MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football held the last of its three preseason scrimmages Thursday morning, a session focused on game situations and special teams as the Jaguars wrapped up fall camp for the 2012 season.
The school also announced that two Jaguar games this season will be streamed on ESPN3.
A Mental Rehearsal
The scrimmage lasted about an hour and a half. Players were in full pads, but there was no tackling, and the session was run at roughly three-quarter speed.
The first- and second-team offenses and defenses took a large number of snaps. The Jaguars also worked on every phase of special teams, including kickoff and punt coverage, kickoff and punt returns, field goals, extra points and kick blocking. Later in the session, the team focused on several game-like scenarios it could face this season.
Jones Pleased With Focus
Head coach Joey Jones said the team handled substitutions and special teams changes without problems.
“I think they were sharp today, I don’t think we had anybody miss from a substitution standpoint,” Jones said. “We were calling guys in and out, having the special teams running out there, and they were very alert. That’s what I was looking for today. Obviously it wasn’t a physical scrimmage, and we didn’t want it to be. It was three-quarter speed. But the mental side of it was real good.”
Jones said the team is ready to move from camp to game preparation.
“I know the kids are excited and we are too,” Jones said. “Any time you have been in camp for three weeks straight you are ready to play somebody else, that’s just the way it is. You do all this to play games. I told the kids that we have done a good job in camp, now we can focus on our opponent. If you can’t get ready now, then you don’t need to be playing football.”
Schedule and Fan Day
South Alabama was scheduled to practice for a little more than an hour Friday beginning around 8 a.m. The team will take Saturday off and return for a 2:30 p.m. workout Sunday.
Coaches and players will also be at the Mitchell Center from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday for Fan Day.
Two Games on ESPN3
South Alabama announced that its game against Nicholls State will be televised on ESPN3, with kickoff set for 4 p.m.
The Jaguars’ Sun Belt Conference road finale at Louisiana-Lafayette will also be carried on ESPN3, as well as on Cox4 in Louisiana.
The 2012 season is South Alabama’s first playing a full Sun Belt schedule.
