I had the pleasure of attending the JSU-Georgia baseball game in Athens last night. When I arrived, the Gamecocks were down 4-0 and UGA had the bases loaded. JSU got out of that jam and battled to make it 4-3, but left a lot of runners on base in the process. Georgia added a few more runs and going into the 8th seemed to have a comfortable lead. In the 8th inning an eruption occurred. JSU pounded UGA unmercifully. When it was finally over, the Gamecocks were 16-8 winners. It was their second win over a nationally ranked team this year.
JSU has an elite coach in Jim Case. He has fielded a team that represents JSU well on and off the field. They can match up with anyone in the Country. If you live within 25 miles of Rudy Abbott field go see this team! They have a double header with Morehead this Saturday. You'll have a chance to see a potential, future major league pitcher in Ben Tootle as well as a team that knocks the cover off the ball. They'll make you proud!
JSU 88
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
KNOW YOUR ENEMY Part I – GA TECH
A closer look at our first opponent for the 2009 football season - Georgia Tech.
This was originally posted by David Hale in his blog, www.dawg-extra.blogspot.com. David covers UGA for the Macon Telegraph and Ledger-Enquirer.
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
Head coach: Paul Johnson (second year)
2008 Record: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)
Total Offense: 372.5 ypg (1st in the ACC, 50th overall)
Total Defense: 313.5 ypg (6th in the ACC, 25th overall)
On the docket: Georgia Tech opens its season Sept. 5 against Jacksonville State and closes out the regular season by hosting Georgia on Nov. 28.
In his first season at Georgia Tech, Paul Johnson turned around the program both in terms of wins and losses and in general perception. His triple-option offense was the talk of college football at times last year, and for the first time since Mark Richt came to Georgia, the Yellow Jackets managed a win over their in-state rival. To find out how Johnson planned to top his introductory season in 2009, I traded emails with the Macon Telegraph's Georgia Tech beat writer Coley Harvey.
David Hale: Well, Year 1 of the triple option proved to be pretty successful for Paul Johnson, but he has hinted he might like to expand the offense a bit this season. How much, if at all, have the Yellow Jackets tweaked their offense so far this spring, and how well do you think the triple option holds up now that teams have had a chance to see it once already?
Coley Harvey: One of the myths Paul Johnson has tried to dispel this offseason is the fact that his option offense is complete. Far from it. The Yellow Jackets head coach implemented a very bare bones set of plays, formations and schemes to his system last season, opting to showcase a very small portion of his largely triple-option system. One of the components the Yellow Jackets have worked on this spring is the run-n-shoot. A pass-oriented offense, the run-n-shoot will be used to counterbalance the option rushing attack, and has the ability to really give the Yellow Jackets a strong, multi-pronged offensive attack. Don't expect it to be used significantly this season; the Yellow Jackets will still probably hang their hats on the option aspect of the offense.
Most fans may look at Georgia Tech's passing numbers from last season, and figure there aren't any strong receivers to catch passes from quarterbacks Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw. On the contrary, the Yellow Jackets have a big, speedy pass-catcher in Middle Georgian Demaryius Thomas, and are expecting another deep threat in recruit Stephen Hill. This spring, sophomore Tyler Melton has emerged as an obvious No. 2 guy to Thomas, and has proven to have the best hands on the team behind Thomas.
In terms of how well the triple option will hold up in Year 2, that definitely is a question that will be best answered after the season starts. It's clear, however, that junior B-back Jonathan Dwyer -- last year's ACC Player of the Year -- has gotten stronger, heavier and a little faster this spring. It could be tougher for teams to bring him down this year due to his increased size, and in scrimmages, he continues to run straight ahead for four and five yards per play. In Johnson's mind, if his offense can run for four yards on every play of every down, that's positive yardage, and leads to first downs. With an expanded offensive scheme, it could prove tough for opposing teams to challenge the offense this season.
DH: Tech lost three very good players from a defensive line that was among the best in the ACC last year. Who has stepped up this spring, and how crucial will it be for the defense to identify replacements for the departed stars?
CH: Vance Walker, Darryl Richard and Michael Johnson will be sorely missed by the Yellow Jackets next season. They were giants along the defensive front, and the true heart and soul of the entire defensive unit. Perhaps the biggest void created by their graduations and likely departures for the NFL is the lack of leadership that all of a sudden hits the team. Three of just five seniors who started regularly last season, they were the public faces of the program, often speaking in ways that galvanized their teammates to action. They truly carried Georgia Tech on their backs in a year that most people expected the Yellow Jackets to be far from good. This year, there is only one senior slated to start on defense in the form of linebacker Sedric Griffin. So the Yellow Jackets' biggest concern is finding a leader to take the place of those three players.
Identifying replacements -- from a talent perspective -- is among the least of Georgia Tech's worries. The Yellow Jackets have already found a fairly deep group of defensive linemen to take the spots of the three 2008 All-ACCselections. The lock, so to speak, along the line is junior defensive end Derrick Morgan, who is already drawing the praise and acclaim that Michael Johnson had entering his senior season. Head coach Paul Johnson even went as far as calling Morgan his best defensive lineman at times last season. At the other end, Middle Georgian Robert Hall has emerged as the front-runner at the position, and has a strong chance to start this fall. On the interior, two of the team's strongest players in Ben Anderson and Jason Peters have emerged as the leading candidates at defensive tackle. While those could be the major components to the defensive line, the Yellow Jackets are also looking at the hefty Jason Hill and T.J. Barnes. Barnes, a redshirt last year, came into spring practice weighing over 360 pounds. As of the final week of spring practice, he was holding steady at 345. Both Hill and Barnes will give the Yellow Jackets an increase in size, and a serious presence on the interior for the next couple of seasons.
DH: I know spring isn't usually a time teams focus on special teams, but that was a big problem for Tech a year ago. Have you seen anything that would make you think things could be different this year?
CH: Special teams was the one area that gave the Yellow Jackets the most trouble last season. So far this srping, Paul Johnson has proven that despite how bad the area was last year, he isn't letting it worry him. Punting and kicking, particularly field goal kicking, was "atrocious" (Paul Johnson's words several times last season) for the Yellow Jackets, but it is the one area they haven't really touched at all this spring. The head coach said they'll focus on it during fall camp in August instead. While he's spent most practices off to the side casually going through the motions, Georgia Tech kicker Scott Blair has tried numerous techniques to improve his kicking, and believes he is seeing progress. Only time will tell.
The Yellow Jackets have done work on their return games, however, giving up to four different players extensive tryouts this spring at both punt and kick return. The likely leaders in those areas are A-back Roddy Jones and cornerback Jerrard Tarrant. Jones fielded punts for the last few games last season, averaging 8.8 yards per kick. Tarrant missed all of last season after being suspended while a pending legal issue was worked out. Charges against him in that matter were dropped in February, and he was able to rejoin the team this spring. And he hasn't appeared to miss a beat. His speed is there, his hands are there, as is his vision. For a former return specialist and cornerback at Carrollton High School, it's just a matter of getting back into the flow of something he execelled at while in high school.
DH: Georgia Tech obviously met and exceeded a lot of expectations last season, including toppling Georgia, but their year ended with an ugly loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl. So what has been the attitude on the team this spring -- are they riding high off last year's success or reliving that final loss for some added motivation?
CH: Judging from the practices this spring, you wouldn't even know the Yellow Jackets lost their last game of the season. Perhaps getting blown out 38-3 in the Chic-fil-A Bowl -- and (I know you'll hate this Bulldogs fans, but...) the win over Georgia at the end of the year -- lessened the blow of the loss, and allowed the Yellow Jackets to move on quickly. Had it been a closer final score in that game, maybe the loss would have been more heartbreaking, and you'd see players still moping.
But they've moved on, and are using it for, what some may consider, surprising and lofty motivation. No, they didn't win the ACC Championship last year, and no, they didn't appear in a January bowl game, but the Yellow Jackets genuinely and sincerely believe they can make a run at a national championship next season. Sure, it's the focus of any college football team at this point in the year, but Georgia Tech has been talking about setting its sights on Pasadena in the moments after their New Year's Eve bowl loss, and the team really seems to believe it. If there's one thing Paul Johnson is, it's a good motivator. He has a knack for getting the best and the most out of his teams, and proved that greatly last season when he turned a young program most expected to go 3-9, and brought it toward the strong finish.
DH: After seeing the team this spring, what jumped out at you in a positive way, and what would you say are the biggest questions Tech still needs to answer before the season begins?
CH: There were a number of positive things that jumped out at me this spring. The main thing was how quickly the Yellow Jackets' backfield has come around. The unit doesn't just hinge around Dwyer anymore. Roddy Jones, who rushed for more than 200 yards on 13 carries against the Bulldogs last season, is continuing to emerge as a strong blocker and quick running back. Also emerging are running backs Anthony Allen and Richard Watson. Allen, a transfer from Louisville, is playing for Georgia Tech for the first time, and has come on as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, as well as a big, bruising back who can be paired with the equally bruising Dwyer. Watson, a redshirt freshman, has been the backfield's biggest surprise this spring, bursting onto the scene as a viable backup to Dwyer during second-team workouts during scrimmages this spring. Lucas Cox, who was one of the team's most consistent A-backs last season is also in the mix, and has had good moments, but his role may be less clear this season with a greater depth in the unit.
Tarrant has also jumped out at me. For a guy who missed an entire season to mesh back into the everyday grind as quickly as he has, it's been pretty remarkable. He's been around the ball everytime he's on the field during 7-on-7 and team passing drills, and he's been working on fielding punts and becoming a star in that respect. Although he's lost a year of eligibilty, the junior could be a major part of the Yellow Jackets' defense for the next two seasons, and possibly sneak onto the radar of NFL scouts.
The biggest questions the Yellow Jackets need to answer going into their Sept. 5 season-opener against Jacksonville State:
1. Special teams. Just how will the unit respond this fall to a lack of training this spring? Will the kickers and punters -- who have struggled to sink kicks during some unofficial scrimmages this spring -- respond successfully?
2. Passing. How much of a role do they want to give Demaryius Thomas and the rest of the receiving corps? Can the rest of the receivers come along and play a supporting role for him? Can they keep the drops to the minimum and spark another strong aspect of the offense to counteract the option?
3. Leadership. Who will step up to fill a void left by a number of Yellow Jackets? Three defensive linemen who graduated after last season were the most vocal members of the team. Who will take their place this year? The team has just one senior who likely will start on defense. Can he do it alone, or will others be required to step up, as well?
* Coley Harvey is the Georgia Tech beat writer for the Macon Telegraph. You can find his Tech coverage online here.
This was originally posted by David Hale in his blog, www.dawg-extra.blogspot.com. David covers UGA for the Macon Telegraph and Ledger-Enquirer.
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
Head coach: Paul Johnson (second year)
2008 Record: 9-4 (5-3 ACC)
Total Offense: 372.5 ypg (1st in the ACC, 50th overall)
Total Defense: 313.5 ypg (6th in the ACC, 25th overall)
On the docket: Georgia Tech opens its season Sept. 5 against Jacksonville State and closes out the regular season by hosting Georgia on Nov. 28.
In his first season at Georgia Tech, Paul Johnson turned around the program both in terms of wins and losses and in general perception. His triple-option offense was the talk of college football at times last year, and for the first time since Mark Richt came to Georgia, the Yellow Jackets managed a win over their in-state rival. To find out how Johnson planned to top his introductory season in 2009, I traded emails with the Macon Telegraph's Georgia Tech beat writer Coley Harvey.
David Hale: Well, Year 1 of the triple option proved to be pretty successful for Paul Johnson, but he has hinted he might like to expand the offense a bit this season. How much, if at all, have the Yellow Jackets tweaked their offense so far this spring, and how well do you think the triple option holds up now that teams have had a chance to see it once already?
Coley Harvey: One of the myths Paul Johnson has tried to dispel this offseason is the fact that his option offense is complete. Far from it. The Yellow Jackets head coach implemented a very bare bones set of plays, formations and schemes to his system last season, opting to showcase a very small portion of his largely triple-option system. One of the components the Yellow Jackets have worked on this spring is the run-n-shoot. A pass-oriented offense, the run-n-shoot will be used to counterbalance the option rushing attack, and has the ability to really give the Yellow Jackets a strong, multi-pronged offensive attack. Don't expect it to be used significantly this season; the Yellow Jackets will still probably hang their hats on the option aspect of the offense.
Most fans may look at Georgia Tech's passing numbers from last season, and figure there aren't any strong receivers to catch passes from quarterbacks Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw. On the contrary, the Yellow Jackets have a big, speedy pass-catcher in Middle Georgian Demaryius Thomas, and are expecting another deep threat in recruit Stephen Hill. This spring, sophomore Tyler Melton has emerged as an obvious No. 2 guy to Thomas, and has proven to have the best hands on the team behind Thomas.
In terms of how well the triple option will hold up in Year 2, that definitely is a question that will be best answered after the season starts. It's clear, however, that junior B-back Jonathan Dwyer -- last year's ACC Player of the Year -- has gotten stronger, heavier and a little faster this spring. It could be tougher for teams to bring him down this year due to his increased size, and in scrimmages, he continues to run straight ahead for four and five yards per play. In Johnson's mind, if his offense can run for four yards on every play of every down, that's positive yardage, and leads to first downs. With an expanded offensive scheme, it could prove tough for opposing teams to challenge the offense this season.
DH: Tech lost three very good players from a defensive line that was among the best in the ACC last year. Who has stepped up this spring, and how crucial will it be for the defense to identify replacements for the departed stars?
CH: Vance Walker, Darryl Richard and Michael Johnson will be sorely missed by the Yellow Jackets next season. They were giants along the defensive front, and the true heart and soul of the entire defensive unit. Perhaps the biggest void created by their graduations and likely departures for the NFL is the lack of leadership that all of a sudden hits the team. Three of just five seniors who started regularly last season, they were the public faces of the program, often speaking in ways that galvanized their teammates to action. They truly carried Georgia Tech on their backs in a year that most people expected the Yellow Jackets to be far from good. This year, there is only one senior slated to start on defense in the form of linebacker Sedric Griffin. So the Yellow Jackets' biggest concern is finding a leader to take the place of those three players.
Identifying replacements -- from a talent perspective -- is among the least of Georgia Tech's worries. The Yellow Jackets have already found a fairly deep group of defensive linemen to take the spots of the three 2008 All-ACCselections. The lock, so to speak, along the line is junior defensive end Derrick Morgan, who is already drawing the praise and acclaim that Michael Johnson had entering his senior season. Head coach Paul Johnson even went as far as calling Morgan his best defensive lineman at times last season. At the other end, Middle Georgian Robert Hall has emerged as the front-runner at the position, and has a strong chance to start this fall. On the interior, two of the team's strongest players in Ben Anderson and Jason Peters have emerged as the leading candidates at defensive tackle. While those could be the major components to the defensive line, the Yellow Jackets are also looking at the hefty Jason Hill and T.J. Barnes. Barnes, a redshirt last year, came into spring practice weighing over 360 pounds. As of the final week of spring practice, he was holding steady at 345. Both Hill and Barnes will give the Yellow Jackets an increase in size, and a serious presence on the interior for the next couple of seasons.
DH: I know spring isn't usually a time teams focus on special teams, but that was a big problem for Tech a year ago. Have you seen anything that would make you think things could be different this year?
CH: Special teams was the one area that gave the Yellow Jackets the most trouble last season. So far this srping, Paul Johnson has proven that despite how bad the area was last year, he isn't letting it worry him. Punting and kicking, particularly field goal kicking, was "atrocious" (Paul Johnson's words several times last season) for the Yellow Jackets, but it is the one area they haven't really touched at all this spring. The head coach said they'll focus on it during fall camp in August instead. While he's spent most practices off to the side casually going through the motions, Georgia Tech kicker Scott Blair has tried numerous techniques to improve his kicking, and believes he is seeing progress. Only time will tell.
The Yellow Jackets have done work on their return games, however, giving up to four different players extensive tryouts this spring at both punt and kick return. The likely leaders in those areas are A-back Roddy Jones and cornerback Jerrard Tarrant. Jones fielded punts for the last few games last season, averaging 8.8 yards per kick. Tarrant missed all of last season after being suspended while a pending legal issue was worked out. Charges against him in that matter were dropped in February, and he was able to rejoin the team this spring. And he hasn't appeared to miss a beat. His speed is there, his hands are there, as is his vision. For a former return specialist and cornerback at Carrollton High School, it's just a matter of getting back into the flow of something he execelled at while in high school.
DH: Georgia Tech obviously met and exceeded a lot of expectations last season, including toppling Georgia, but their year ended with an ugly loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl. So what has been the attitude on the team this spring -- are they riding high off last year's success or reliving that final loss for some added motivation?
CH: Judging from the practices this spring, you wouldn't even know the Yellow Jackets lost their last game of the season. Perhaps getting blown out 38-3 in the Chic-fil-A Bowl -- and (I know you'll hate this Bulldogs fans, but...) the win over Georgia at the end of the year -- lessened the blow of the loss, and allowed the Yellow Jackets to move on quickly. Had it been a closer final score in that game, maybe the loss would have been more heartbreaking, and you'd see players still moping.
But they've moved on, and are using it for, what some may consider, surprising and lofty motivation. No, they didn't win the ACC Championship last year, and no, they didn't appear in a January bowl game, but the Yellow Jackets genuinely and sincerely believe they can make a run at a national championship next season. Sure, it's the focus of any college football team at this point in the year, but Georgia Tech has been talking about setting its sights on Pasadena in the moments after their New Year's Eve bowl loss, and the team really seems to believe it. If there's one thing Paul Johnson is, it's a good motivator. He has a knack for getting the best and the most out of his teams, and proved that greatly last season when he turned a young program most expected to go 3-9, and brought it toward the strong finish.
DH: After seeing the team this spring, what jumped out at you in a positive way, and what would you say are the biggest questions Tech still needs to answer before the season begins?
CH: There were a number of positive things that jumped out at me this spring. The main thing was how quickly the Yellow Jackets' backfield has come around. The unit doesn't just hinge around Dwyer anymore. Roddy Jones, who rushed for more than 200 yards on 13 carries against the Bulldogs last season, is continuing to emerge as a strong blocker and quick running back. Also emerging are running backs Anthony Allen and Richard Watson. Allen, a transfer from Louisville, is playing for Georgia Tech for the first time, and has come on as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, as well as a big, bruising back who can be paired with the equally bruising Dwyer. Watson, a redshirt freshman, has been the backfield's biggest surprise this spring, bursting onto the scene as a viable backup to Dwyer during second-team workouts during scrimmages this spring. Lucas Cox, who was one of the team's most consistent A-backs last season is also in the mix, and has had good moments, but his role may be less clear this season with a greater depth in the unit.
Tarrant has also jumped out at me. For a guy who missed an entire season to mesh back into the everyday grind as quickly as he has, it's been pretty remarkable. He's been around the ball everytime he's on the field during 7-on-7 and team passing drills, and he's been working on fielding punts and becoming a star in that respect. Although he's lost a year of eligibilty, the junior could be a major part of the Yellow Jackets' defense for the next two seasons, and possibly sneak onto the radar of NFL scouts.
The biggest questions the Yellow Jackets need to answer going into their Sept. 5 season-opener against Jacksonville State:
1. Special teams. Just how will the unit respond this fall to a lack of training this spring? Will the kickers and punters -- who have struggled to sink kicks during some unofficial scrimmages this spring -- respond successfully?
2. Passing. How much of a role do they want to give Demaryius Thomas and the rest of the receiving corps? Can the rest of the receivers come along and play a supporting role for him? Can they keep the drops to the minimum and spark another strong aspect of the offense to counteract the option?
3. Leadership. Who will step up to fill a void left by a number of Yellow Jackets? Three defensive linemen who graduated after last season were the most vocal members of the team. Who will take their place this year? The team has just one senior who likely will start on defense. Can he do it alone, or will others be required to step up, as well?
* Coley Harvey is the Georgia Tech beat writer for the Macon Telegraph. You can find his Tech coverage online here.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday’s Random Thoughts
TGIF! 133 Days to the season opening kickoff, and I wanted to share some thoughts about what www.gamecockillustrated.com will be doing over the next several days/weeks.
First of all, we will be continuing to preview the 2009 football season by position. We still have receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive backs. There are special teams too, and that was one of the eight questions facing the Gamecocks that we wrote about earlier. What will be the true strength of the Gamecock football team this coming season? The O-Line has plenty of game experience, and with a quarterback with a feel for the program now, our offense should be able to put up some points. Watching the team this spring, the defense looked great. I’m anxious to see how both sides look against competition with different colored jerseys.
We want to continue doing some player interviews and profiles, and will have more to post soon. JSU has some quality student/athletes on this team, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from them. Are there any players in particular you would like to see profiled?
Another thing we want to do is check on how the other OVC teams have done this spring, and how they are shaping up for next year. I think we’ll categorize those posts as “Know Your Enemy”. Who will be our toughest conference game in 2009?
I’ve always looked at the leadership the seniors provide to the team as a barometer of how the team plays – and how the team plays is an indication of the senior leadership. I like what I see of next season’s seniors.
JSUfan has great pictures of JSU sporting events. Please go take a look. Thanks for doing that, James.
With the NFL draft this weekend, and at the risk of missing someone, I wanted to recognize past JSU players who have been on NFL rosters – Jesse Baker, Ralph Battle, Dieter Brock, Walter Broughton, Kory Chapman, Eric Davis, David Gulledge, Darrell Malone, Keith McKeller, Terry Owens, Mark Ward, and Alvin Wright. For those of you who remember, the USFL had a few too. Does anyone know of a list compiled of all USFL players? All I could find was a scattering of information, and time limited me here in what I could do. I did see that JSU Punter Gregg Lowery was selected by Birmingham with the pick right after QB Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills) was taken by Chicago.
The baseball, softball, and men’s tennis teams really deserve some attention. The softball team won again yesterday vs. Ole Miss with a walk-off home run by Hillary Downs. All of these teams are having fantastic seasons.
Since we’ve been doing this blog, if you’ve found anything interesting about it at all, please do us a favor – go to the bottom of this post and click on the “share” button. Please share this blog by email, facebook, or any of the other means listed with alumni, friends, students, parents, etc. Does anyone out there have any ideas regarding how to promote this blog?
There are several questions in today’s blog. Please feel free to comment by clicking on “post your comments” below. We’d like your input. More coming soon! Thanks!
JSU 86
First of all, we will be continuing to preview the 2009 football season by position. We still have receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive backs. There are special teams too, and that was one of the eight questions facing the Gamecocks that we wrote about earlier. What will be the true strength of the Gamecock football team this coming season? The O-Line has plenty of game experience, and with a quarterback with a feel for the program now, our offense should be able to put up some points. Watching the team this spring, the defense looked great. I’m anxious to see how both sides look against competition with different colored jerseys.
We want to continue doing some player interviews and profiles, and will have more to post soon. JSU has some quality student/athletes on this team, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from them. Are there any players in particular you would like to see profiled?
Another thing we want to do is check on how the other OVC teams have done this spring, and how they are shaping up for next year. I think we’ll categorize those posts as “Know Your Enemy”. Who will be our toughest conference game in 2009?
I’ve always looked at the leadership the seniors provide to the team as a barometer of how the team plays – and how the team plays is an indication of the senior leadership. I like what I see of next season’s seniors.
JSUfan has great pictures of JSU sporting events. Please go take a look. Thanks for doing that, James.
With the NFL draft this weekend, and at the risk of missing someone, I wanted to recognize past JSU players who have been on NFL rosters – Jesse Baker, Ralph Battle, Dieter Brock, Walter Broughton, Kory Chapman, Eric Davis, David Gulledge, Darrell Malone, Keith McKeller, Terry Owens, Mark Ward, and Alvin Wright. For those of you who remember, the USFL had a few too. Does anyone know of a list compiled of all USFL players? All I could find was a scattering of information, and time limited me here in what I could do. I did see that JSU Punter Gregg Lowery was selected by Birmingham with the pick right after QB Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills) was taken by Chicago.
The baseball, softball, and men’s tennis teams really deserve some attention. The softball team won again yesterday vs. Ole Miss with a walk-off home run by Hillary Downs. All of these teams are having fantastic seasons.
Since we’ve been doing this blog, if you’ve found anything interesting about it at all, please do us a favor – go to the bottom of this post and click on the “share” button. Please share this blog by email, facebook, or any of the other means listed with alumni, friends, students, parents, etc. Does anyone out there have any ideas regarding how to promote this blog?
There are several questions in today’s blog. Please feel free to comment by clicking on “post your comments” below. We’d like your input. More coming soon! Thanks!
JSU 86
Thursday, April 23, 2009
We Are #1
Deion Sanders once said: "To be the best, you have to beat the best." In front of a record crowd at Rudy Abbott field the JSU baseball team did just that last night defeating #1 ranked Georgia 9-7. You can never replace a legend like Rudy Abbott, but Coach Jim Case is building his own fantastic legacy at JSU. Congrats to the baseball team for this remarkable achievement.
By the way, the baseball team is not the only one knocking off SEC powers. Our softball team, perhaps JSU's finest program on a national level, defeated Ole Miss on the road and plays them again at home today. Good luck Lady Cocks!
JSU 88
By the way, the baseball team is not the only one knocking off SEC powers. Our softball team, perhaps JSU's finest program on a national level, defeated Ole Miss on the road and plays them again at home today. Good luck Lady Cocks!
JSU 88
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
On To Nationals
Congratulations to the JSU Mens Tennis Team for capturing the conference title on Sunday in Kentucky. The team is coached by Steve Bailey who has been coaching the mens and womens teams at JSU for over 20 years. Bailey, a JSU grad, has an amazing number of OVC and GSC titles. His philosopy: "win with class." JSU is also blessed with a tremendous assistant Coach, Tim MacTaggart. Tim is pure JSU. When he was at JSU, Tim played on the football and tennis teams. After a long and successful coaching career at the high school level, Tim joined Coach Bailey's program. Tim's daugther, Katie Boggus, is a JSU graduate as well and leads the Guntersville Alumni Chapter (2008 chapter of the year).
Much like the NCAA basketball tournament, the winner of the OVC generally has to play a powerhouse in the first round of nationals. This team may have the horses to pull off an upset. They went 21-2 in the regular season with their only losses coming to UAT and Eastern Kentucky. Australian, Scott Robertson, had a 16-5 record at #1. Brazilians Eduardo Sarratt and Bernard Bachino went 19-2 and 18-3 at the 2 and 3 spots respectively. Another Aussie, Chris Duke, went 18-2 at #5 and Californian, Brian Kenyon got some key wins late in the season at the #6 spot. Its hard to obtain records this good when you are playing air.
Way to go Gamecocks!
JSU 88
Much like the NCAA basketball tournament, the winner of the OVC generally has to play a powerhouse in the first round of nationals. This team may have the horses to pull off an upset. They went 21-2 in the regular season with their only losses coming to UAT and Eastern Kentucky. Australian, Scott Robertson, had a 16-5 record at #1. Brazilians Eduardo Sarratt and Bernard Bachino went 19-2 and 18-3 at the 2 and 3 spots respectively. Another Aussie, Chris Duke, went 18-2 at #5 and Californian, Brian Kenyon got some key wins late in the season at the #6 spot. Its hard to obtain records this good when you are playing air.
Way to go Gamecocks!
JSU 88
Monday, April 20, 2009
JOSH CARROLL – Making the Team was a Snap
Josh Carroll came to JSU as a Preferred Walk-On his freshman season and earned a spot on the roster as the long and short snapper. Then as a junior they moved him to backup center but still continued to short snap for field goals and extra points. Moving into his final season at JSU, he has played in every game since he started - 33 games to date. Josh has been one of the unsung players on the team but has contributed in every game he has played by not missing a long or short snap.
Josh is an excellent example of the JSU student/athlete. Gamecockillustrated.com recently talked with him by phone to ask a few questions.
Q: How did you end up coming to JSU?
A: I knew former Gamecock LB Devin Phillips from high school. Coach Adam Ross recruited me, and I had connections with him too from church over the years. I came to JSU as a Preferred Walk-On.
Q: How long did it take you to get playing time?
A: I ended up winning the long-snapping spot for my freshman year.
Q: Did you play that same position in high school?
A: I did. I played offensive line in high school, and my niche was long and short-snapping for punts, field goals, and extra points.
Q: What’s the most difficult part of long or short snapping?
A: It’s the pressure to be perfect every single time. When does the snapper get recognized? It’s when there’s a mistake. You can’t miss.
Q: What is the best thing about playing football at Jacksonville State?
A: The best thing is the camaraderie. This is a close team with a family atmosphere. We’ve bonded well as a team, especially over the last couple of years. I feel like the closeness of the team will help us to win a championship.
Q: Do you see your leadership role changing as a senior?
A: Yes, definitely. As a younger player, leadership is really leading yourself. As an upperclassman, it becomes a responsibility. The younger players look up to you because of your age and time in the program. You show them the way. As seniors, we will set the example.
Q: Tell me about your academics.
A: I’m majoring in Industrial Technology Management. I have a 3.55 GPA.
Q: I know you have some academic achievements. What are they? (Josh is modest, I had to prod him on this)
A: Twice I was named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. I’ve been Dean’s List or President’s List all but one semester.
Q: What did you learn from the Tech game last year?
A: The speed of the game was faster. It surprised us, and it took us too long to adjust. We’ll do more to be ready this year. We’ll have a fighting chance. I know someone from my high school that will be playing for Tech. Being from Georgia, I’m really looking forward to playing this game again.
Q: Next you have the FSU game. What do you think about that?
A: That will be a great opportunity. It’s a once in a lifetime experience.
Q: What college team did you like growing up?
A: I liked Ga Tech and UGA. Growing up, I never really chose between one or the other. I always pulled for the underdog. Now, I’m a UGA fan. We play Tech, so I can’t pull for them.
Q: What would you say your goals are for the coming year?
A: First and foremost, a championship. We missed winning the OVC last year by 4 points. I still think about that. We want the championship.
Secondly, my goal is to be the best I can be.
If I have a third, it is to have fun.
Q: Last spring, we had no quarterbacks on the roster. This year, we have three that have been in the program for 1 season. What difference does that make in building toward next year?
A: It’s huge. First of all, the offense functions better. We should be way ahead of last year because we can work on things like timing of hand-offs, pass routes, and blocking. It will all be better.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have an 8 year old sister named Amanda and a 23 year old brother, Ben.
Q: Do you watch much TV?
A: I watch a lot of TV. My favorite shows are probably Family Guy and The Office.
Q: What do you tell someone that may want to play college football?
A: Be ready to put in the time. Between practices, games, weight-training, meetings and watching film, you’re looking at a 6-day work week. You have to balance your time carefully to take care of your academics and football.
Thanks Josh. Good luck in the upcoming season.
JSU 86
Friday, April 17, 2009
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