MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama will add amplified crowd noise to its practices this week as the Jaguars prepare to face NC State before an expected crowd of more than 60,000 at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, coach Joey Jones said.
Jones and director of football operations Brendt Bedsole discussed the trip on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian at Baumhower’s on Airport Boulevard Tuesday.
Preparing for the Wolfpack
Jones said the Jaguars will prepare for NC State as they would for any other opponent, with one exception: speakers will play music, fight songs and crowd noise during practice to simulate the environment in Raleigh. He said the crowd will be loud and will be a factor.
Jones described NC State as well coached with a good quarterback, good receivers and a sound defensive front. He said the Wolfpack’s 6-foot-6 quarterback has a strong arm and makes the most of the players around him, and he singled out senior receiver T.J. Graham, who wears No. 6, as a player who concerns him. Jones said NC State, coming off a loss to Wake Forest, will bounce back and be ready.
Asked whether NC State might overlook South Alabama, Jones said it can happen but that he does not expect it after the Wolfpack’s loss. He said South Alabama’s challenge is not to overhype the game and to peak at the end of the week.
The Jaguars will not be able to walk through Carter-Finley Stadium until about 6 p.m. Friday, and weather could be a factor. Jones said the players should not be overwhelmed, noting that Carter-Finley seats 57,583 while Ladd-Peebles Stadium holds nearly 40,000.
Bedsole said even FCS schools have starters who could play at some FBS programs, and that South Alabama has an estimated 35 to 40 players who could play at a school like NC State at this stage of the program.
Travel Party
South Alabama will travel with 68 players and 65 staff and support personnel. University President Gordon Moulton, the vice president and other officials will be on the flight for what the school considers a historic game.
The Jaguars will be on the road in consecutive weeks, traveling to Kent State after NC State. Jones noted that the team made back-to-back trips last season to Lamar and UC Davis, but said an open week between the two games would have been nice.
Lamar Review and Adjustments
Jones said South Alabama played fairly well against Lamar, with solid play on offense and defense, but said special teams still need work. He cited a kickoff that went out of bounds as one of the major mistakes.
Responding to a question about cornerback Anton Graphenreed being beaten on some plays, Jones said several were caused by communication breakdowns in which a cornerback expected help over the top from a safety who had not signaled he would not be providing it.
Jones said rotating running backs Kendall Houston and Demetre Baker does not disrupt the offense’s flow. He said the rotation keeps their legs fresh, limits the hits they take over a season and wears down defenses. He said rotating can cause problems at quarterback but not at running back.
Jones said playing second- and third-team players in games builds depth and gives them repetitions they cannot get in practice. He said the team works on trick plays but uses them sparingly, saving them for close games when momentum needs to change.
South Alabama has two replay challenges per game this season, and an unsuccessful challenge costs a timeout. Jones called it a test run before the Jaguars begin Sun Belt Conference play next season.
Scheduling and the Sun Belt
Asked about Sun Belt wins over BCS opponents, including Florida International’s victory over Louisville, Jones said Troy has traditionally been strong, Louisiana-Lafayette is improving, and North Texas and Florida Atlantic have new stadiums, with North Texas adding a good coach. He said such wins reflect well on a conference finding its way.
Jones said Southern Miss makes a natural rival because of the schools’ proximity, but both programs had schedules set far in advance, and the earliest open date for Southern Miss was already filled on South Alabama’s schedule.
Jones said South Alabama’s strong start can make scheduling harder with FCS programs and schools similar to South Alabama, but not with SEC programs such as LSU, which pay about $1 million to host such games.
Game Preview
NC State is averaging 371 yards of total offense through two games, with 235.5 passing yards and a little more than 130 rushing yards per game. The Wolfpack defense is allowing 106 rushing yards per game.
NC State is coming off its first loss of the season, a 34-27 defeat at ACC rival Wake Forest. Quarterback Mike Glennon completed 24 of 41 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns as the Wolfpack rallied from a 27-6 third-quarter deficit. Curtis Underwood ran for 56 yards and James Washington added 49 as NC State finished with 424 total yards. Wake Forest gained 438 yards, 337 of them through the air.
“Offensively, they have a great quarterback who is 6-foot-6 and can throw it. He has an extremely good arm,” Jones said. “They have playmakers on the outside to get it to, a good running back and big offensive linemen. They have some real weapons on offense. Defensively, they are a very well-coached football team with good players running around who know how to play. They really get after it.”
In last week’s win over Lamar, South Alabama quarterback C.J. Bennett completed 9 of 14 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Demetre Baker had 13 touches for 82 yards and a touchdown, and Kendall Houston had 13 touches for 43 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars gained 349 yards without a turnover, and the defense allowed 238 yards, 123 of them passing, before the starters left in the third quarter.
Linebacker Jake Johnson said the difference against an FBS opponent is execution. “We’ve played some good teams since I’ve been here at South Alabama, but when you play a team like North Carolina State, their execution is going to be perfect,” Johnson said. “I like that better because I can read their linemen better. That’s the biggest thing for me; everything is smoother because they’re so well coached.”
Kickoff in Raleigh is set for 5 p.m. Central (6 p.m. Eastern). The game will be available on ESPN3.com and on WNSP 105.5 FM and its webcast at WNSP.com. The game begins a stretch of three straight road games for South Alabama and four road games in five weeks.
