TUSCALOOSA - Jana McGinnis asked and answered the question is the same breath.
How big is it for Jacksonville State - not just the softball program, but the entire university - that the Gamecocks were in the regional final on ESPN2? Huge.
Indeed. Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, it was a win-win situation for McGinnis' program and the entire Gamecock Nation.
They could never buy the kind of nationwide exposure the cable network gave it Saturday night.
No doubt, the network people were here for Alabama -- and were probably a little disappointed they lost the Florida State demographic in the final -- but that ought not mean the Gamecocks shouldn't take advantage of the ride.
As it was, it was the first time softball was on any kind of television other than local TV-24. And if you take away football, it was the first time any JSU sport has been on something national other than ESPNU.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
In the big time
TUSCALOOSA - Jana McGinnis asked and answered the question is the same breath.
How big is it for Jacksonville State - not just the softball program, but the entire university - that the Gamecocks were in the regional final on ESPN2? Huge.
Indeed. Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, it was a win-win situation for McGinnis' program and the entire Gamecock Nation.
They could never buy the kind of nationwide exposure the cable network gave it Saturday night.
No doubt, the network people were here for Alabama -- and were probably a little disappointed they lost the Florida State demographic in the final -- but that ought not mean the Gamecocks shouldn't take advantage of the ride.
As it was, it was the first time softball was on any kind of television other than local TV-24. And if you take away football, it was the first time any JSU sport has been on something national other than ESPNU.
How big is it for Jacksonville State - not just the softball program, but the entire university - that the Gamecocks were in the regional final on ESPN2? Huge.
Indeed. Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, it was a win-win situation for McGinnis' program and the entire Gamecock Nation.
They could never buy the kind of nationwide exposure the cable network gave it Saturday night.
No doubt, the network people were here for Alabama -- and were probably a little disappointed they lost the Florida State demographic in the final -- but that ought not mean the Gamecocks shouldn't take advantage of the ride.
As it was, it was the first time softball was on any kind of television other than local TV-24. And if you take away football, it was the first time any JSU sport has been on something national other than ESPNU.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Women's hoops doings
Jacksonville State women’s basketball coach Becky Geyer has found her three assistants to replace the ones that left earlier this spring, but apparently it will be a while before the school makes a release on their identities.
They're not yet working, and still have some process to complete before becoming "official.".
Speaking of women’s basketball, did you see where former JSU assistant Marcus Reilly recently got the Rhode Island women’s head coaching job.
And also on the former Gamecocks front, ex-women’s coach Dave Dagostino (West Virginia assistant) will take a team that includes former players Ashley Boykin (UAH), Tonya McKinney (UAH) and Christina Gordon (Brown) on a goodwill tour of the Caribbean. Former JSU player Cobie Carlisle will serve as his assistant.
They're not yet working, and still have some process to complete before becoming "official.".
Speaking of women’s basketball, did you see where former JSU assistant Marcus Reilly recently got the Rhode Island women’s head coaching job.
And also on the former Gamecocks front, ex-women’s coach Dave Dagostino (West Virginia assistant) will take a team that includes former players Ashley Boykin (UAH), Tonya McKinney (UAH) and Christina Gordon (Brown) on a goodwill tour of the Caribbean. Former JSU player Cobie Carlisle will serve as his assistant.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Closing in on history
Maybe she’s superstitious, or didn’t want to draw attention to it, but JSU softball coach Jana McGinnis a couple weeks ago really didn’t want to talk about the milestones she could achieve as early as next week.
Now, it’s too close to ignore.
McGinnis is within five victories of 500 for her coaching career and three games of coaching in the 1,000th game in the program’s history.
McGinnis can reach career No. 500 as early as the third game of next weekend’s series at Morehead State. Game No. 1,000 in JSU’s history would take place in the series opener.
The Gamecocks complete their series with Eastern Kentucky today, then play Samford in a single game before heading out to Morehead.
If it doesn’t happen this week, her next chance at history could be an April 15 home doubleheader against Middle Tennessee.
By the way, betcha didn’t know the Gamecocks are one of only three Division I programs in the country where the head coach and fulltime assistants – in this case McGinnis, Mark Wisener and Julie Boland -- are all alums of the school they’re coaching.
The other two are UCLA and South Florida.
Now, it’s too close to ignore.
McGinnis is within five victories of 500 for her coaching career and three games of coaching in the 1,000th game in the program’s history.
McGinnis can reach career No. 500 as early as the third game of next weekend’s series at Morehead State. Game No. 1,000 in JSU’s history would take place in the series opener.
The Gamecocks complete their series with Eastern Kentucky today, then play Samford in a single game before heading out to Morehead.
If it doesn’t happen this week, her next chance at history could be an April 15 home doubleheader against Middle Tennessee.
By the way, betcha didn’t know the Gamecocks are one of only three Division I programs in the country where the head coach and fulltime assistants – in this case McGinnis, Mark Wisener and Julie Boland -- are all alums of the school they’re coaching.
The other two are UCLA and South Florida.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
College baseball hot stove
Keep an eye out on the college baseball scene the next couple months -- and we're not talking about anything that goes on between the white lines.
Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk, the winningest coach in the Southeastern Conference, is resigning effective at the end of the season, it was announced earlier today.
There was no immediate word on any successors, but you can bet plenty of names will surface -- especially with the stable of assistants Polk has sent into the head coaching ranks over the years.
No doubt, Jacksonville State coach Jim Case’s name will be among them. Case had two stints as an assistant at MSU – 1984-86 and 1998-2001.
His JSU contract runs to June 30, 2011. It includes a buyout clause of three month’s salary prior to December 2008, but none after that date.
And he may terminate the contract at any time to take an SEC job.
Polk is in his 29th year at MSU and 35th overall as a head coach. His 1,360 career wins ranks among the nation’s top 10 and fifth on the active list.
Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk, the winningest coach in the Southeastern Conference, is resigning effective at the end of the season, it was announced earlier today.
There was no immediate word on any successors, but you can bet plenty of names will surface -- especially with the stable of assistants Polk has sent into the head coaching ranks over the years.
No doubt, Jacksonville State coach Jim Case’s name will be among them. Case had two stints as an assistant at MSU – 1984-86 and 1998-2001.
His JSU contract runs to June 30, 2011. It includes a buyout clause of three month’s salary prior to December 2008, but none after that date.
And he may terminate the contract at any time to take an SEC job.
Polk is in his 29th year at MSU and 35th overall as a head coach. His 1,360 career wins ranks among the nation’s top 10 and fifth on the active list.
Willett on leaderboard
| It's 10 a.m. in Alabama, the Golf Channel is showing the European Tour on TV and a familiar name is on the leaderboard. Former Jacksonville State golfer Danny Willett is tied for the lead in the Andalusia Open in Spain with Lee Westwood and former Alabama player Jan-Are Larsen. They were all at 6-under. Flip over to the European Tour Website and it will tell you the round is over with Westwood at 7-under and Willett and Larsen tied for second at 6-under. "That's great, that's great, that's great," JSU golf coach James Hobbs said. The Golf Channel will continue its coverage of the tournament throughout the weekend. |
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Somebody's always talking
According to the chairman of the search committee charged with reviewing applicants for Jax State's men's basketball coaching vacancy, the interview part of the process isn't set to start until Friday's meeting at the earliest. That's when the committee is expected to pare the field to about 5 to 7 candidates and begin preliminary telephone interviews.
According to a story in the Pine Bluff, Ark., newspaper, there might be some talks already going on behind those scenes. It seems former Arkansas State coach Dickey Nutt has "interviewed" for the JSU job already.
“Right now, the single most important thing is that I’m unemployed,” Nutt was quoted as saying in the Pine Bluff Commercial. “It’s a difficult time, there’s no question about that. I’ve been a coach for 25 years now and all of a sudden you’re unemployed now. It’s different. I believe that maybe there’s a plan out there somewhere. I’m weighing all of my options. I don’t feel like I’m above anyone.”
Here's a link to the story that references that "interview".
http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2008/03/25/sports/sports1.txt
Makes you wonder if Montevallo coach Danny Young really hasn't been offered the job already, as been rumored on a coaching rumor website (and denied by him and JSU officials).
According to a story in the Pine Bluff, Ark., newspaper, there might be some talks already going on behind those scenes. It seems former Arkansas State coach Dickey Nutt has "interviewed" for the JSU job already.
“Right now, the single most important thing is that I’m unemployed,” Nutt was quoted as saying in the Pine Bluff Commercial. “It’s a difficult time, there’s no question about that. I’ve been a coach for 25 years now and all of a sudden you’re unemployed now. It’s different. I believe that maybe there’s a plan out there somewhere. I’m weighing all of my options. I don’t feel like I’m above anyone.”
Here's a link to the story that references that "interview".
http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2008/03/25/sports/sports1.txt
Makes you wonder if Montevallo coach Danny Young really hasn't been offered the job already, as been rumored on a coaching rumor website (and denied by him and JSU officials).
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