USA Football Press Conference
On Monday South Alabama held their weekly press conference. They previewed the upcoming homecoming game against Kent State. Below are some highlights.
Head coach Joey Jones began with his opening statement. “We know Kent State is a very good football team. But we’re focusing on is ourselves like we always have. I believe that’s really important. We had a great week last week. Last Wednesday’s practice was our best practice of the year. We’re a little ahead on the game plan, we just have to continue to perfect it.”
“They have the standout guys,” Jones continued concerning Kent State. “Everyone knows about Roosevelt Nix. He is a great player. Dre Archer is an extremely fast guy. When he has the ball in his hands, you just kind of hold your breath, he is a good player. They have a lot of good players. They’re offensive linemen are big, physical guys, as are the defensive linemen. They are just well-coached and know how to play the game. We are going to have to play a really good game to beat these guys.”
Jones spoke about Kent State’s experience playing in Ladd-Peebles Stadium. “I think it could help them, the fact that they have been here. It’s like any game, once you get between the lines it is a football game. But I think having played down here in the GoDaddy.com Bowl could help them.”
Jones also spoke about areas that the team has improved in since the beginning of the season. “We’ve become much more consistent offensively. Our quarterbacks are playing extremely well, the offensive line is better and we’re getting better play at receiver and running back. We’re just better overall, and have improved from a consistency standpoint. Our challenge is to play for four quarters. Defensively, our guys have a lot of confidence. We have a lot of seniors who understand what it takes. We’re playing real physical against the run. Stopping the run is always going to be important when you play defense. As we have progressed, we have gotten a better understanding of (defensive coordinator) Coach (Kevin) Sherrer’s system. The kicking game has been up and down. Overall, we’re doing some good things, but we don’t have the consistency right now in the kicking game that we need to win big ballgames. That’s something we’re working on right now.”
Senior wide receiver Bryant Lavender spoke about what he noticed about Kent State’s defensive lineman Roosevelt Nix when viewing game footage. “We played against Kent State a couple of years back and he was very explosive, as he is now. He has a quick first step and he’s a great player. He’s the type of player that when he’s in the game, his motor’s always running.”
Lavender also spoke about the team’s confidence at this point in the season. “Morale and confidence are high, because we know that we have the opportunity to win the game. It’s now more about concentrating on when we get in that situation and what we are going to do when we get in that situation. We know we are a good football team. We know that we are able to be in the game. It’s just about making the play that can get us the ‘W’.”
Defensive lineman Jesse Kelley spoke about how having a week off will help the team going into Kent State. “Having a bye week is also good because we have an opportunity to go home and see loved ones you haven’t seen throughout the busy football season, especially if you live three or four hours away. You’re also able to relax and take your mind off football and watch other football.”
He also spoke about where they feel they are at this point in the season. “We’re just taking it week-by-week and not looking over anyone. Our opponent this week is Kent State and we’re going to do whatever it takes to get the win versus Kent State. And next week, we’ll move on to the next opponent.”
The Jaguars and the Golden Flashes kick off at 2pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday as the Jags look to avenge their 33-25 loss in Kent, Ohio in 2011.
USA Volleyball’s Lewis Earn Freshman Of The Week Honor
Jessica Lewis earned her second Freshman of the Week honor this season. Photo by Brad Puckett | usajaguars.com
South Alabama Women’s Volleyball freshman Jessica Lewis earned her second Freshman of the Week honor and join last weeks Mechell Daniel to give the Jags back-to-back Freshman of the Week honors.
The Jags have had four honors this season as Lewis and Daniel have both been honored twice now. They mark the first time in program history that USA has had a player win a weekly honor four times from the conference in the same season and also the first time USA has had back-to-back weekly award winners.
Lewis, in her first weekend back in the starting lineup after an injury, was key in helping the Jags win back-to-back Sun Belt matches over the weekend. Over the weekend she had 26 kills for a 3.25 kills per set average while hitting .317. She averaged 3.44 points per set and had two blocks.
She ranks second on the team in kills with 3.0 per set in the 29 sets she had played.
The Jags will hit the road for a pair of Sun Belt road matches with Texas-Arlington on Friday night at 6:30pm and Texas State on Sunday at 1pm.
Congratulations Jessica! Go Jags!
Sun Belt Conference In Rotation For New Bahamas Bowl
The Sun Belt Conference will be part of a rotation among five conference for the new Bahamas Bowl. Along with the Sun Belt the Mountain West Conference, Mid-American Conference, American Athletic Conference and Conference USA will make up the five conference rotation.
The inaugural Bahamas Bowl will kick off in December 2014 at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. The stadium current seats 15,000 people, but has the ability to be expanded to hold up to 30,000 and is named for the Olympian track and field star.
The agreement for this new bowl game is for the next six seasons beginning in 2014.
“The Sun Belt Conference is thrilled to be part of this new football bowl game,” Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said. “Our student-athletes and fans look forward to being able to enjoy the history and traditions of Nassau and the country of the Bahamas while at the same time being part of the history that will come with this event.”
Earlier this year the Sun Belt worked out a connection with the new Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama while Conference USA was included in the rotation for the new Boca Raton Bowl just last week.
It is expected that a creation of a new bowl game to be played at Marlins Park in Miami that will be anchored by the American Athletic Conference.
Jags Continue To Prepare For Homecoming Game Against Kent State
The Jaguar football team continues to prepare for their homecoming match-up against Kent State set for Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. One of the positions that was problematic over the last few weeks, the placekicker position, was opened up for competition last week.
Coach Jones looks for more consistency and production at the position after a one-point loss to Troy. Redshirt freshman Aleem Sunanon missed a 22-yard field goal and had an extra point blocked. He also missed another field goal attempt, though it was unofficial due to a penalty giving the Jags a first down giving the the offense a fresh set of downs.
Sunanon is 6-of-11 on the season and has missed three of this last four attempts (four of five unofficially). The misses were from 17, 41 and 22 yards while making a 24-yard attempt in Tennessee.
Competing for the position are Sunanon, redshirt freshman Logan Gunn and freshman walk-on Conner Kammerlocher. Coach Jones will not choose one to fill the placekicker role on Saturday on Saturday until after the final practice on Thursday.
Since the Troy game and continuing through Thursday the coaches are charting everything they do. The position will go to the player who is the most consisten and successful through the two weeks leading up to Kent State.
In a season of close games, a consistent kicker will be the difference between winning and losing.
Jags Men’s Basketball Show Progress In First Intrasquad Scrimmage
The South Alabama Men’s Basketball team held their intrasquad scrimmage Monday afternoon at the Mitchell Center. First year head coach Matthew Graves put the team through four eight-minute quarters with a variety of lineups to gauge the progress made after two weeks of practice.
Last season’s Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Augustine Rubit, collected 17 points, 12 rebounds and a block in 26 minutes of playing time. Another returning starter for the Jags, Mychal Ammons, had six points, three rebounds and a block in 16 minutes of play.
Freshman guard Ken “Juice” Williams put in six points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Sophomore Barrington Stevens III put in 10 points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal.
Coach Graves did not point out any individuals, but said that certain guys had moments but that the team is still a work in progress. However, he said that they are heading in the right direction and is pleased with their progress over two weeks of practice.
The team will have Tuesday off before returning for two practices on Wednesday.
USA Soccer Drops First Match At Home
The South Alabama Soccer team dropped their first match at home on Sunday with a 1-0 loss to Western Kentucky at The Cage.
WKU’s Laurent Moats netted a ball in the 58th minute on a counter attak that the Jags were unable to recover against.
The Jags answered the goal with seven shots to the Hilltoppers’ two, but could not get one into the net.
The Lady Jaguars fall to 10-4-2 overall on the season and 3-1-1 in SBC play. WKU improved to 7-3-4 overall and 5-0-0 in SBC play.
They will travel to Troy on Sunday for a 1pm match against the Trojans as they have only three remaining regular season matches before the SBC Conference Championships get under way on November 6 in San Marcos, Texas.
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 Jaguar Volleyball Win Both Weekend Matches
The South Alabama volleyball team won back-to-back matches over the weekend, having to rally from behind both times to do so.
On Friday the Lady Jags traveled to Louisiana-Lafayette and earned their first SBC victory 3-1 (16-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-17). After her second conference freshman of the week honor, Mechell Daniel recorded her third-consecutive double-double.
They then returned to Mobile to host Georgia State on Saturday and rallied back from losing the first set to win the next three and take the a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19).
Freshman Mechell Daniel earned her fourth-consecutive double-double with a team-high 16 kills and 17 digs. Sophomore setter Emily Hundt finished with 41 assists, three kills, four aces and three block assists. Jessica Lewis added 14 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Symone Stephenson finished one kill short of a double-double.
The Jags improved their record to 7-10 overall and 2-5 in SBC play. They will be on the road for a pair of matches next weekend as they are scheduled to play SBC newcomers Texas-Arlington on Friday nigh and Texas State on Sunday.
Lady Jag Soccer Defeate Georgia State 2-1 In Atlanta
The South Alabama women’s soccer team defeated Georgia State 2-1 in Atlanta on Thursday to improve their record to 10-3-2 overall and 3-0-1 in Sun Belt Play.
Freshman Monique Autmon opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after gathering in a Lauren Allison deflected shot. She then curled it past the conference leader in saves for the goal.
Jordan Duncan would add to the lead about half way through the second half. She came in as a substitute seven minutes before the score. Clarissa Hernandez kicked the ball behind the Panther defense. GSU’s Brie Haynes came out to clear the ball, but missed the opportunity and watched Duncan place her fifth goal of the year into the open net for a 2-0 lead for the Jags.
The Panthers managed a goal in the 85th minute to cut the lead to 2-1, but could not manage to get the ball into the net again.
The Jags will return home to face the conference leading and preseason favorite Western Kentucky at 1pm on Sunday at The Cage.
After A Good Practice, Jags Have Three Days Off
The South Alabama Jaguar football team had what coach Joey Jones said was probably one of the most spirited practices they have had all year on Wednesday. Maybe it was the thought of having three days off or maybe it was because the weather was nice with a hint of cool in the air.
“Defensively we came out ready to go, and that’s what we want out of them,” Jones told AL.com after practice
South Alabama Players thanking the fans for their support on the road in Knoxville, TN.
. “Come out – and you’ve got to have some fun. Our kids work, but you’ve also got to have some fun too. They brought that mixture of having fun and getting after it.”
This is the Jags second of three bye weeks this season. The team will have the next three days off before returning to the practice field on Sunday evening to resume preparation for homecoming against Kent State on Saturday, October 19.
Jones does not know if it’s a good time for the break in the schedule, but said that they will find out when the players return on Sunday. However he reminded them of their goals and that Kent State is a very good team so they will have to be ready for them by gameday.
The team has about three-quarters of the gameplan in place and should be quite healthy by kickoff on 2pm on October 19.
Get some rest Jaguars and come back ready to get a W against Kent State.
Go Jags!