MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones discussed the program’s newly announced 2013 game at Tennessee and laid out the Jaguars’ recruiting approach during his weekly radio show.
Jones was joined on the show by Brian Turner, the Jaguars’ recruiting coordinator and a member of the defensive staff. South Alabama is building its football program from the ground up, with play set to begin in 2009.
Why Tennessee
The top news of the show was South Alabama’s announcement that it will play at Tennessee in Knoxville in 2013.
Jones explained that the program chose Tennessee over schools such as Ohio State that might pay more for a visiting opponent. He said the staff wanted a major game within the region that paid a fair guarantee while being easier for South Alabama fans to travel to than a trip to Ohio State or Nebraska.
Asked whether he had approached Alabama or Auburn about scheduling a game, Jones said he had been in contact with people at Auburn but noted that neither school plays in-state opponents. He recalled South Alabama’s upset of Alabama in basketball in the late 1980s, a loss he said then-Alabama coach Wimp Sanderson still considers his worst.
Scholarships and Recruiting
Responding to a caller, Jones said NCAA rules allow South Alabama 30 scholarships in its first year. Sixteen have been awarded, leaving 14 that could be used through the end of December and count toward this year’s total. Jones said the staff is looking for older, more experienced players, including junior college transfers.
Jones praised Turner’s recruiting work at Troy, noting that Troy has signed strong players and had a player selected in the first round of the most recent NFL Draft. He said Turner’s experience will help South Alabama compete for talent in the Mobile area.
A Division II Contact Advantage
During its current Division II period, South Alabama’s staff can contact recruits more often than Division I coaches are allowed to. Jones said that should benefit the Jaguars’ recruiting in the years before the program moves to Division I. He said that when the staff learns Southeastern Conference schools are recruiting a player, South Alabama will target that player as well.
Facilities and The Grove
Jones said recruits’ priorities have shifted in recent years. Coaches used to be the primary reason a player chose a school, but facilities and training areas now carry more weight.
The staff has been promoting plans for a new fieldhouse, coaches’ offices and a player lounge. Jones and Turner also cited The Grove student housing as a major recruiting tool, with Turner saying it easily exceeds what was available at Troy.
Turner said players offered scholarships by Alabama or Auburn will likely go there, so South Alabama is targeting the next tier: players capable of playing at those schools who did not receive offers. He said filling Ladd-Peebles Stadium for every game would also help significantly in recruiting and exposure.
Game Days and Times
A caller asked whether South Alabama would play on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. Jones said that during his time in Birmingham he saw Thursday night games succeed because they avoid conflicts with other college games, and South Alabama will definitely play some Thursday night games.
He said the program will experiment with various days and kickoff times during its first few seasons before becoming a full Football Bowl Subdivision member in 2013, with the goal of providing the best possible game-day experience for fans, including tailgating.
Update: Game Details
South Alabama athletics director Joe Gottfried announced the Tennessee game Wednesday morning. The Jaguars will play the Volunteers in Knoxville on Nov. 9, 2013, under a one-game contract. South Alabama’s four-game, home-and-home series with Navy is also scheduled to begin during the 2013 season.
“When you look at South Alabama football, Tennessee is where we want to be in the long run,” Jones said.
Other opponents and the 2009 schedule will be announced at a later date.
