I conferences.
He also mentioned that 90% of SBC teams have earned a multi-year progress rate of 925 or higher. But he touted that the real strength of the conference was it geographical distance between its schools being a regional conference. He said its proximity to each other fosters natural rivalries, helps to save money by reducing travel costs and makes sense for each schools fans. It also makes sense for student-athletes who have to take time away from campus to participate in athletic events.
Mr. Benson opened with a statement thanking the Sun Belt school presidents and chancellors for choosing him for his position. He mentioned that it is an uncertain time in college sports and that the Sun Belt is well positioned to take advantage of it.
He then praised Mr. Waters’, the previous Presidents and Chancellors for their leadership in continually shaping the the conference into the conference it is today.
The Sun Belt schools are gaining national attention as they build new stadiums and arenas, winning contests by both men’s and women’s teams, fan attendance at contests continually rise, and operating budgets are getting larger while more contests are being televised.
They then opened up to questions from members of the teleconference.
One of the first questions was about future plans for adding teams to the conference. “Again as we settle in and look at the potential and looking at the future of membership is an important one,” Benson said. “The Sun Belt currently has ten football-playing schools and one non-football-playing school in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Without getting specific in terms of numbers, I think that there’s an advantage to getting to at least 12 to take advantage of additional post season opportunities. Know that in the coming weeks, the Sun Belt board will establish a committee that will look to evaluate the current membership and the future membership. Chancellor Hawkins mentioned the Sun Belt footprint in terms of geography and how conducive that is for the student-athletes from a travel standpoint, a participation standpoint, and fan travel. The Sun Belt footprint also provides a pool of possible numbers that are already in that footprint: current FBS members, as well as FCS members that have indicated interest in perhaps in moving to FBS. Again it will be a very important piece in the coming months.”
Another question was about what things are attractive for current members to remain in the Sun Belt. “The fact that there has been Sun Belt members mentioned as part of the Conference USA-Mountain West merger is a testament to the program growth that the Sun Belt individual institutions have made along with the Sun Belt as a conference in general,” Benson said. “The Sun Belt has established itself as a credible, as a bona fide Division I BCS conference. I think that we hope to be able to demonstrate in the coming weeks that the future is bright for the Sun Belt that in light of the changes that have occurred in Conference USA, in the Mountain West, in the WAC, that the Sun Belt position in terms of the hierarchy of the so-called non-AQ conferences has increased tremendously, and the opportunity for the Sun Belt to succeed in a manner that will provide the current membership with greater bowl opportunities, with greater television opportunities, with greater revenue opportunities that we will be able to demonstrate that the Sun Belt is on par with any other of the non-BCS conferences.”
Another question was about how he would approach potentially adding teams from the WAC to the Sun Belt. “Right now I’m focusing on the 10 football playing members of the Sun Belt along with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and focusing on how to make the Sun Belt a stronger conference, a more attractive conference and once I officially move into the chair, into the position, there will be a transition period where Wright [Waters] and I will be working together in the Sun Belt office,” Benson began. “At that time I will then focus on the bigger picture. It’s not the first time a commissioner moving from one conference to the other. There may be sensitivity and perhaps some awkwardness. I think everyone understands that once you change positions that you are now responsible and obligated to that conference. I will certainly do that with the Sun Belt.”
ESPN Reports That WAC Commissioner Karl Benson To Replace Wright Waters As SBC Commissioner
Benson is a 60-year old Boise State alum who has been the WAC commissioner since 1994. During his tenure, he has helped to reshape the conference numerous times as teams came and went.
Recently Boise State left the WAC for the Mountain West while Nevada, Fresno State and Hawaii are all leaving after this season for the Mountain West. The WAC is left with Utah State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Idaho and San Jose State and it has Denver, Seattle, Texas State, Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio joining for the 2012-13 season. Denver, Seattle and UT-Arlington do not have football programs. Boise State plans to rejoin the WAC in everything but football when it joins the Big East in 2013.
While the Mountain West and Conference USA are dissolving to for a new conference, the WAC is in danger of losing more schools as the new conference is targeting 18-24 schools.
South Alabama Gears Up For Spring Practice
Less than three months after the Jaguar football season ended, the team is gearing up for spring practice. Starting on Wednesday, the Jags will hit the practice field to begin preparation for their toughest season yet and the teams first playing a full FBS schedule.
While other schools are scheduled to start much later than South Alabama, the Jags want to hit the field sooner because the southern weather permits it and because it allows the student-athletes to devote more time to academics at a crucial time in the semester. April and May are typically the most difficult months because the semester is starting to wind down, projects are coming due and studying for final exams is in full swing.
“They can focus that last month, month-and-a-half, on academics instead of practicing football. I think that’s the number one thing. The second thing is injury. If we were to get somebody hurt, we have more time to get them back. And I think the fact that the weather is so good down here. We’ll have some cold days, but it’s not something that we can’t handle,” said Coach Joey Jones.
The Jaguar players will begin implementing Coach Matthews’ new offensive scheme as well as get acclimated to the new coaching responsibilities for some of the coaches.
On offense, Coach Matthews will take over coaching the offensive line, which he has much experience at while Coach John Turner will move to coaching the tight ends. Coach Bryant Vincent, who took over tight ends last season, will move over to coaching the quarterbacks. Coach Tommy Perry will continue coaching the running backs.
Defensively, Coach Kurt Crain will move from coaching the linebackers to the defensive tackles. Coach Brian Turner will move from coaching the defensive line to coaching the defensive ends. Coach Bill Clark, the defensive coordinator, will take over coaching the linebackers. Duwan Walker will continue coaching the secondary.
Coach Jones commented on the changes by saying, “Bringing coach Matthews in, he knew what he wanted from the offensive line and had coached tackles (previously in his career). Rather than trying to coach somebody else and having a learning curve there, I just felt like moving him in there and letting him coach it (was the best move). Next year, we could swap things back, but I felt like we really wanted to get that done this year. John, moving him to tight ends, he was extremely happy about that. It’s a different dimension for him, but he really liked the idea. And Bryant Vincent has been coaching quarterbacks his whole life.”
“Bill wasn’t really coaching a position, and I really wanted him to coach a position,” Coach Jones continued.
The Jags are scheduled to hit the practice field three times this week. On Wednesday and Thursday they are scheduled to workout in shorts beginning around 6:30am. On Saturday they are scheduled to work out in shells beginning around 9am. All spring practices will occur on campus at the Jaguar Football Complex except the final practice, the Jag Day Game, will be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium starting at 2pm on Saturday, March 24th.
After the first Saturday practice on February 18th, the Jags will take some time off for the Mardi Gras holiday before returning on February 23 for it’s first workout in full pads. Coach Jones has scheduled two scrimmages before the Jag Day Game, they will be held on Saturday, March 3 and again on March 8.
The team will have nearly two weeks off after the second scrimmage, 12 days total, for spring break before returning March 20 in full pads. They then practice in shells on March 22 before the Jag Day Game on March 24. Then following the spring game, the Jags will have its 15th and final practice on March 25 from 4-6pm to finish out the spring practice period.
“I think there is a ton of excitement over what we are doing offensively, not only from the players but the staff,” Coach Jones said. “Any time you bring a new coordinator in you pretty much have to start all over again, especially with terminology. Kids are coming in, studying and watching video on their own. Coaches are meeting constantly, hours upon hours, starting all over again.”
Coach Jones continued, “Any time you end a season that way, you never want to say you wanted something like that to happen. But our coaches have talked about it, it could have been one of the best things to ever happen to us. It really shook our staff and our players, even though they were a really good football team, and made us refocus on what we are doing. They’re ready, we really challenged them after that game, and that has permeated in their work ethic from that day through now.”
USA Has First All-America Honoree
Jordan Means - Photo from usajaguars.com
Last year South Alabama was celebrating their first participant in the Senior Bowl by Courtney Smith. This year, the Jags have announced another first in the program. Senior placekicker Jordan Means was selected as an honorable mention to the NCAA FCS All-America team by Beyond Sports College Network.
Means, from Hoover, Alabama lead the Jags with 62 points last season. He became the first placekicker to lead the team in scoring in their short, three year history. He was 13-of-15 in field goal attempts and 23-of-26 on PATs. Means also set records of consecutive attempts made (7), most field goals in a season (13) and longest field goal in school history (48 yards).
Congratulations Jordan! Go Jags!
Former Southern Miss coach could be named OC Wednesday
Coach Matthews photo from southernmiss.com
Reports are going around that the University of South Alabama will announce the hiring of Robert Matthews as it’s next offensive coordinator. This announcement could come as soon as Wednesday.
Matthews was formerly the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for Southern Miss. He was also the recruiting coordinator under Coach Fedora in Hattisburg. In 2010, he helped the Golden Eagles offensive line which gained a school record 5,894 yards and averaged over 200 yards per game both rushing and passing.
He played three seasons at the University of Georgia from 1996-1998 while being a member of the Outback and Peach Bowl teams. He then went to Oconee County high school as tight ends and special teams coordinator in 1990, Camden County as Wide receivers and special teams coordinator in 2000, and North Gwinnett as offensive coordinator in 2001-2002.
Matthews was the head coach at Shiloh High for three seasons where he guided his team to playoff runs in Georgia’s largest classification while also leading a facility upgrade which included a new strength center, locker room and coaches offices.
After his stint in the high school ranks, he went to Oklahoma State for four seasons. In 2006 he was the coordinator of football operations then promoted to director of recruiting for the 2007-2008 seasons. Then in 2009 he joined the full-time staff as quarterbacks coach. While at OSU, the Cowboys went to three bowl games and a top-25 recruiting ranking in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
He also oversaw the walk-on program and other internal operations within the program while serving as the director of recruiting.
His addition should help to improve the Jaguar offense and recruiting with his ties in Georgia.
Breaking: OC Greg Gregory gone from USA
Greg Gregory
According to Pete Roussel at CoachingSearch.com he found out that offensive coordinator Greg Gregory will not return next season. As soon as we learn more we will update you with further information.
Link to post here.
Update 12/5/2011 7:30 a.m.: Official announcement from South Alabama later today.