Merry Christmas!
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!
2013 Sportsman of the Year Poll (AL.com)
AL.com has a poll posted asking “Who should be the 2013 Coastal Alabama Sportsman of the Year?” An argument could be made for every person in the poll as to why they should be Sportsman of the Year.
Augustine Rubit – University of South Alabama Forward, two-time SBC Player of the Year, USA all-time leader in rebounds, 2 rebounds away from a new conference record in rebounds
Archie Bradley – Pitcher Mobile BayBears
Carmen Carlos – Vanderbilt Cross Country former McGill-Toolen star
DeMarcus Cousins – NBA’s Sacramento Kings
Josh Donaldson – Oakland A’s 3rd baseman, former Faith Academy star
Rodney Hudson – Kansas City Chiefs center, Former B.C. Rain star
AJ McCarron – University of Alabama quarterback, former St. Pauls Star
CJ Mosley – University of Alabama linebacker, former Theodore Star
Captain Munnerlyn – Carolina Panthers cornerback, former Murphy High Star
Jake Peavy – Boston Red Sox pitcher, former St. Paul’s Star
Phil Savage – Senior Bowl Executive Director
Ann Schilling – Bayside Academy Girls’ Volleyball coach
Darrel “Bubba” Wallace Jr. – NASCAR Truck Series driver
Tre Williams – St. Paul’s Linebacker, Auburn University commit
Bobby Wyatt – University of Alabama golfer, former UMS-Wright Star
Go vote!
South Alabama Sports Weekend Roundup
Football
Recruiting has been heating up but with a dead-period between now and January 3. During the dead period coaches can call recruits, but they cannot meet with players on university campus nor anywhere else.
Coach Jones will be looking at replacements for former wide receivers coach Jerry Mack, who accepted the head coaching position with North Carolina Central University last week.
Men’s Basketball
The South Alabama men’s basketball team traveled to North Little Rock, Arkansas to face the University of Arkansas on Saturday night. The Jags were down by 12 and cut their deficit to three midway through the second half, but Arkansas went on a 6-0 run to reclaim control and win 72-60.
The loss drops the Jags back to .500 on the season at 6-6 while the Razorbacks improve to 12-2 on the season.
Senior Antoine Allen scored a game high 21 points for the Jaguars as he converted three 3-pointers and 13 of them coming in the second half.
Junior Mychal Ammons added 14 points and six rebounds while Senior Augustine Rubit was held to a season low eight points but his 10 rebounds allowed him to surpass the 1,000 career rebound mark and is only two shy of a new Sun Belt Conference career record.
The Razorbacks had four score in double-digits. Bobby Portis scored 15, with 12 of them coming in the first half. Rashad Madden added 12 with eight of them coming in the second half. Michael Aualls and Alandise Harris added 11 and 10 points respectively.
The Jags are 0-5 on the road or in neutral site games while they are 6-1 at home. A season high 20 turnovers complicated the game for the Jaguars.
After a break for Christmas the Jags will travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico to face New Mexico State on Saturday, December 28 at 8pm CST.
Women’s Basketball
The Lady Jags traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to face the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest on Friday evening.
The Jags fell 92-66 as a pair of Demon Deacons combined to score 51 points. Derica Hamby led the way with 31 points and 11 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season and both were game-highs. She was 12-of-20 from the floor while added four assists and four steals.
Chelsea Douglas added 20 points on 7-of-19 shooting with five assists and four steals.
As a team, Wake Forest forced 25 Jaguar turnovers and had 15 steals. They dominated the paint with a 50-18 scoring advantage as well as points off turnovers with a 31-14 advantage. They also dominated the glass with a rebounding advantage of 51-28 with 24 of them being offensive rebounds.
Meghan Dunn led USA with 17 points, all in the second half, as she went 6-of-11 from the floor and went 5-of-8 from three-point range. Ronneka Robertson added 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Jennifer Johnson was just short of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds with a career high four blocked shots.
The Lady Jags, who are now 2-8 on the season, will break for Christmas and will return to action on January 1 when they begin their Sun Belt Schedule by hosting Western Kentucky at the Mitchell Center.
Men’s Tennis
The South Alabama men’s tennis team released their 2014 spring schedule. It features a six-match home stand and two tournaments. They begin their season with Florida A&M and Florida State in Tallahassee. They could also face two ranked teams in the final three home matches of the season.
The conference tournament will be in New Orleans on April 18-20. Their full schedule can be found here.
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!
Four JuCo Players Sign With USA
The University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced that four junior college transfers have signed on to play football.
Of the four, two of them were named first-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-Americans this fall. They signed National Letter-of-Intents on Wednesday.
Braedon Bowman, Jimmie Gipson III, Nigel Green and Demarius Rancifer will all enroll prior to the start of the spring semester and will all have two years of eligibility. Three of the four come from programs that finished in the top 10 of the final NJCAA Top 10 poll including one from JuCo National Champion East Mississippi CC.
Bowman, a 6’4″ 210-pound tight end from Mesa, AZ, was named a first-team All-American as well as a first-team All-Western States Football League and All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. He helped Scottsdale (AZ) CC to a 10-1 record on the season and ranked 4th in the final NJCAA poll. He recorded team-high totals with 66 receptions for 1,030 yards, 13 touchdowns and 78 points as his team won the WSFL title and the Valley of the Sun Bowl after falling in their first game of the season. Bowman caught a season-best nine passes for 142 yards and matched his reception total in the WSFL championship contest against Mesa (AZ) CC. He also had three other games where he went over 100 yards receiving.
Gipson III, a 6′ 255-pound defensive end/outside linebacker is a native of Coldwater, MS, was also chosen a first-team All-American after leading the NJCAA with 17 sacks and helping EMCC to a national title. They defeated previously top-ranked Georgia Military JC 52-32 in the Mississippi Bowl to finish the season 12-0. He was a first-team All-Region selection as he totaled 65 tackles, 24 of them for a loss. He was named his teams Defensive MVP in the national championship as he tallied eight tackles including four sacks. He was also named the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division Defesnive Line MVP. During his senior season in high school, he helped his team go 15-0 to win the state 6A Championship.
Green, a 6’1″ 160-pound safety, was credited with 83 tackles in two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC as they went 17-4 during those two seasons. They finished ninth in the final NJCAA poll with an 8-2 record after finishing the 2012 season 9-2 an finishing ranked 6th in the final poll. He posted 41 total tackles as a sophomore.
Rancifer, a 6’4″ 205-pound inside linebacker from Pensacola, FL., had a team-high 66 tackles including eight tackles for loss to earn his first All-State South Division. He spent two years at Kentucky, sitting out as a redshirt before playing in 11 games in 2012.
South Alabama finished tied for third in the Sun Belt Conference standings, had 10 student-athletes earning all-conference recognition and head coach Joey Jones was named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
“As we neared the end of the season, we realized we needed some individuals to replace our outside linebacker/defensive line players,” stated Jones. “We always need to recruit really good guys in the secondary, they are very hard to find, and we needed another tight end because Wes [Saxton] is going to be a senior and we wanted someone to come in and help with two tight-end sets who will also be back the following year.”
Jags Survive Scare From Dillard To Win 82-73
The South Alabama men’s basketball team survived a scare from Dillard on Tuesday night at the Mitchell Center.
Midway through the second half the Jags needed a 17-3 run to overcome a one-point deficit and to hold off a late game charge to win 82-73. This win snapped a three-game skid by the Jaguars and put them back above .500 for the season at 6-5.
The Jags saw the NAIA Division I Bleu Devils come back from a six-point deficit at halftime and just would not be put away to give the Jaguars a scare. The Bleu Devils were led by Tyrone Williams who scored 35 points, second most ever in Mitchell Center history, by going 15-of-19 from the floor and 2-of-4 from outside the three point arc.
Rubit led the Jags with 21 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, but he struggled from the free throw line as he went 3-of-10 from the charity stripe. Rubit is one rebound away from 1,000 for his career, he earned his fifth double-double of the season and the 47th of his career the most among active Division I players.
Junior Mychal Ammons chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds while leading the team in assists with three and also blocking two shots. While sophomore Barrington Stevens III added 13 points as the last of the Jaguars to score in double figures.
USA will travel to North Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday to take on Arkansas. Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm.
Rubit Named SBC Player Of The Week
Augustine Rubit was named the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his career performance against Gonzaga. Photo by John Adams | usajaguars.com
Senior Augustine Rubit, coming off of a career performance against #16 ranked Gonzaga on Saturday, was named the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the sixth time in his career.
He set a new career high with 35 points with 23 coming in the second half alone. He was 11-for-16 from the floor and made all three of this three-point attempts and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
His three 3-pointers were also a new personal best as the 35 points ties for the most by a Sun Belt player so far this season. It is his first 30+ point game of the season and the sixth of his career.
He also earned the national player of the week honor from StatSheet.com with his performance against the Bulldogs.
Rubit has been named the Player of the Week more than any other USA player.
Lady Jags Fall To Rebels 72-56
The South Alabama women’s basketball team fell to Ole Miss at the Mitchell Center on Monday night 72-56. The win extends the Rebels winning streak to seven-consecutive to improve to 8-4 on the season while the loss broke the Jaguars two game winning streak and dropping their record to 2-7 on the season.
Ole Miss’ Tia Faleru sparked a 16-4 run early in the second half and earned her seventh double-double of the season. She scored 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, 18 of those points came in the second half against the Jaguars.
Jaguars Colby Davis led the Jaguars with a career-best 17 points for the third time in her last four games. Meghan Dunn added 11 points while Brittany Webb tied her career-high with her second consecutive 10-point game. Ronneka Robertson pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Jags.
Olivia Mohler made her debut late in the game and pulled down her first rebound. She joined the team on Friday.
South Alabama will travel to Winston-Salem, NC to face Wake Forest on Friday.
South Alabama Sports Weekend Roundup
Women’s Basketball
Senior Olivia Mohler against Jackson State during the 2012 season.
South Alabama has a familiar face returning, but in a different capacity.
Olivia Mohler, former Jaguar volleyball standout, has returned to South Alabama but will be joining the Jaguar basketball squad.
She decided to play volleyball over basketball at USA and her volleyball eligibility expired after the 2011-2012 season. She was then offered the opportunity to play a season of basketball for the Lady Jaguars but she chose to persue a professional volleyball career overseas. However, when she failed to get her visa in time and had to return home, the opportunity resurfaced when she returned to USA to complete her work for her degree.
On Friday, she joined the lady Jags for her first basketball practice since high school.
First head Jaguar head coach Terry Fowler noticed her 6’2″ height coupled with her athleticism and competitive nature was a perfect fit for the basketball team.
The Lady Jaguars are on a two-game winning streak as they are set to host Ole Miss on Monday night at the Mitchell Center. She may see her first minutes of playing time then with only three practices under her belt.
“When the volleyball didn’t work out (overseas) and I came back, I talked to the coaches again and I decided to give it a shot,” Mohler told AL.com. “I’ve always loved the sport. They had said that I could contribute if I worked hard. I wanted to see if that opportunity was still there and it was. I guess it depends on how hard I work (how quickly she appears in a game). Hopefully, if I continue to work hard the coaches have said I can definitely contribute to the team the rest of the season.
“As far as volleyball and basketball go, as far as the level of play, playing volleyball and basketball is pretty much the same competition-wise, but the sports really don’t have a lot in common. There’s a lot more jumping in volleyball than basketball but the conditioning I’ve been doing is a whole lot different than what I’ve done in past years. … My basketball knowledge, just getting that back, I’ve been telling the coaches I’m working hard to get that back. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. They are giving me the opportunity to play and I’m going to do everything I can for them. Hopefully my basketball knowledge will come back real quick.”
“I missed it a lot more than I thought I would, actually,” Mohler continued with AL.com. “It was kind of an easier decision to make when I was in high school. My dad and my brother both played basketball in college (at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College) and they were always pushing (me) toward basketball. Every year that I played volleyball I found myself watching (basketball) more and playing it more because I missed it a lot. I guess because it is in the family and it was hard because it was something I didn’t completely stop doing.”
Welcome back Olivia!
Men’s Basketball
Augustine Rubit was named to the All-SBC First Team and also SBC Preseason Player of the Year. Photo by John Adams | usajaguars.com
Augustine Rubit scored a career-high 35 points but Gonzaga held on for a 68-59 win over the Jaguars in the “Battle in Seattle” on Saturday.
The Bulldogs built up a 22-3 lead over the Jaguars with 9:49 left to play in the opening half, but Augustine Rubit connected on a 3-pointer which sparked the Jaguars to begin clawing their way back into the game.
With 9:39 left in the half, Rubit hits his first three-pointer, then after a Gonzaga dunk Rubit answered with one of his own, then after a turnover by Gary Bell Jr, Rubit hit a second three-pointer. A steal by Rubit on the other end of the court would set up Antoine Allen to nail a three and just like that the Jaguars were within ten points, 24-14 with 8:28 left until halftime.
South Alabama would cut the lead down to seven points with 3:45 left in the half after two free-throws by Rubit made it 30-23, but USA would only only net one basket the rest of the half and would go into the locker room down 41-25.
USA would open the second half on a 10-3 run, which included another 3-pointer by Rubit, to cut the lead to single digits again. But the Jaguars could only get within eight points of the ‘Zags the rest of the way.
Rubit took the team on his back as he was the only Jaguar in double-digits scoring for the game. He had 35 points and seven rebounds to lead the Jags on 11-of-16 shooting while making all 10 of his free-throw attempts. Aakim Saintil was the next closest scorer with eight points. Antoine Allen added six points and six rebounds.
Gonzaga had three to score in double-digits with Bell Jr leading the way with 20 points to go along with six rebounds. Sam Dower Jr. added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Pangos put in 10 points.
The Jaguars fall to 5-5 on the season as Gonzaga improves to 10-1. The national press calls the ‘zags win “ugly” and “too close for comfort”. Both teams struggled from the field as Gonzaga shot 41% and USA shot 32% for the game.
USA returns home to the Mitchell Center to face Dillard on Tuesday night for a 7:05pm tipoff.
Football
South Alabama receivers coach Jerry Mack is among four candidates for the head coaching position at North Carolina Central. Along with Mack, Winston-Salem head coach Connell Maynor, Southern University head coach Dawson Odoms and Nevada tight ends coach James Spadey are the top four for the position.
Mack is a native of Memphis and began playing at Jackson State before transferring to Arkansas State. As an assistant coach he has had stints at Delta State, Jackson State, Central Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Memphis prior to South Alabama. He has also had internships in the NFL with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
We could hear who they decide to hire by Thursday.
27 current and former Student-Athletes Graduate
South Alabama had 27 current and former USA student-athletes graduate Saturday at the Mitchell Center during the schools annual fall graduation ceremony. Among them six where All-Sun Belt Conference honorees and a pair of Player of the Year honorees.
Augustine Rubit was the 2012-2013 Player of the Year, but he was unable to attend due to the game against Gonzaga. Brittany Fowler was the softball Player of the Year also earned her degree.
Nolan Earley, Romelle Jones, Shelby Owen, Eddy Cabrera, Matt Calcagnini, Clifton Crews, Charles Harris, Bryson James, Kenneth Johnson, Alonzo Long, Byron Sneed, Montavious Williams, Drew Cofield, Jeff DeBlieux, Anthony Izzio, Brent Mitchell, Graham Odom, Ashton Krause, Jeff Long, Josh Nelson, Veronica Cherizol, Camille Reynolds, Chris Bockstael, Elina Strauniece were among the student-athletes who earned their degrees on Saturday.
Congratulations Jaguars!!
USA Men’s Basketball Travel To Seattle To Face Gonzaga
South Alabama men’s basketball team is traveling to Seattle to face #16 ranked Gonzaga.
The Jags, 5-4 overall but 0-3 in road games so far this season and coming off of a triple-overtime loss at Rice on a 3-pointer at the buzzer of the third overtime for the win.
Gonzaga, 9-1 on the season, are ranked #16 in the coaches poll and #25 in the AP Poll.
The game on Saturday night is being called the “Battle in Seattle” by Gonzaga and coach Graves says it’s accurate. “Statistically, they are one of the top five teams in the country on the offensive end of the floor,” Graves told AL.com about Gonzaga. “They are really skilled and savvy and can hurt you in a lot of different ways. It’s going to put an extreme test on our abilities defensively. First and foremost, to get back in transition; they’re unbelievable in getting the ball up the floor and either getting a quick layup or hitting an open three. And then they’ve got two bigs – 7-1 (Przemek Karnowski) and 6-9 (Sam Dower) – that are very good around the rim and very efficient at scoring the basketball. We’re certainly going to have our hands full there.”
Gonzaga do not rely only on the inside game. Four players average at least 10 points per game and a fifth is only one-tenth of a point away from averaging 10 points per game as well. Defensively teams have to be able to not only guard them in the paint, but also on the perimeter.
Kevin Pangos is leading the Bulldogs by averaging 19.6 points per game, Dower averages 14.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, Gary Bell Jr. adds 13.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, Gerard Coleman adds 10.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and Przemek Karnowski adds 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. They average 89.4 points per game while allowing only 71.9. They also out rebound opponents 371-319.
The Jaguars are led by Augustine Rubit’s 16.6 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. Mychal Ammons follows that up with 9 points per game and 8 rebounds per game. Ken “Juice” Williams averages 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, Barrington Stevens III averages 8.5 points and 2 rebounds per game, ANtoine Allen averages 8.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game and Aakim Saintil averages 7.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
USA and Gonzaga tips off in the “Battle in Seattle” on Saturday at 9pm CST. The game will be carried on 105.5FM WNSP and will be on the Root Sports Network for television.