1. First of all, what do you think the Jaguars have to do if they're going to have a chance at pulling off a major upset over the Gamecocks?
First, our defense has to be at its best on Saturday , especially against South Carolina’s run game. Our defense has been our saving grace in multiple games this year; we have a talented group of guys who have exceeded preseason expectations. Of course, we have to put points on the board. In order to upset the Gamecocks, we need to have explosive plays on offense. We have had trouble with consistency on offense throughout the year. Last week against Texas State, our offense seemed to gel much more under quarterback Hunter Vaughn. Vaughn led the team to a win in his first career start after beginning the year as a third string. We will have to give everything we have to compete with South Carolina, but if the guys play like they did last week, who knows? We had the chance to upset Tennessee last year, and with this crazy year of college football, I believe anything is possible. It would be the big a huge win for our program.
2. South Alabama has a few big-name opponents on the schedule like Mississippi State, South Carolina and Navy. Does the fan base get excited about playing those kinds of schools even with the prospect of a big loss?
Our fans love when we play big-name opponents, especially those in the SEC. This past September, we had our first sell-out game in our six-year existence against Mississippi State, with over 38,000 people in attendance. In 2013, we played at Tennessee and lost by a touchdown. We were eight yards and seven points from going into overtime, before an interception in the end zone ended that drive. It’s a huge opportunity for our team to play against big-name schools, not only as a “measuring stick” as the players call it, but also for the national recognition. We are only six years old as a football program, so these games give our team great opportunities for exposure.
3. The program is relatively young over there in Mobile, only entering the FBS in 2012. How have you seen the football team grow in its short existence?
I started working for the paper in 2012 as we transitioned into FBS. At that time, we really lacked leadership on the field and had a three quarterback rotation system that really wasn't successful. We were ranked second-to-last in the Sun Belt preseason poll and completely had a turnaround in 2013. Under a solid quarterback and a sound team, both offensively and defensively, the Jags fought their way to bowl eligibility in their first year of being eligible. Obvious leadership on the field in both squads makes a world of difference. When our guys find a rhythm they become consistent, and that’s what I've seen in this team these past few years. Every year we have had more upperclassmen step up and become leaders. The guys feed off their energy. That with a deep offensive line and good recruiting, our Jags have played their way back to bowl eligibility this past week and look to earn their first big-name win.
4. The Jaguars finished last in the Sun Belt conference in 2012 and made it up to No. 4 in 2013. They're in fifth place right now, but do you see South Alabama contending for a conference title in the near future?
Absolutely. This past year has been great in terms of recruiting. We currently have the 2nd ranked recruiting class in the Sun Belt conference. Mobile is one of the most heavily recruited cities in the South, so location really plays in our favor. This year, we are bowl eligible for the second straight year and have the chance to attend our first bowl game. We might be a young program, but we have a great coaching staff that knows talent. This program is heading in the right direction and I’m excited to see the program continue to grow in years to come.
5. Who are some notable Jaguars on offense and defense that South Carolina fans should be on the lookout for?
Offense:
QB Hunter Vaughn — Started the year as a third string quarterback. After an injury to our starter Brandon Bridge, Vaughn won the job and led the Jags to bowl eligibility. In his first start, the sophomore went 20-for-28 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 15 yards and caught a pass for a 28-yard touchdown.
TE Braedon Bowman — Bowman stepped in when starting All-Sun Belt TE Wes Saxton was injured and took over his starting position. Bowman has earned his spot with his athleticism and consistency. Against Texas State, the junior JUCO transfer caught four passes for 81 yards. For the season, he has 232 yards on 17 catches.
Defense:
DE Theo Rich — Rich leads the Jaguars in sacks with 7.0. Rich has 34 tackles with and leads the squad in tackles for a loss with 11 for 64 yards.
S Terrell Brigham — Brigham has the most tackles on the season for the Jaguars with 83 and leads the team in pass breakups with 7. Brigham has reached double-digits four times this season in tackles, his latest 12 tackles against Texas State last week.