JSU assistant basketball coach Mike Smith is headed overseas later this week to help entertain the troops.
The News Star of Monroe, La., reported in Sunday's editions Smith will be among several coaches going to Kuwait on a goodwill trip.
He'll be joining UL-Monroe head coach Orlando Early, VMI coach Duggar Baucom, Murray State's Billy Kennedy and Pittsburgh women’s head coach Agnus Berenato, the paper said.
College coaches across the country were approached in the spring about making a trip to entertain our troops in Afghanistan in August, the paper said, but when that the dates were the same as the national elections there, the trip was canceled.
“The army said it wouldn’t be a good idea to go to Afghanistan during their elections,” Early told the News Star. “A lot of times in those countries, it’s an uneasy period during their elections. Instead, they still have troops in Kuwait and would like for us to still come.
“I’m very excited about it. It’s a once in a lifetime deal. Those guys over there are fighting for our country. If I can do anything to help, I would like to lend a helping hand — try to lift some spirits.”
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The award hype begins
Samford running back Chris Evans, an Alexandria product, is among the first four players The Sports Network released on its Payton Award Watch -- the preliminary list for the FCS equivilent of the Heisman Trophy.
There are four more segments coming, since the 20 players on the initial list are being released on an alphabetical basis, so the network says.
That would mean, if you believe he has the talent to be the best players in the subdivision, Jax State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux should be on the list in due time. Perrilloux wasn't on the list at all last year, a Network rep told me then, because he never played on the I-AA level before and transfers don't get considered for the award -- no matter how high profile they were on the bigger stage -- when they first come into the FCS.
Of course, no one would dispute Perrilloux has the athletic ability to contend for the award -- some preseason magazines already have him as the OVC Player of the Year -- but one might wonder how much the off-the-field stuff that got him here and will remain linked to him will keep people from considering him.
What the quartereback thinks about the award or any chances he has for being considered for it won't be known until at least Aug. 6. That's when athletic department officials say the quarterback will be made available to the media -- the group, who along with school publicists, that will be voting on the award.
There are four more segments coming, since the 20 players on the initial list are being released on an alphabetical basis, so the network says.
That would mean, if you believe he has the talent to be the best players in the subdivision, Jax State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux should be on the list in due time. Perrilloux wasn't on the list at all last year, a Network rep told me then, because he never played on the I-AA level before and transfers don't get considered for the award -- no matter how high profile they were on the bigger stage -- when they first come into the FCS.
Of course, no one would dispute Perrilloux has the athletic ability to contend for the award -- some preseason magazines already have him as the OVC Player of the Year -- but one might wonder how much the off-the-field stuff that got him here and will remain linked to him will keep people from considering him.
What the quartereback thinks about the award or any chances he has for being considered for it won't be known until at least Aug. 6. That's when athletic department officials say the quarterback will be made available to the media -- the group, who along with school publicists, that will be voting on the award.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Basketball workouts
JSU basketball players will start coming on campus for summer school and pickup games beginning this weekend. One player who won't be there is freshman Brylle Kamen. The forward has been released from the program, the Star has learned. Kamen was held out all last season as school and NCAA officials looked into the player's association with a French pro team before signing with JSU. Kamen said this spring he would regain his eligibility after sitting out the first eight games of the upcoming season and paying a $350 restitution.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
OVC baseball gets new home
After nine years of calling Paducah, Ky., home, the Ohio Valley Conference baseball tourament is moving to West Tennessee for the next three years starting in 2010.
The six-team, double-elimination tournament will be held May 26-30 at Pringles Park, home of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
"The opportunity to play games at Pringles Park and build on the student-athlete experience and community support of the event is attractive," OVC interim commissioner Brad Walker said in a statement through the league.
The OVC just completed its 30th baseball championship. The first elimination style tournament was held in 1980, most usually being played at the site of the regular season champion. Beginning in 2001, the tournament switched to neutral site Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Ky.
Walker called the stay in Paducah "a great experience."
“We are going to miss them, but we are excited about the new possibilities that are in store for the tournament," he said.
Pringles Park opened in 1998 and has a seating capacity of 6,000. The venue hosted the 1999 Southern League All-Star Game and will also host that event in 2011. Pringles Park also has luxury suites, a video board and merchandise shop that will be used for the championship.
“We are thrilled to have been awarded the OVC Baseball Tournament for the next three years,” said Tom Hanson, General Manager of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. “Our community always does a great job in supporting major events, and I’m sure this tournament will be no different. We look forward to making this a special experience for all players, coaches, families and friends.”
The six-team, double-elimination tournament will be held May 26-30 at Pringles Park, home of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
"The opportunity to play games at Pringles Park and build on the student-athlete experience and community support of the event is attractive," OVC interim commissioner Brad Walker said in a statement through the league.
The OVC just completed its 30th baseball championship. The first elimination style tournament was held in 1980, most usually being played at the site of the regular season champion. Beginning in 2001, the tournament switched to neutral site Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Ky.
Walker called the stay in Paducah "a great experience."
“We are going to miss them, but we are excited about the new possibilities that are in store for the tournament," he said.
Pringles Park opened in 1998 and has a seating capacity of 6,000. The venue hosted the 1999 Southern League All-Star Game and will also host that event in 2011. Pringles Park also has luxury suites, a video board and merchandise shop that will be used for the championship.
“We are thrilled to have been awarded the OVC Baseball Tournament for the next three years,” said Tom Hanson, General Manager of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. “Our community always does a great job in supporting major events, and I’m sure this tournament will be no different. We look forward to making this a special experience for all players, coaches, families and friends.”
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
JSU fifth best overall in OVC
When Jacksonvile State joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2003, there was a general perception the Gamecocks would become a instant power in the league.
In the years that have passed, the Gamecocks have either fallen back or the rest of the league has caught up.
League officials announced the Comissioner' Cup standings for the 2008-09 academic year, ostensibly the All-Sports Trophy, and JSU was a distant fifth behind champion Murray State.
Murray State finished the year with 102 points, 11 more points than second place Eastern Kentucky. JSU has 82.
The Racers were bolstered by first place finishes in women’s soccer, women’s basketball and women’s golf and second place finishes in women’s cross country, men’s golf and baseball.
Here are the standings:
Murray State 102 points, Eastern Kentucky 91, Eastern Illinois 88, Morehead State 87, JSU 82, Southeast Missouri 81, Tennessee Tech 70.5, UT Martin 68.5, Austin Peay 65 and Tennessee State 55.5.
The Gamecocks picked up the majority of their points through first-place finishes in rifle and softball.
The award -- started in 1962-63 for men’s sports and 1980-81 for women’s sports -- was previously divided into a Men’s All-Sport Champion and a Women’s All-Sport Champion. Points were awarded for each of the 18 sponsored sports and each school was required to count its totals from each sport in its grand total.
Under the new scoring system, schools are required to count point totals for four main sports (football, volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball) along with their next eight highest point totals from the remaining sports, regardless of gender. Morehead State, which does not compete in OVC football, counted baseball as one of its four required sports.
In the years that have passed, the Gamecocks have either fallen back or the rest of the league has caught up.
League officials announced the Comissioner' Cup standings for the 2008-09 academic year, ostensibly the All-Sports Trophy, and JSU was a distant fifth behind champion Murray State.
Murray State finished the year with 102 points, 11 more points than second place Eastern Kentucky. JSU has 82.
The Racers were bolstered by first place finishes in women’s soccer, women’s basketball and women’s golf and second place finishes in women’s cross country, men’s golf and baseball.
Here are the standings:
Murray State 102 points, Eastern Kentucky 91, Eastern Illinois 88, Morehead State 87, JSU 82, Southeast Missouri 81, Tennessee Tech 70.5, UT Martin 68.5, Austin Peay 65 and Tennessee State 55.5.
The Gamecocks picked up the majority of their points through first-place finishes in rifle and softball.
The award -- started in 1962-63 for men’s sports and 1980-81 for women’s sports -- was previously divided into a Men’s All-Sport Champion and a Women’s All-Sport Champion. Points were awarded for each of the 18 sponsored sports and each school was required to count its totals from each sport in its grand total.
Under the new scoring system, schools are required to count point totals for four main sports (football, volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball) along with their next eight highest point totals from the remaining sports, regardless of gender. Morehead State, which does not compete in OVC football, counted baseball as one of its four required sports.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Softball game times
Here's the lineup for JSU's NCAA softball regional appearance in Knoxville. All times Central.
Friday, May 15
2:30 p.m. -- Nebraska vs. Jacksonville State (Game One)
5 p.m. -- James Madison vs. Tennessee (Game Two)
Saturday, May 16
12:30 p.m. -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 (Game Three)
3 p.m. -- Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (Game Four)
5:30 p.m. -- Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (Game Five)
Sunday, May 17
1 p.m. -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 (Game Six)
3:30 p.m. (if necessary) -- Rematch of Game 6
Friday, May 15
2:30 p.m. -- Nebraska vs. Jacksonville State (Game One)
5 p.m. -- James Madison vs. Tennessee (Game Two)
Saturday, May 16
12:30 p.m. -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 (Game Three)
3 p.m. -- Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 (Game Four)
5:30 p.m. -- Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (Game Five)
Sunday, May 17
1 p.m. -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 (Game Six)
3:30 p.m. (if necessary) -- Rematch of Game 6
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Something to think about
It’s been a while since we posted. Well, here’s a question that should make up for the wait.
It’s one we haven’t explored or have even seen brought up during the debate.
Jacksonville State officials just went before an NCAA academic committee to make its case for waivers against potential penalties against the football program for missing the APR benchmark for the third year in a row. The most visible of the penalties would be a ban on post-season play for the 2009 season, which, as the dominoes fell, could impact the Gamecocks’ guarantee games.
An decision is expected within the next three weeks.
All indications are the football program has been making what appears to be a good-faith effort to improving its academics. But the question for your consideration today is if the Gamecocks’ are denied the waiver and banned from post-season play in 2009, would you go watch them play and is the season really worth it? After all, the biggest thing the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III have going for them is they get to play for their football championships on the field.
Now, if you can’t play for the championship, is the season really worth playing?
Your responses are more than welcome here.
It’s one we haven’t explored or have even seen brought up during the debate.
Jacksonville State officials just went before an NCAA academic committee to make its case for waivers against potential penalties against the football program for missing the APR benchmark for the third year in a row. The most visible of the penalties would be a ban on post-season play for the 2009 season, which, as the dominoes fell, could impact the Gamecocks’ guarantee games.
An decision is expected within the next three weeks.
All indications are the football program has been making what appears to be a good-faith effort to improving its academics. But the question for your consideration today is if the Gamecocks’ are denied the waiver and banned from post-season play in 2009, would you go watch them play and is the season really worth it? After all, the biggest thing the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III have going for them is they get to play for their football championships on the field.
Now, if you can’t play for the championship, is the season really worth playing?
Your responses are more than welcome here.
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