There
has been challenges for the young South Alabama football program, a team that
is only four years old have manage to enter their FBS season with a winning
record.
The
Jaguars went 17-0 in their first two years, but amped the schedule up last year
and went 6-4. This is South Alabama’s first year in FBS, and the Jaguars will
be eligible for Sun Belt championships and bowl play beginning in 2013.
Speaking
of a challenging year in the program’s history, South Alabama will play their
first full Sun Belt Conference schedule and have 12 of its 13 games against
Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.
The Jaguars will open their season on Aug. 30th against UTSA at home in Mobile, a team they defeated last season by a touch down in overtime and also playing their first year in the FBS. South
Alabama will face their first SEC opponent at Mississippi State and travel back
to NC State, two back to back road games that should test the young program
first year in Division 1 FBS play. South Alabama will then return home to open its
conference schedule with their first game against new in state conference rivals’ the Troy
Trojans.
Jones
said the biggest difference between the 2012 team and the Jaguars’ first team
will be the size and talent. Jones called the linebacker unit, led by NFL
prospect Jake Johnson, a strength, but said depth, especially on the offensive
and defensive lines, would be a hurdle to overcome early.
South
Alabama and Troy will play every year as designated rivals. Troy head coach
Larry Blakeney said the school has already gone head to head on several
recruits.
The
buzz around town has already began for the rivalry between Troy and South
Alabama, and his should be a game that should gain national attention in its near future. “I
expect (the Sept. 29 game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium) to be full,” Blakeney said.
“They did a great job of developing fans because they played nobody they
couldn’t beat for two years and made everybody happy.
“I
don’t want to cut our kids short on what we’re doing,” Jones said. “We’re going
to play to win. Knowing that, we have a difficult schedule and we’ve got to
step up each week.
“I
think our kids will play with a chip on our shoulder this year. Every week,
we’ve got to prove something. Anybody we beat will be a big deal.”
South
Alabama came close to beating FBS foe Kent State last season, losing that game
to a few mistakes that could have been avoided. This year you should see a
improved team, that will take a lot and dish a lot on the field.
