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Started By
Message
South Alabama begins the transition to FBS Thursday night against West Alabama.
Posted on 8/28/11 at 5:49 pm
Posted on 8/28/11 at 5:49 pm
I know you all have a rabid curiosity pertaining to this subject, so, you're welcome.
South Alabama kicks off the first of two transitional seasons on Thursday at 6:30 CT. The opponent is D-II West Alabama. You can watch the game on UTV44 in the Mobile area or on ESPN3.com.
USA’s football program began in 2009, playing two seasons as an unclassified NCAA program, meaning they did not fall into any of the 3 divisions recognized by the NCAA. The Jags were able to achieve a 17-0 record during those two years, including wins over FCS programs Nichols State, Georgia State, Lamar, and a 4th-quarter comeback victory at UC Davis.
The schedule is much tougher this season, with only 2 non-DI opponents (D-II UWA and Henderson St. (Ark.)), and two games against FBS foes, North Carolina State (a game that can be seen on ESPN3.com 9/17/2011 at 5 PM CT) and Kent State. South Alabama's Homecoming game against UT-Martin on October 15th will be televised by CSS, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 CT.
In 2012, USA will be in the final year of the transition to FBS, playing a 13 game schedule, with 12 opponents coming from the FBS ranks. 2012 will see USA play 8 Sun Belt conference games and traveling to North Carolina State, Mississippi State, and Hawaii.
With the 2013 season, USA will be a full-fledged member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, eligible to compete for Sun Belt Championships and bowl games.
Be sure to check out our 2011 football trailer here.
CJ Bennett (#15) is expected to start at QB after playing in 9 games and starting 3 a year ago, throwing for 1, 189 yards and 9 TDs. An interesting aspect of being unclassified is that USA was able to give players sort of a playing redshirt year, meaning that players who had not previously redshirted at another institution could play one season without using a year of eligibility. In other words, they had 5 years to play 5. This means that CJ will be a redshirt freshman this year and could end up being a 5 year starting QB.
Another player to watch out for is Alabama transfer BJ Scott (#1), who is slated to start at the FS position. BJ, a Mobile native, is a tremendous athlete and should bolster the USA secondary along with Western Michigan transfer Damond Smith and JUCOs Charles Harris and Gabe Loper.
Another name you’ll hear a lot this year is that of running back Demetre Baker (#33). Demetre is a transfer from Georgia and will be called upon to help Kendall Houston (#29) in the running game.
The strength of the USA defense will be up the middle, with leading tackler Enrique Williams (#28) and Virginia Tech transfer Jake Johnson (#42) starting at the middle linebacker spots. Enrique came to USA a few years ago as 187 pounder but has gotten his weight up to 235 pounds through the Jag Power program. See video from that program here.
USA! USA! USA!
South Alabama kicks off the first of two transitional seasons on Thursday at 6:30 CT. The opponent is D-II West Alabama. You can watch the game on UTV44 in the Mobile area or on ESPN3.com.
USA’s football program began in 2009, playing two seasons as an unclassified NCAA program, meaning they did not fall into any of the 3 divisions recognized by the NCAA. The Jags were able to achieve a 17-0 record during those two years, including wins over FCS programs Nichols State, Georgia State, Lamar, and a 4th-quarter comeback victory at UC Davis.
The schedule is much tougher this season, with only 2 non-DI opponents (D-II UWA and Henderson St. (Ark.)), and two games against FBS foes, North Carolina State (a game that can be seen on ESPN3.com 9/17/2011 at 5 PM CT) and Kent State. South Alabama's Homecoming game against UT-Martin on October 15th will be televised by CSS, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 CT.
In 2012, USA will be in the final year of the transition to FBS, playing a 13 game schedule, with 12 opponents coming from the FBS ranks. 2012 will see USA play 8 Sun Belt conference games and traveling to North Carolina State, Mississippi State, and Hawaii.
With the 2013 season, USA will be a full-fledged member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, eligible to compete for Sun Belt Championships and bowl games.
Be sure to check out our 2011 football trailer here.
CJ Bennett (#15) is expected to start at QB after playing in 9 games and starting 3 a year ago, throwing for 1, 189 yards and 9 TDs. An interesting aspect of being unclassified is that USA was able to give players sort of a playing redshirt year, meaning that players who had not previously redshirted at another institution could play one season without using a year of eligibility. In other words, they had 5 years to play 5. This means that CJ will be a redshirt freshman this year and could end up being a 5 year starting QB.
Another player to watch out for is Alabama transfer BJ Scott (#1), who is slated to start at the FS position. BJ, a Mobile native, is a tremendous athlete and should bolster the USA secondary along with Western Michigan transfer Damond Smith and JUCOs Charles Harris and Gabe Loper.
Another name you’ll hear a lot this year is that of running back Demetre Baker (#33). Demetre is a transfer from Georgia and will be called upon to help Kendall Houston (#29) in the running game.
The strength of the USA defense will be up the middle, with leading tackler Enrique Williams (#28) and Virginia Tech transfer Jake Johnson (#42) starting at the middle linebacker spots. Enrique came to USA a few years ago as 187 pounder but has gotten his weight up to 235 pounds through the Jag Power program. See video from that program here.
USA! USA! USA!
This post was edited on 8/28/11 at 6:50 pm
Posted on 8/28/11 at 5:51 pm to South Alabama Fan
Make that picture smaller. (ETA: nevermind, already done)
And, what has their recruiting strategy been? Have they been relying on mostly transfers, or getting a good mix of HS and JUCO guys?
And, what has their recruiting strategy been? Have they been relying on mostly transfers, or getting a good mix of HS and JUCO guys?
This post was edited on 8/28/11 at 5:52 pm
Posted on 8/28/11 at 5:56 pm to South Alabama Fan
I hope they do well. Do you live in South AL?
Posted on 8/28/11 at 5:56 pm to South Alabama Fan
Have a good friend on the team, hope they do well.
Posted on 8/28/11 at 5:59 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
And, what has their recruiting strategy been? Have they been relying on mostly transfers, or getting a good mix of HS and JUCO guys?
I would say a pretty good mix. There were 6 JUCO offensive linemen in the first class and plenty of 4-year transfers. When we take the field on Thursday, the starting 22 will consist of 11 guys we signed out of HS, 6 transfers from 4 year schools, and 5 JUCOs. The transfers have dropped off considerably now that guys from the FBS level are no longer immediately eligible, so it will be mainly HS kids and JUCOs from here on out.
This post was edited on 8/28/11 at 6:00 pm
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:00 pm to Bama and Beer
quote:
Do you live in South AL?
Born and raised in the Port City of Mobile. Currently a student at South, hoping to graduate some time in the next decade.
This post was edited on 8/28/11 at 6:01 pm
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:18 pm to South Alabama Fan
Born and raised in Fhope.
Went to UoM
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:21 pm to South Alabama Fan
My golden flashes will be limping in at 0-3 when they play you guys, so chalk that up as a win.
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:22 pm to Bama and Beer
The best Crawfish Étouffée money can buy can be found at the lovely Fairhope Inn.
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:27 pm to South Alabama Fan
Don't worry, the cajuns will rough up kent state before yall play them
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:28 pm to South Alabama Fan
Baker is a good player. Hate that it didnt work out for him at UGA.
Posted on 8/28/11 at 6:50 pm to Trojandawg
Interesting write-up. I'm at MGCCC this year in my sophomore year, and either transferring to USA or UA next year.
Posted on 8/29/11 at 11:41 am to rolltide0692
quote:
I'm at MGCCC this year in my sophomore year, and either transferring to USA or UA next year.
Speaking of MGCCC, we've got two former Bulldogs on the roster, the Brothers Helms (tight ends Kennedy and Kevin). A scout from the Kansas City Chiefs was at practice last week to watch Kevin.
Posted on 8/29/11 at 11:52 am to Bama and Beer
quote:
Went to UoM
...At Pritchard.
Posted on 8/29/11 at 10:31 pm to South Alabama Fan
South sux! Glad they kicked me out!
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