Updated Website

Check out www.jsugameday.com. Somebody in the athletic department did a really nice job with this.

Ealey a welcome addition in midst of Barksdale suspension

Ealey a welcome addition in midst of Barksdale suspension: "JACKSONVILLE — Maybe it was more than lucky Jacksonville State was able to get Washaun Ealey last month."

JSU's event cash flow paying for stadium renovation

This is an interesting article from the Star. Basically, the stadium is paying for itself. What a twist, we had heard that the new stadium was to blame for everything from the Gulf Oil Spill to the NFL lockout.




JSU's event cash flow paying for stadium renovation: "The payments were helped along by football ticket sales, which skyrocketed after JSU’s football team beat Ole Miss in the season opener."

JSU Volleyball Picks Up New Player

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Curt Porter Update

Many have wondered what is going on with Curt Porter, the Gamecocks' 2010 starting left tackle (and sometimes guard). Porter earned All-American honors and many thought he would be taken in the mid to late rounds of the 2011 NFL draft. Unfortunately, a foot injury following the season probably led to him not being selected in the draft.

The good news is that Porter is back in Fayette running, working out and still has definite plans of making an NFL team. Indeed, the silver lining of the lockout is that it has allowed Porter's injury to heal. In addition to training, he has been working construction, cutting grass, etc. to make ends meet while he waits on an NFL opportunity. (If anyone needs a 6-7, 300 pound employee that knows what its like working in a hostile environment- call Curt).

If Porter doesn't go to the Falcons, it would be great to see him and Ryan Perrilloux reunited with the New York Giants.

Is Jacksonville State Too Good For the Sun Belt?

There has been a lot of speculation about a potential move up by Jacksonville State to the Sun Belt Conference. As with any potential move forward by the University, there is trepidation regarding change. We are glad that someone was willing to make a change in the early 90s when we left the GSC or we would be competing against a bunch of schools in Arkansas that no one has ever heard about. Looking further back, somebody was probably thinking Jacksonville State was getting too big for its britches when it transitioned from being a teachers college to the great academic institution it is today. Even last year, somebody probably thought little old Jacksonville State shouldn't even schedule Ole Miss from the mighty SEC. Indeed, an A-Star writer worried a couple of years ago that our players might get hurt playing against the big boys. But, we digress.

Instead of asking if JSU has what it takes to compete in the Sun Belt, maybe the better question is whether Jacksonville State is too good for the Sun Belt? Recent objective evidence indicates that might be the case. Specifically, the Directors' Cup Standings, which are a quantitative measure of the overall success of an athletic program, placed Jacksonville State at #92 among all Division 1 schools. Not only did JSU blow away its OVC brethren in the DC Standings, it kicked the Sun Belt teams right where the sun doesn't shine.

Here are the details. The closest Sun Belt competition was Middle Tennessee at 103. The next closest was Florida International at #141. Here is the best part, mighty Troy was way down at #180. Troy beat out Wetumpka Tech.

Of course, JSU has to get an invitation to compete in the Sun Belt. So far that invitation hasn't come despite the fact that JSU would boost the Sun Belt's overall profile and create regional rivalries with many Sun Belt teams. Hey Sun Belt- if you're scared, say you're scared.



Jacksonville State University - Gamecocks Post Best Finish Ever by an OVC School in Athletics Director's Cup

Defensive Lineman Sean Watson Now a Gamecock?

Internet rumors are circulating that Defensive Lineman Sean Watson has joined the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Watson signed with Baylor out of high school, but has apparently transferred. If true, this is a major pick up for Coach Davern Williams. Watson was a 3 Star Rivals prospect and rated the #38 best defensive lineman in the country. During his junior year, Watson was getting a lot of interest from FSU, etc., but a knee injury may have scared off some of the bigger programs.

There are going to be some great battles for playing time on both sides of the line of scrimmage as the Gamecocks head in to the 2011 season.