Day One Of Practice In The Books
The first day of practice for the South Alabama football team is in the books as they begin their four week march towards their first game against Southern Utah on August 29.
A thunderstorm pushed through prior to the beginning of practice to cool it off for the players first day on the practice fields. Most notably about the practice is that they came out ready to play mentally and physically. Quarterbacks and receivers appeared to be on the same page.
Ross Metheny spoke to AL.com saying, “Everyone was kind of itching to get back out there after all the workouts we had over the summer and the 7-on-7 sessions and that sort of thing. We were eager to get coached. You can only do so much when you are coaching yourselves and policing yourselves and that kind of thing. I thought today we brought a lot of good energy. The challenge is going to be keeping that energy level where it was the rest of camp and not taper off. I think we’ll do a good job of that.”
“I think offensively we played with good tempo today and there’s a lot of excitement,” he continued. “Some guys had some mental errors and things like that but we’ll go back and watch the film tomorrow and fix it and learn from it and get better and get back after it again tomorrow.”
Head coach Joey Jones said that the offensive execution was very good for a first day of practice. He noted that normally early practices are marked with lots of dropped balls and fumbles. However, Jones noted that until they don their full pads it really doesn’t mean that much. Though the players are ready to put on their full compliment of padding to being proving themselves and hit someone.
Transfer Danny Woodson Jr. is participating with the team in preseason drills while they wait on word from the NCAA on their petition for early eligibility. He was among a handful of players that Coach Jones mentioned as standouts.
Possibly the best early word is that Coach Jones believes that there is more leadership this season from players who have been around the program for years now and know what they are in for this season. The struggles they went through last season is still fresh on their minds and will work hard to better themselves.
The Jags will hit the practice fields on Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm, however they are closed to the public.
Jags Open Preseason Football Camp Today
Head Coach Joey Jones speaks to his team after the conclusion of the Jaguars first practice of 2012 preseason camp.
South Alabama football student-athletes reported on Wednesday and will begin preseason camp this evening at the South Alabama practice facility on campus exactly four week prior to the kickoff of the 2013 season.
A first for the program this season is that they will be full FBS members and will be eligible for a conference championship and a bowl berth.
Another first in the programs’ short history is that the practices are now closed to the public and will only be open to select media for 30 minutes.
The competition will go to a new level this preseason as they have graduated their first “full” senior class and the roster has a new look to it. In previous seasons there was some competition for starting jobs, but as their recruiting continues to ramp up and they continue to bring is great talent then the competition continues to ramp up as well.
Last year the Jags finally started to see some dept at certain position, but this season Coach Jones sees guys who offer quality depth at each position while pressing the starters to work hard to keep their job.
Currently the only Jaguar that is known to be out as practice begins this evening is Melvin Meggs. Meggs, a three year starter at left tackle, will miss the entire season with a torn ACL sufferred in summer workouts.
Like previous fall practices, Coach Jones will spend the first two weeks of practice figuring out who will be playing in the first game by establishing their depth chart. The coaches want to spend those first 14 days figuring out roles so the next 14 days will be spent getting the most reps to those who will be seeing the most time on the field.
They will also be determining the final location for a few players. They have some that could play two or three positions so they will be evaluating them to see if they will play safety, linebacker or defensive end. The earlier they can get those decisions made, the more likely they can help the team in the first game.
As they take the field, 105 Jaguars will be suiting up. That number is the most allowed by the NCAA. Once classes begin, then 130 players will be able to take part in practices.
There are a few positions battles that will draw extra scruitny this preseason.
Quarterback, the most asked about and watched position on the field, will be a good battle this preseason. Ross Metheny is the returning starter from last season as C.J. Bennett has transferred, the only other Jaguar quarterback to start last season. But Metheny will be challenged by Brandon Bridge. Bridge is a tall, fast quarterback with a huge arm. He could become a big playmaker for the Jaguars, especially if his accuracy has improved. Bridge’s speed and arm could really make coach Matthews’ spread offense rack up yards and, more importantly, put points on the scoreboard.
Going hand-in-hand with quarterback is the offensive pace that coach Jones and coach Matthews want to play at. Last season they never really ramped the speed up to what they wanted to play at, but after a year of experience, the coaches will expect the players to pick up the tempo. They want to be able to take advantage of mismatches, confusion and tempo. But this will take every offensive player being on the same page and knowing their roles. It will take the sideline staff getting the plays into the team as quickly as possible and the quarterback executing. But the receivers must catch passes thrown their way as well. Last season there were several drops at key moments.
Kicking will see a new face as Michel Chapuseaux has graduated. Two redshirt freshmen will be vying for the positon in Aleem Sunanon and Logan Gunn. But freshman Brandon McKee could challenge as well. Punter Scott Garber returns for his fifth season but may be challenged by Sunanon and McKee as well. McKee averaged over 45 yards per punt as a senior in high school.
The defensive secondary will be something to watch as well. They allowed several big plays last season that hurt the Jags but in the offseason they recruited in adding depth adn talent to that area. Tyrell Pearson, Charles Watson adn Darrius Morrow all return as well as Qudarius Ford will return from his knee injury last season. They will be joined by Steffon Fuller, Anthony Harris and Montell Garner as well as others. This is probably the one area the defense needs to improve the most at.
The defensive front wants to get more pressure on the quarterback this season. They want more quarterback pressures, more sacks and more tackles for loss. The Jags may have the most returning depth at defensive line with Alex Page, Romelle Jones, Jesse Kelley, Montavious Williams and Randon Carnathan and they have all shown that they can get pressure on quarterbacks in previous seasons.
Who will step up and fill the large shoes left by Jake Johnson? Enrique Williams and Bryson James return and will be joined by Desmond LaVelle and redshirt freshmen Josh Carroll and Michael Adcock. Clifton Crews returns at outside linebacker with Maleki Harris and David Hawkins listed at outside linebackers and safeties. As the Jags will be facing other spread no-huddle offenses, these guys will be key to be able to fill either of those roles.
In 28 days we will have a much better idea of what to expect out of the 2013 Jaguars. That seems like a long time from now, but if you ask the coaches that seems like tomorrow.
Graves Intends To Fill Position By First Day Of Class
Head basketball coach Matt Graves. | Photo by butler.edu.
South Alabama head basketball coach Matthew Graves told AL.com that he hopes to have the open position on his staff filled by the time classes start on August 19.
Ronald Nored, an Alabama native, left his position as an assistant under Graves when he was offered a position with the Boston Celtics development league team. His former coach at Butler Brad Stevens was hired as the new head coach of the Boston Celtic a few weeks ago.
Graves is going through various applicants and talking to some of his peers in the coaching ranks. Graves indicated that during his three and a half months on the job he has learned lots about the University and how they need to recruit going forward. This knowledge has helped him re-evaluate what exactly he needs in an assistant that will also be tasked with recruiting.
Graves said that he has an extra scholarship that is currently not used. He would not rule out using it for a mid-year transfer. If it is not used this year, it would be rolled into next years class.
Jags Volleyball Standout Olivia Mohler Turns Down Offers To Seek Pro Contract In Europe
Senior Olivia Mohler against Jackson State earlier in the season.
Former Jaguar volleyball standout, Olivia Mohler has reportedly been offered several opportunities as she approaches graduation. She has reportedly has offers from Ocean springs and St. Martin High Schools to take over their varsity Volleyball programs as head coach.
With one year of college eligibility remaining and not playing competitive basketball since high school, she has also reportedly received offers from the South Alabama Jaguar women’s basketball team to spend her final year of eligibility as a member of the team.
However, Mohler is continuing her dream to play volleyball and will travel to Maribor, Slovenia to participate in the Firesale and Exposure Camp at Maridor’s DRAS Center. She and other aspring professionals will compete in matches with numerous coaches and teams from across Eurpoe to showcase their talent.
Of the 28 players who attended last year, 22 of them were offered professional contracts.
She will leave on August 7 for camp and, if she gets a contract, it would mean she would be spending 7 to 9 months a year in Europe.
Mohler, a 6’2″ senior, seriously considered the offer to play collegiate basketball at South Alabama, but said that her heart is in volleyball.
Jaguar Nation will be supporting her all the way. Go get’em Olivia!!
Jags Games Against Troy, ULM Now Have Kickoff Times
The Sun Belt Network has added some conference games to it’s lineup, including games involving the Jags.
The Jaguars game at Troy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium on October 5 is set for a noon kickoff on the Sun Belt Network. They also added the Jags home game against Louisiana-Monroe on November 23 and set a 6:30pm kickoff.
Kickoff times for three other games have already been announced. The Jags season opener against Southern Utah is set for 6:30pm on August 29, Jags and Tulane will kick off at 2:30pm in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on September 7 and the Jaguars conference opener against Western Kentucky at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on September 14 is set to kickoff at 6:30pm as well.
Jags Apply For Immediate Eligibilty Waiver For Transfer Danny Woodson Jr.
Danny Woodson Jr. catching a pass in practice in preparation for the Crimson Tide’s National Championship game. Photo credit: C. W. Griffin | Miami Herald
Head coach Joey Jones and the South Alabama football staff is seeking early eligibility for University of Alabama transfer Danny Woodson Jr. Currently, Daniel McCarthy, assistant director of athletics for compliance and student services at South Alabama, told AL.com that they have not received any information about their request on his eligibility status for this season.
Woodson is a former standout at LeFlore High School and transferred to South Alabama recently. USA, on his behalf, made a request to the NCAA for immediate eligibility for him. The NCAA allows schools to apply for a waiver of the rule that forces a player who transfers from one FBS school to another to sit out a season before being eligibile to play for that school. USA did not disclose the circumstances under which the application was made for Woodson, but apparently the Jaguar program believes that Woodson’s reason for transfer has just cause to waive the rule.
There is no timetable for a decision to the rendered by the NCAA, but the program hopes to get word prior to the Jaguars opening day of preseason camp on August 1. The NCAA could also require additional information about the waiver request, which would delay the decision further.
Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Ronald Nored Leaving For Boston Celtics Organization
Butler alumni and Alabama native Ronald Nored joins the Boston Celtics Organization with his former coach Brad Stevens. | collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com
After only being on the job less than five months, head basketball coach Matthew Graves is already searching to fill an empty position on his staff.
Assistant coach Ronald Nored announced that he has accepted a position with the Boston Celtics with former Butler University head coach Brad Stevens. Nored accepted the job with the Celtics’ Maine Red Claws D-League franchise.
Nored came to USA after spending one season as the head coach at Brownsburg Indiana High School. He was a four-year letterwinner at Butler from 2008-2012.
Graves was Brad Stevens’ top assistant at Butler before accepting the head coaching position at South Alabama.
New Helmet Photos
New helmets for the 2013 season.
The University of South Alabama has some new helmets for the 2013 season. Previously photos surfaced of a new red jersey for the 2013 season. We don’t know if these will be the new gameday jersey’s or if these are alternate home jersey’s to be used for certain games.
What do you think of the new lids?
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- New helmets for the 2013 season.
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- Another view of the new Red Jaguar Jersey’s for the 2013 season with a possible new helmet design.
More Jersey Photos And Possible New Helmet
Another view of the new Red Jaguar Jersey’s for the 2013 season with a possible new helmet design.
More photos were posted of the new South Alabama Red Jersey’s. Also a photo shows a possible new helmet. What do you think?
Jags Unveil New Red Jersey Ahead Of 2013 Season
South Alabama will have new red home jersey’s this season. What do you think about the new design?