MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones is considering starting a pregame team walk to Ladd-Peebles Stadium beginning with the program’s first game this fall, his assistants said Wednesday on the Joey Jones Show.
Brian Stross filled in as host for Lee Shirvanian, who was traveling with the South Alabama men’s basketball team to Denver for Thursday night’s game. Recruiting coordinator Brian Turner and wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig joined the program one week before National Signing Day.
A Game-Day Tradition
Stross asked about game-day traditions such as those at Clemson, Alabama and Auburn, and the team walks that programs including Georgia have adopted. The coaches said Jones wants to begin a tradition from the first game and is considering having the team buses drop players off along Virginia Street so they can walk the rest of the way to the stadium.
Asked when the team would arrive at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on game days, Craig said the Jaguars would typically arrive about two hours before kickoff to begin warmups.
Final Recruiting Push
South Alabama will host nine or 10 prospects for official visits this weekend. The recruiting calendar enters a quiet period Sunday, when prospects may visit campus but coaches may not travel to recruit. A dead period begins Monday and runs through signing day, during which coaches may call a prospect only once a week. During the open period, calls are unlimited.
Signing Day Event
The National Signing Day event is set for 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Mitchell Center. Athletic director Joe Gottfried will discuss the football program, Jones will speak about the signing class and the position coaches will discuss the players at their positions. The staff is compiling videos on each signee.
Senior Bowl and Facilities
The coaches said they expect the Senior Bowl, played annually at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, to help with recruiting, since NFL scouts attending the game are near South Alabama and will notice talent in the area. On earlier shows, the staff has described the university’s facilities as a major recruiting tool.
Building a Program From Scratch
The coaches described the unusual position of the incoming players, who will arrive without upperclassmen to learn from. They said the staff must teach in a way the newcomers can understand and execute, and must also mentor players on conduct off the field and on campus. The coaches said they expect the team to improve steadily over time.
South Alabama begins play in 2009, with home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Football season tickets are on sale.
