MOBILE, Ala. — New South Alabama offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said the Jaguars will aim for a balanced offense capable of running or passing in any situation when the program takes the field for the first time this fall.
Gregory joined coach Joey Jones on Wednesday’s Joey Jones Show at Wings Sports Grill. Brian Stross hosted in place of Lee Shirvanian, who was traveling with the South Alabama men’s basketball team to Tennessee for a game at Middle Tennessee. Jones also served Wednesday night as grand marshal of a Mardi Gras parade.
Why Gregory
Jones announced Gregory’s hiring at the end of last week. He said he tried to be patient in filling the position because of its importance. He wanted a coordinator in place quickly so players could begin learning his philosophy, but did not want to rush and hire someone who did not fit the players and the staff already assembled.
Jones said he and Gregory share similar views, particularly that a balanced offense keeps defenses from keying on either the run or the pass. Jones said he did not want a coordinator who throws on nearly every down with only a handful of running plays, nor one who runs the wishbone.
Jones said the most important factor may have been that Gregory wanted to be at South Alabama and be part of a new program. Gregory comes from South Florida, which moved from its founding to Division I-A football faster than any program in NCAA history.
Gregory on the Move
Gregory said he and Jones first spoke about a month ago and that circumstances at South Florida also played a role, which he described as not negative. He said it has long been a goal to help start a football program, build a quality team and be part of the history and traditions created along the way.
The Offensive Philosophy
Gregory said South Florida ran the ball a little more than 500 times last season and threw it more than 400 times, with passing producing slightly more yardage than rushing. He said his goal is for the offense to be able to do whatever it wants, whenever and wherever it wants on the field, which allows an offense to dictate pace and tempo.
He said he wants an offense with both a tough, physical element that can grind out short yardage and an explosive element capable of long touchdown runs and receptions.
The discussion also turned to Steve Spurrier’s offenses at Florida, which were seen as pass-first but were closer to a 60-40 split between passing and running. The point, Gregory said, is that a coach can shape how an offense is perceived; Spurrier’s teams threw early to set up the run late, and remained balanced in an unconventional way.
Gregory said the bottom line is doing what it takes to win. An offense must be able to throw well when needed and run well when needed, and it must play as part of a team: an offense that throws interceptions all game cannot expect its defense to rescue it, just as a defense that blitzes every down and gives up quick scores cannot expect the offense to bail it out.
Installing an Offense From Scratch
Gregory said that at a previous stop his team switched from an I-formation offense to the wishbone from one season to the next, but those players already had college experience. With a brand-new program, he said, he must be mindful of how much can be installed, depending on how quickly players absorb the system before fall.
Unlike established programs, South Alabama has no presumptive starters at quarterback, running back or other positions. Gregory said he barely knows the players’ names yet, but every player will get an opportunity and the best will rise to the top.
Stadium Questions
A caller asked how important an on-campus stadium is for South Alabama. Jones acknowledged that Ladd-Peebles Stadium has been essential to bringing football to the university. He said there are possible plans for an on-campus stadium but nothing concrete or imminent, and noted that schools with on-campus stadiums tend to draw more students. For now, he said, the staff and players are focused solely on playing at Ladd-Peebles.
Gregory noted that South Florida plays off campus at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and said he does not believe an off-campus stadium makes much difference in where players choose to go. He said players choose based on the coaches, the environment and the school.
Newdome Proposal
Stross asked about a proposal reported in Sunday’s Mobile Press-Register from the C.P. Newdome Foundation, which wants to build a network of sports facilities in Mobile County, including a 50,000-seat stadium, at a cost that could reach $1 billion. The proposed site covers more than 1,000 acres near Interstate 10 and McDonald Road.
Jones said he had not heard about the proposal, having been focused on recruiting, and did not know anything about it. He said most smaller Division I-A schools average about 25,000 fans per game, and that it would be very good for South Alabama to sell out every game at Ladd-Peebles, which seats 40,646.
Jones on Ladd-Peebles
Stross said Ladd-Peebles Stadium benefits from its location near downtown Mobile and its hotels, and suggested a $20 million to $30 million investment could serve South Alabama’s needs for years. Jones said he likes the stadium’s location and tradition and has no negatives about it, adding that decisions about future stadium options rest with the university president.
Jones said several recruits made official visits during Senior Bowl weekend. While the staff could not give them game tickets, it was able to bring them onto the sideline at one point, which Jones called a strong recruiting tool.
