MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s Sept. 1 season opener against West Alabama will be televised, athletic director Dr. Joel Erdmann announced Wednesday, making it the Jaguars’ first televised game of the 2011 football season rather than the Sept. 17 trip to NC State.
The game will air live locally on UTV 44 and nationally on ESPN3. Erdmann also announced kickoff times for South Alabama’s first four games.
Broadcast Details
South Alabama and West Alabama will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Jim Cox will call play-by-play, with Dan Brennan providing color analysis. Pat Greenwood will serve as sideline reporter for both the television broadcast and the WNSP radio broadcast.
ESPN3.com is available in more than 70 million homes to fans whose high-speed internet providers are affiliated with ESPN.
Kickoff Times Announced
- Sept. 1: West Alabama at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, 6:30 p.m. (UTV 44, ESPN3)
- Sept. 10: Lamar, 4 p.m.
- Sept. 17: at NC State in Raleigh, N.C., 5 p.m. CT (ESPN3)
- at Kent State, 2:30 p.m. CT
The NC State game will be South Alabama’s first against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and its first road game of the season. The trip to Kent State will be the Jaguars’ second game against an FBS opponent.
Remaining kickoff times will be announced later. Season tickets list 4 p.m. kickoffs for home games against Tennessee-Martin, Henderson State and Cal Poly, and a 6:30 p.m. kickoff for a Thursday night home game against Mississippi Valley State.
Gregory on the Program’s Potential
In an interview with Dan of the 95KSJ morning show “Dan and Shelby,” South Alabama offensive coordinator Greg Gregory, who previously coached at South Florida, compared the Jaguars to the Bulls’ start-up program. “There is no doubt South Alabama will get to the same level as USF prior to them getting in the Big East,” Gregory said. “I think this program can go as far as the administration wants it to go.”
Asked about the offensive line facing a tougher schedule, Gregory said he is not concerned. “We block better than a lot of football teams that you see on tape. I think we have enough talent to compete with anybody we play,” he said. “They are tough and they are going to compete. I don’t think it will be a major issue for us.”
High Praise for Bennett
Gregory reserved his strongest comments for quarterback C.J. Bennett. “Even when he came in last year as a 17 year old, all along I knew he’d be our guy,” Gregory said. “I think he’s the best (college) quarterback in the state of Alabama. He’s a player. He can really throw it. Smart, sees things.”
“He’s as accurate as you want, has as quick a release and the biggest thing is his willingness to pull the trigger,” Gregory said. “He’s got the best release I’ve ever been around.”
Backfield Outlook
Running back Brandon Ross is expected to miss at least the first half of the season. Kendall Houston took on the role of the power back after Ross’ injury and will be joined by Demetre Baker, a transfer from Georgia.
“Baker has more flat out speed. Both of them are violent runners. They run the ball hard,” Gregory said. “Kendall’s probably a little more reliable right now at holding onto the ball but Demetre’s a really good player.”
Gregory also discussed replacing Courtney Smith and Jereme Jones at receiver and the possibility of transfer B.J. Scott contributing on offense in the future.
