To avoid the conflict of playing a home basketball doubleheader against the BCS National Championship Game between Alabama and Texas, Jacksonville State officials have moved the start times of their Jan. 7 games to earlier in the day.
The Gamecocks play Eastern Kentucky on that date and the appeal of Alabama football to so many people was expected to impact the crowd.
The women's game now is set for 3 p.m., while the men will follow at 5:30 p.m.
The Gamecocks have played games on the night of the National Championship Game before, but never was one of the state's two major programs involved.
Check Wednesday morning's Star for more details.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
JSU's 2010 football schedule
The 2009 football season has only been in the history books about a month and already Jacksonville State has its 2010 schedule complete.
Unlike last year’s schedule, set up to accommodate the start of the Paul Snow Stadium expansion/dorm project, this year’s schedule has decidedly different look.
It starts with only one FBS opponent – opening day at Ole Miss – and has a home game in September, two home games at night and an open date during Race Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
Another highlight is a Sept. 18 game with fledgling Georgia State in the Georgia Dome.
Also, Tennessee State returns to the schedule after missing last year to accommodate its Classic rotation.
Here’s the schedule.
Sept. 4 -- at Ole Miss, TBA
Sept. 11 -- Chattanooga (Band Day), 6 p.m.
Sept. 18 -- at Georgia State, TBA
Sept. 25 -- at Eastern Illinois, TBA
Oct. 2 -- Murray State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9 -- at UT-Martin, TBA
Oct. 16 -- Tennessee State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 23 -- Austin Peay (Homecoming/Family Day), 3 p.m.
Oct. 30 – OPEN
Nov. 6 -- at Eastern Kentucky, TBA
Nov. 13 -- Southeast Missouri (Preview Day), 3 p.m.
Nov. 20 -- at Tennessee Tech, TBA
Unlike last year’s schedule, set up to accommodate the start of the Paul Snow Stadium expansion/dorm project, this year’s schedule has decidedly different look.
It starts with only one FBS opponent – opening day at Ole Miss – and has a home game in September, two home games at night and an open date during Race Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
Another highlight is a Sept. 18 game with fledgling Georgia State in the Georgia Dome.
Also, Tennessee State returns to the schedule after missing last year to accommodate its Classic rotation.
Here’s the schedule.
Sept. 4 -- at Ole Miss, TBA
Sept. 11 -- Chattanooga (Band Day), 6 p.m.
Sept. 18 -- at Georgia State, TBA
Sept. 25 -- at Eastern Illinois, TBA
Oct. 2 -- Murray State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9 -- at UT-Martin, TBA
Oct. 16 -- Tennessee State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 23 -- Austin Peay (Homecoming/Family Day), 3 p.m.
Oct. 30 – OPEN
Nov. 6 -- at Eastern Kentucky, TBA
Nov. 13 -- Southeast Missouri (Preview Day), 3 p.m.
Nov. 20 -- at Tennessee Tech, TBA
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Green on BCS title game conflict, 'Do
JSU basketball coach James Green was asked for his opinion about the prospect for moving the Gamecocks' Jan. 7 OVC doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky off the same night as the BCS National Championship football game between Alabama and Texas to help their gate at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
He said any decision like that was “strictly an administrative call.” But he was passionate about what he’d do if one of JSU’s teams were involved in the big game.
“I know this,” he said. “If it were our football team or our baseball team playing for a national championship, I’d cancel the (basketball) game. That’s how I feel. If it were one of our teams, I certainly would do that, because I’m for our teams.”
The Gamecocks have played at home on nights of the national championship football game before and didn’t alter the schedule — in 2007, they played Samford that night and SU coach Jimmy Tillette is a big LSU fan — but this will be the first time the game involves Alabama.
The Gamecocks played their conference opener at home Saturday while the Tide battled Florida in the SEC Championship Game and attendance definitely was impacted.
JSU athletics director Oval Jaynes said a lot of factors go into deciding to move a game, and he can’t run his program based on what Alabama does.
It’s Green’s dream that someday he can get the JSU program to the point folks will want to watch it regardless of what’s going on in the world of sports.
“What I hope is we get this program (moving) and when the Gamecocks pick it up, there’s somebody who wants to be in here to see the excitement,” he said. “That’s what we want to get to.”
WHAT'S DOING WITH 'DO?: Senior center Amadou Mbodji returned to practice Thursday after missing several weeks with an ankle injury he suffered at Southeastern Louisiana and Green was encouraged by what he saw.
Mbodji participated in all the drills, with only a slightly noticeable limp.
"He's been doing a little bit -- jogged on it a little. rode the bike and jogged a little more and moved around a little more and did some things our athletic training staff has gotten him going a little bit," Green said. "To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised to see him be able to go through as much as he did."
The coach stopped short of saying the 6-foot-11 Senegalese shot-blocker would be able to play Saturday against NAIA Reinhardt. The hope is to have Mbodji back in action sometime before Christmas.
"We won't rush him," Green said after Saturday's win over Tennessee Tech, the Gamecocks' third straight game (and first win) without the Big Guy, "because him being a senior and wanting him to finish up in some games that are really going to matter.
"I think we can evaluate it, but I'd like to get him back before (Christmas) so he can get some rhythm back. It's a shame for him because he was starting to play pretty good ball."
Mbodji is averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds this season and has blocked six shots in four games to become the Gamecocks' all-time leading shot-blocker.
He said any decision like that was “strictly an administrative call.” But he was passionate about what he’d do if one of JSU’s teams were involved in the big game.
“I know this,” he said. “If it were our football team or our baseball team playing for a national championship, I’d cancel the (basketball) game. That’s how I feel. If it were one of our teams, I certainly would do that, because I’m for our teams.”
The Gamecocks have played at home on nights of the national championship football game before and didn’t alter the schedule — in 2007, they played Samford that night and SU coach Jimmy Tillette is a big LSU fan — but this will be the first time the game involves Alabama.
The Gamecocks played their conference opener at home Saturday while the Tide battled Florida in the SEC Championship Game and attendance definitely was impacted.
JSU athletics director Oval Jaynes said a lot of factors go into deciding to move a game, and he can’t run his program based on what Alabama does.
It’s Green’s dream that someday he can get the JSU program to the point folks will want to watch it regardless of what’s going on in the world of sports.
“What I hope is we get this program (moving) and when the Gamecocks pick it up, there’s somebody who wants to be in here to see the excitement,” he said. “That’s what we want to get to.”
WHAT'S DOING WITH 'DO?: Senior center Amadou Mbodji returned to practice Thursday after missing several weeks with an ankle injury he suffered at Southeastern Louisiana and Green was encouraged by what he saw.
Mbodji participated in all the drills, with only a slightly noticeable limp.
"He's been doing a little bit -- jogged on it a little. rode the bike and jogged a little more and moved around a little more and did some things our athletic training staff has gotten him going a little bit," Green said. "To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised to see him be able to go through as much as he did."
The coach stopped short of saying the 6-foot-11 Senegalese shot-blocker would be able to play Saturday against NAIA Reinhardt. The hope is to have Mbodji back in action sometime before Christmas.
"We won't rush him," Green said after Saturday's win over Tennessee Tech, the Gamecocks' third straight game (and first win) without the Big Guy, "because him being a senior and wanting him to finish up in some games that are really going to matter.
"I think we can evaluate it, but I'd like to get him back before (Christmas) so he can get some rhythm back. It's a shame for him because he was starting to play pretty good ball."
Mbodji is averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds this season and has blocked six shots in four games to become the Gamecocks' all-time leading shot-blocker.
Monday, December 7, 2009
JSU goes head-to-head with Tide's national title game
Now that the football bowl schedule is set and Alabama is playing Texas for the national championship, more than a few local fans have wondered how the Tide playing in the Big Game will impact the crowd at Jacksonville State’s first home date of the new year.
The BCS National Championship Game is Jan. 7, the same night JSU plays Eastern Kentucky in a conference doubleheader.
While the rest of the world won’t stop, in this state at least the goings-on in Los Angeles that night are sure to draw more eyes (and bodies) than anything going on in Pete Mathews Coliseum. There may be more people in line at one of the concession stands at the Rose Bowl that night than there are in attendance at the JSU-EKU games.
The Gamecocks have played on the night of the national championship game before, but never when the game involved Alabama.
The Gamecocks played their conference-opener doubleheader Saturday at the same time Alabama and Florida were playing in SEC Championship Game. A quick head count recorded less than 100 on hand for the women’s game. There was slightly more for the men’s game, although the official box score listed the attendance at more than 500.
JSU athletic director Oval Jaynes said Saturday he hasn’t made any decision about moving the game to help the gate, and the way he talked, it sounded unlikely he would.
"The issue is more than going head to head with this game," he said. "There are other teams involved.
"You certainly don’t want to play Friday and Saturday back-to-back; I don’t think that’s fair. They’re on the road. That’s another day of missed classes."
The Gamecocks, who are on the road the Saturday and Monday (at Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, are one of two Division I programs in the state with home basketball games that night – South Alabama entertains Western Kentucky (Troy is at Florida Atlantic).
It’s uncertain if USA has any plans to alter its game, but the bottom line at JSU seems to be this:
"I can’t run my program based on what Alabama does," Jaynes said. "It’s not fair to our kids."
The BCS National Championship Game is Jan. 7, the same night JSU plays Eastern Kentucky in a conference doubleheader.
While the rest of the world won’t stop, in this state at least the goings-on in Los Angeles that night are sure to draw more eyes (and bodies) than anything going on in Pete Mathews Coliseum. There may be more people in line at one of the concession stands at the Rose Bowl that night than there are in attendance at the JSU-EKU games.
The Gamecocks have played on the night of the national championship game before, but never when the game involved Alabama.
The Gamecocks played their conference-opener doubleheader Saturday at the same time Alabama and Florida were playing in SEC Championship Game. A quick head count recorded less than 100 on hand for the women’s game. There was slightly more for the men’s game, although the official box score listed the attendance at more than 500.
JSU athletic director Oval Jaynes said Saturday he hasn’t made any decision about moving the game to help the gate, and the way he talked, it sounded unlikely he would.
"The issue is more than going head to head with this game," he said. "There are other teams involved.
"You certainly don’t want to play Friday and Saturday back-to-back; I don’t think that’s fair. They’re on the road. That’s another day of missed classes."
The Gamecocks, who are on the road the Saturday and Monday (at Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, are one of two Division I programs in the state with home basketball games that night – South Alabama entertains Western Kentucky (Troy is at Florida Atlantic).
It’s uncertain if USA has any plans to alter its game, but the bottom line at JSU seems to be this:
"I can’t run my program based on what Alabama does," Jaynes said. "It’s not fair to our kids."
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Whitten has NCAA experience
Brittney Whitten and Brooke Schumacher were sitting at a table in the back room at Jefferson's Sunday preparing to be interviewed after the JSU volleyball team had just finished watching the NCAA Tournament selection show.
Whitten is the only player on the roster with previous NCAA Tournament experience and Schumacher was asked if the Gamecocks would be relying on that insight this weekend in Tallahassee.
"Oh, thanks for more pressure, Al," Whitten said without looking up from filling in her NCAA bracket.
She was kidding, of course, but truth is the players will look to the All-OVC outside hitter for the leadership she regularly supplies.
"Brittney always has a lot to say and we always really listen to her and take it in because she's the oldest and has been here the longest and through it all," Schumacher said.
JSU coach Rick Nold knows the importance of having a player who's been through it.
"For us, it's not much different in terms of how we travel and the schedule than some of our preseason tournaments," Nold said. "But to have someone who has gone through it, she's there to answer the little questions that go with it."
Whitten said the idea she wants to impart on her teammates is the court they'll be playing on in Tully Gym is no different than the ones they've played their 33 previous matches on this season.
"Remember in 'Hoosiers' when they got to the gym and dropped the measuring tape, that's kind of what I would like to evoke in them," Whitten said. "Yes, the game has more gravity, but there's no more expected this weekend than what has been expected of us all season."
Whitten was a freshman on the 2006 team that blew through the Ohio Valley Conference and lost to San Diego in the NCAA first round at Tennessee.
"It was a little bit surreal," she recalled. "We blew through the conference and the conference tournament and the first time we were really challenged was in the NCAA Tournament.
"This year it's completely different. It means more on a personal level, but I think it means more to this team, too, because we really feel like we've gone out there and earned and then proven (winning the OVC Tournament was not a fluke). This is another step to proving the type of team we are."
Whitten is the only player on the roster with previous NCAA Tournament experience and Schumacher was asked if the Gamecocks would be relying on that insight this weekend in Tallahassee.
"Oh, thanks for more pressure, Al," Whitten said without looking up from filling in her NCAA bracket.
She was kidding, of course, but truth is the players will look to the All-OVC outside hitter for the leadership she regularly supplies.
"Brittney always has a lot to say and we always really listen to her and take it in because she's the oldest and has been here the longest and through it all," Schumacher said.
JSU coach Rick Nold knows the importance of having a player who's been through it.
"For us, it's not much different in terms of how we travel and the schedule than some of our preseason tournaments," Nold said. "But to have someone who has gone through it, she's there to answer the little questions that go with it."
Whitten said the idea she wants to impart on her teammates is the court they'll be playing on in Tully Gym is no different than the ones they've played their 33 previous matches on this season.
"Remember in 'Hoosiers' when they got to the gym and dropped the measuring tape, that's kind of what I would like to evoke in them," Whitten said. "Yes, the game has more gravity, but there's no more expected this weekend than what has been expected of us all season."
Whitten was a freshman on the 2006 team that blew through the Ohio Valley Conference and lost to San Diego in the NCAA first round at Tennessee.
"It was a little bit surreal," she recalled. "We blew through the conference and the conference tournament and the first time we were really challenged was in the NCAA Tournament.
"This year it's completely different. It means more on a personal level, but I think it means more to this team, too, because we really feel like we've gone out there and earned and then proven (winning the OVC Tournament was not a fluke). This is another step to proving the type of team we are."
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Baseball inks seven
The Jacksonville State baseball program has signed seven players for the 2011 season, including a set of twins and a Calhoun County product.
Oxford pitcher Taylor Sparks and Pelham twins Michael and Andrew Bishop will be joined by JUCO first baseman Ben Waldrip, Pelham pitcher-first baseman Trae Santos; Southside pitcher-outfielder Bradley Raulston; and Smyrna, Ga., pitcher-infielder Travis Stout.
“As we went into the recruiting process for 2011, we had some positions that we felt like would need immediate attention,” Case said in a statement released by the athletic department. “We feel very confident that we addressed our needs and we expect these young men to all have an impact within our program.”
Signees (stats are from last season)
Ben Waldrip (1B, 6-6, 225, Medford, Mass./St. Anselm College, .394, 3 HRs, 27 RBIs)
Trae Santos (RHP/1B, 6-1, 237, Pelham HS, 6-1 record, 53 Ks)
Michael Bishop (OF/1B, 6-2, 180, Pelham HS, .432, 8 HRs)
Bradley Raulston (RHP/OF, 6-1, 210, Southside HS, .347, 7 HRs, 37 RBIs, 9-2, 94 Ks)
Andrew Bishop (INF, 5-11, 175, Pelham HS, .304, 5 doubles, 13 stolen bases)
Taylor Sparks (LHP, 6-0, 175, Oxford HS, 70 Ks in 40 IP)
Travis Stout (RHP/INF, 5-10, 175, Smyrna, Ga./Holy Innocents HS, 61 Ks in 51 IP)
The signing announcement comes on the same day Case confirmed to The Star that junior pitcher Jason Zylstra has been dismissed from the team for violating team policy. Zylstra was arrested on Nov. 12 on DUI and open container charges.
The Gamecocks are awaiting word on a date with Kennesaw State before releasing their 2010 schedule. The slate is expected to include the first game with Auburn since 1994.
Oxford pitcher Taylor Sparks and Pelham twins Michael and Andrew Bishop will be joined by JUCO first baseman Ben Waldrip, Pelham pitcher-first baseman Trae Santos; Southside pitcher-outfielder Bradley Raulston; and Smyrna, Ga., pitcher-infielder Travis Stout.
“As we went into the recruiting process for 2011, we had some positions that we felt like would need immediate attention,” Case said in a statement released by the athletic department. “We feel very confident that we addressed our needs and we expect these young men to all have an impact within our program.”
Signees (stats are from last season)
Ben Waldrip (1B, 6-6, 225, Medford, Mass./St. Anselm College, .394, 3 HRs, 27 RBIs)
Trae Santos (RHP/1B, 6-1, 237, Pelham HS, 6-1 record, 53 Ks)
Michael Bishop (OF/1B, 6-2, 180, Pelham HS, .432, 8 HRs)
Bradley Raulston (RHP/OF, 6-1, 210, Southside HS, .347, 7 HRs, 37 RBIs, 9-2, 94 Ks)
Andrew Bishop (INF, 5-11, 175, Pelham HS, .304, 5 doubles, 13 stolen bases)
Taylor Sparks (LHP, 6-0, 175, Oxford HS, 70 Ks in 40 IP)
Travis Stout (RHP/INF, 5-10, 175, Smyrna, Ga./Holy Innocents HS, 61 Ks in 51 IP)
The signing announcement comes on the same day Case confirmed to The Star that junior pitcher Jason Zylstra has been dismissed from the team for violating team policy. Zylstra was arrested on Nov. 12 on DUI and open container charges.
The Gamecocks are awaiting word on a date with Kennesaw State before releasing their 2010 schedule. The slate is expected to include the first game with Auburn since 1994.
WBB looks for win vs. Alabama A&M
The JSU women's basketball team plays Alabama A&M tonight (Wednesday) looking for its first win of the season. Here's a capsule look at the game.
Jax State women vs. Alabama A&M
Today, 7 p.m.
Pete Mathews Coliseum, Jacksonville
Radio/TV: 91.9 FM
Records: Jax State 0-6, Alabama A&M 1-2
Series: JSU leads 13-12.
Projected starters
Jax State: 6-0 Fr. P Danielle Vaughn (6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg); 5-8 So. G Zenobia Pitts (8.7, 4.2); 5-9 So. G Danielle Beneby (4.3, 3.0); 5-11 Fr. F Brittany Wiley (8.0, 4.2), 5-7 Fr. G Karisma Boykin (6.7, 2.5)
Alabama A&M: 5-8 Sr. G Katrich Williams (19.0, 4.0); 5-10 Jr. F Chelsea Marshall (5.0, 1.0); 5-7 So. G Whiquitta Tobar (9.0, 6.0); 6-3 Fr. C Brittney Carter (2.7, 3.7); 5-10 Sr. F Dominisha Johnson (8.3, 4.3).
Bounce passes
The Gamecocks can avoid a lot of bad things by winning tonight … They are looking to avoid their worst start since JSU started tracking game-by-game records in 1983-84; last year’s team started 0-6 … The Gamecocks have lost 10 in a row going back to last season, matching the longest slide in coach Becky Geyer’s JSU tenure and the program’s longest since a 12-game drought covering the 1984-85 (10) and 1985-86 (2) seasons … Geyer is just waiting for her team to break out. “I think we’re a great team,” she said. “The minute we turn the corner, I really can see great things happening from this team. For us, it has to start tomorrow night against Alabama A&M and we just go from there” … A&M hasn’t played since beating Stillman by 16 on Nov. 23 ... According to tonight's game notes, Geyer signed two players in the early signing period -- JeDechia Hill from Villa Rica, Ga.; and Lakeria Crowder, a point guard from Memphis.
Jax State women vs. Alabama A&M
Today, 7 p.m.
Pete Mathews Coliseum, Jacksonville
Radio/TV: 91.9 FM
Records: Jax State 0-6, Alabama A&M 1-2
Series: JSU leads 13-12.
Projected starters
Jax State: 6-0 Fr. P Danielle Vaughn (6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg); 5-8 So. G Zenobia Pitts (8.7, 4.2); 5-9 So. G Danielle Beneby (4.3, 3.0); 5-11 Fr. F Brittany Wiley (8.0, 4.2), 5-7 Fr. G Karisma Boykin (6.7, 2.5)
Alabama A&M: 5-8 Sr. G Katrich Williams (19.0, 4.0); 5-10 Jr. F Chelsea Marshall (5.0, 1.0); 5-7 So. G Whiquitta Tobar (9.0, 6.0); 6-3 Fr. C Brittney Carter (2.7, 3.7); 5-10 Sr. F Dominisha Johnson (8.3, 4.3).
Bounce passes
The Gamecocks can avoid a lot of bad things by winning tonight … They are looking to avoid their worst start since JSU started tracking game-by-game records in 1983-84; last year’s team started 0-6 … The Gamecocks have lost 10 in a row going back to last season, matching the longest slide in coach Becky Geyer’s JSU tenure and the program’s longest since a 12-game drought covering the 1984-85 (10) and 1985-86 (2) seasons … Geyer is just waiting for her team to break out. “I think we’re a great team,” she said. “The minute we turn the corner, I really can see great things happening from this team. For us, it has to start tomorrow night against Alabama A&M and we just go from there” … A&M hasn’t played since beating Stillman by 16 on Nov. 23 ... According to tonight's game notes, Geyer signed two players in the early signing period -- JeDechia Hill from Villa Rica, Ga.; and Lakeria Crowder, a point guard from Memphis.
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