Showing posts with label Jackson State University Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jackson State University Football. Show all posts

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Jackson State's New-look 'O' starts slow, finishes fast

Coach Rick Comegy's new Air Raid offense did not disappoint, winning 44-18 going against the vaunted Dark Side defense, before about 7,500 JSU fans at the campus practice field.

The first half of Saturday's Blue and White game didn't look much different than recent Jackson State spring games. The defense flew around the field dominating the offense. Positive yardage was hard to come by as JSU quarterbacks threw three interceptions. And there was no "raid" in the new Air Raid offense. The second half, however, was encouraging for those who like to watch offense and were eager to see the new system under offensive coordinator Earnest Wilson.

The White offense rebounded from the ugly start to pull out a 44-18 win over the Blue defense at the JSU practice field."We started off slow and made some mistakes," quarterback Dedric McDonald said. "As the day went on we started to pick it up. "We just started getting in a groove." McDonald went 9-for-33 with 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The touchdown pass was a perfectly thrown 25-yard skinny post to Jarrell Young. The walk-on led all receivers with four catches for 78 yards.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

3-Star LB Turice King is signed in Class of 16 for Jackson State

Tigers, who zeroed in on 19, bring home 16

Being successful in 16 of 19 attempts in any realm is a pretty good percentage. If National Signing Day were a baseball game, Jackson State would be hitting .842. Let's just say the coaching staff will take that any day and twice on Sundays. Jackson State offered 19 scholarships Wednesday and received 16 signed national letters of intent. That doesn't include two players coach Rick Comegy hopes to sign in the next few days, and the 19 offers do not include SMU transfer B.J. Lee and Minnesota transfer Tim Dandridge, who are already enrolled. "I knew we didn't send out an over-abundance of scholarships," Comegy said. "I was hoping we didn't make a mistake by sending out so few, and it worked. The ones we went after we nailed down. "That process worked today ... so we didn't over-scholarship, but we didn't under-scholarship."

Jackson State football signs 16 to National Letters of Intent ...

JACKSON, Miss. - The Jackson State University football team has officially signed 16 football players to National Letters of Intnet Wednesday. Below is a complete list of the newest members of the JSU football program:

Offensive Guard Jonathan Smith (6-2, 290), Pensacola HS (FL): An undersized lineman that relies on quickness to get to linebackers... was a major factor in the offensive success that Pensacola had.

Linebacker Connor Thompson (6-1, 230) New Mexico Militay Inst (JUCO): Recorded 55 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a sack as a sophomore in 2009 ... was second on the team with 44 tackles and three tackles for loss as a freshman in 2008.

Linebacker Carlos Williams (5-11, 235), American Heritage HS (FL), from Vicksburg, MS: Helped his Heritage team to a 9-3 record during his senior season.

Running Back Rakeem Sims (5-10, 225), Richton HS (MS): Named to the 2009 2009 WDAM/Hair World of Laurel All-Area Football Team as a fullback... has a 32 inch vertical jump... was also a basketball standout for Richton.

Linebacker Turice King (6-2, 230), Yazoo City HS (MS): Rated a three star recruit by Rivals.com, had a strong showing at the Mississippi -Alabama All-Star Classic where he led the Mississippi squad in tackles... rated as the nation No. 25 inside linebacker coming into his senior season... three star prospect by ESPN... he has the size and playing speed for the inside linebacker position at the major level of competition. He is an active, productive player vs. both the run and pass... recorded 111 tackles, three fumbles recovered and two sacks as a senior... finished his junior season with 111 tackles and seven sacks... can bench press 315-pounds, squat 500 and has a 32-inch vertical jump.

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JSU Tigers 2010 Football Signees
Offensive Guard Jonathan Smith (6-2, 290), Pensacola HS (FL)
Linebacker Connor Thompson (6-1, 230) New Mexico Militay Inst (JUCO)
Linebacker Carlos Williams (5-11, 235), American Heritage HS (FL), from Vicksburg, MS
Running Back Rakeem Sims (5-10, 225), Richton HS (MS)
Linebacker Turice King (6-2, 230), Yazoo City HS (MS)
Linebacker Ariane McCree (6-1, 220), Chester High School (SC)
Defensive End Kadeem Taylor (6-4, 270) Carroll HS (LA)
Quarterback Te'Shon Burton (6-3, 190) Leuzinger HS (CA
Tight End/Offensive Line Jordan Arthur (6-4, 260), Carroll HS (LA)
Quarterback Tevin Chapman (5-11, 180), Hattiesburg HS (MS)
Quarterback Torrey Harkness (5-11, 175) Los Angeles Southwest College (CA)
Quarterback Mark Thigpen (6-3, 200), Callaway HS (MS)
Wide Receiver Williams Golston (6-2, 185), Murphy HS (AL)
Tight End Renty Rollins (6-3, 245), Scottsdale CC
Running Back Tommy Gooden (5-11, 205) Douglas HS (GA)

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Jackson State Tigers get pledge from Yazoo City's King

JSU Coach Rick Comegy is snatching his share of blue chip players on the "must have lists" of 1-A programs.

Jackson State landed a TKO on Thursday night. No, really. Yazoo City linebacker Taurice King, nicknamed "TKO" for his vicious hits, visited the JSU campus in the afternoon and had verbally committed by the time the day ended- giving the program its biggest name of the recruiting season. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder will bring 4.5 40-yard dash speed to the rover position. The second-team All-State selection chose JSU over Alabama, Memphis and Alcorn State (where his dad played basketball). Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss had offered scholarships.

"The school compares to a (Division I) SEC school to me," King said. "(I go) sideline to sideline and hit hard. "TKO, baby. They call me the 'Gridiron King' around here." King was given a three-star rating by Scout.com and received two stars from Rivals.com. He finished the season with 132 tackles and played in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic.

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JSU Tigers 2010 Commitments
1. Taurice King, LB, 6-2/230, 4.5/40 dash, Yazoo City, MS 3-Star
2. Torrey Harkness, QB, 5-11/186, Los Angeles Southwest Junior College
3. Chris Gilzeane, LB, 5-11/225, Stone Mountain High School, Georgia
4. Thurman Byrd, Jr., DT, 6-2/263, 5.36/40 dash, Seminole High School, Sanford, Florida (Ranked No. 35 in the Orlando Sentinel's Central Florida Top 100). Byrd collected 52 tackles and a season high nine during a 21-20 win against Mainland Sept. 25. Seminole (9-3) advanced to the 6-A region semifinals where it lost a 31-10 contest to Winter Park.
5. William Golston, WR, 6-3/185, 4.4/40 dash, Murphy High School, Mobile, AL

Sunday, August 30, 2009

History maker: JSU-MSU is 1st SEC-SWAC football matchup

Little did Greg Byrne know it when he did it, but the first football game contract he signed as athletic director at Mississippi State made college football history. That would be the one that pays Jackson State $315,000 to come play at Starkville on Saturday. It will mark the first football meeting in history between a school from the Southeastern Conference and a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"To be honest, we weren't thinking of it in terms of a historical perspective," Byrne said. "We want to play one game a year against a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly Division I-AA) team. "We felt it made more sense to play, if possible, a regional team or someone in our own state. It also made sense to find a team that has a history of its fans traveling well. That was what we had in mind when I approached Bob Braddy (JSU's athletic director).

"Now, we're excited about bringing their band, their team, their fans to our campus. The historical part? We're honored to be a part of that." A week out, the game is nearing a sellout. From Braddy's point of view, it's a no-brainer: the largest payday in Jackson State history and a short trip besides. There is some historical irony at work here: The sons and grandsons of players who once made the SWAC perhaps one of the most talent-laden conferences in college football, now do the same for the SEC.

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Memo to A.D. Bob Brady--You gotta push the money envelop back for more cash in negotiations, especially with the Sonic Boom Marching Band and possibly 8,000+ JSU fans travelling to MSU. With only 148 miles separating MSU and JSU, the Bulldogs need only 7,326 additional fans to cover the JSU payout of $315,000. JSU averaged 21,263 fans for four home games in 2008, ranking #4 in the FCS in attendance. MSU averaged 43,453, ranking #54 in FBS average home attendance, with only one saleout (#7 ranked Auburn) at 55,082 Davis Wade Stadium. Expect the stadium record for attendance at 56,188 to be broken for this anticipated game. Game tickets are $43.00 each for JSU fans.

$315,000!! We're talking about a SEC school buying a FCS victory to become bowl eligible with a 6 win season. Surely a guaranteed victory is worth more...even for a bottom dwelling SEC Bulldog program.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

JSU suspends offensive coordinator

Jackson State offensive coordinator James Woody was suspended for five days without pay by the university for an "unspecified personnel issue" on Friday. The suspension was announced in a two-paragraph press release following two days of speculation fostered by a Jackson television station report that Woody had been terminated on Wednesday.

Woody declined comment when reached at his home on Thursday and did not return calls on Friday. Coach Rick Comegy and athletic director Bob Braddy did not return several calls over the past two days.

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Thursday, April 9, 2009

JSU's Braddy in limbo about 11th game

Jackson State will not be able to schedule an 11th game unless the date of the Capital City Classic is changed, athletic director Bob Braddy insists. Braddy would like to see the game against Alcorn State moved to Thanksgiving day or, at least, during that week. The switch would open Nov. 21 for another nonconference game.

"We get inquiries (about playing) all the time," Braddy said. "Certainly, we'd love to have a money game. ... We've got Southeastern Louisiana, UAB and other schools in Alabama. "We can't do anything until we have the capability of having that open date." JSU currently has open dates on Sept. 26 and Oct. 31. Braddy said they could fill the Oct. 31 slot, but would need to move the Alcorn game to avoid playing eight consecutive weeks in a row.

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Friday, July 11, 2008

Stepping Up: Highly touted JSU QB recruit ready for fall challenge

Calvin Britt calls it the "man-step." It's the moment a teenager makes a life-changing decision based on his own belief in what's best for himself. It's that first time he steps out of the comfort zone provided by parents or friends and accepts the risks and rewards of making an adult decision all on his own.

"We all have got to take that man-step," Calvin said.

Calvin watched his son, Domonick, step forward on Feb. 6 when he signed a letter of intent to play football at Jackson State. Domonick (pronounced Dom-oh-neek) was the star quarterback for Ohio powerhouse Trotwood-Madison and was offered scholarships by West Virginia, Illinois and Pittsburgh - and that was before things got interesting.

QB Domonick Britt, #2--2007 Trotwood-Madison Rams Highlights


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Saturday, April 12, 2008

JSU Comegy grateful for good fortune on injury front
























A tone of relief hung heavy in the words of Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy when asked about the injury situation at the conclusion of spring workouts. Defensive tackle Emmanuel Muhammad went down with a strained knee in the Blue and White game, but otherwise the Tigers were unscathed Saturday.

Even senior quarterback Joe Hawkins played, despite being scheduled to sit out the game with a leg injury. He took a few big hits, came out and returned with the red no-touch jersey on. "We came out good," Comegy said, "which I am so happy about. And we played a full game, rather than a 60-play series.

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Sunday, April 6, 2008

JSU players respond when called out

Photo: JSU head football coach Rick Comegy.

Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy had been blunt with his team leading into Saturday's Blue and White spring game. He wasn't happy with the performance of some players and Comegy told them they could be playing for their roster spot.

He admitted that three or four players made the team during the scrimmage.

"Some guys stepped up that had to step up," Comegy said. "There were some guys that we were going to get rid of that I don't think we can get rid of now. They showed me all they needed was some time.

"I learned today that you can be a little too fast about making decisions. All it took was three hours today to find out who could play and who couldn't play."

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Sunday, March 30, 2008

Jackson State Tigers rehearse for spring game

The Jackson State football team held its final scrimmage before the spring game on Saturday. The conclusion of spring workouts takes place with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff inside Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium this coming Saturday.

Coming off a hiatus for spring break, the JSU defense was a bit ahead of the offense. Defensive end Sam Washington had the hit of the day, a blind-side sack that snapped back the head of Hinds CC transfer Terrance Barnes. Defensive back Willie Brown picked off an overthrown ball by quarterback A.J. McKenna and linebacker Malcolm Palmer recovered a fumble.

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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Jackson State's RB Giles stands out at Pro Day

The Jackson State football program welcomed 20 NFL scouts to the practice field outside the Walter Payton Center on Monday for the school's "Pro Day."

Representatives from New Orleans, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Chicago, Jacksonville, Carolina, Indianapolis, the New York Giants, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New England, Green Bay and Seattle were in attendance.

Thirteen JSU players took part with athletes from Mississippi College, Alcorn State and Belhaven.

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Sunday, March 9, 2008

Jackson State's Comegy giving backups long look

Photo: JSU Tigers head football coach Rick Comegy.

The Jackson State football team held its first scrimmage of spring workouts Saturday with several projected starters out with injuries.

Defensive end Marcus Benard (shoulder), defensive tackle Dennis Coit (foot), quarterback Tray Rutland (shoulder), linebacker Marcus Jamison (wrist), DT Anthony Atkins (hip), wide receiver Rodney Gray (knee) and defensive back Domonique Johnson (shoulder) have all been out during the spring.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

JSU practices patience in recruiting game


Anxiety will run high for the next 24 hours as football prospects and collegiate programs go through the final recruiting push before Wednesday’s National Signing Day. But Jackson State coach Rick Comegy admits his staff may have to stay patient late into Wednesday and possibly beyond — more than many Division I-A schools.

Jackson State enters the day with 18 verbal commitments and four mid-year transfers.

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Saturday, January 26, 2008

Juco QB oozing confidence at Jackson State

Terrence Onyiuke can rave about his current and future teammate A.J. McKenna. The Lackawanna (Pa.) Junior College defensive lineman and Jackson State commit is nearly in awe of McKenna's physical quarterbacking attributes.

"He's an excellent quarterback," Onyiuke said. "We went to the (conference) championship and he took us there. He's got a strong arm. He can throw at least 60 yards on one knee. He makes good decisions with the ball when it's needed." It doesn't take much of a conversation with McKenna, who has signed and is taking classes at JSU, to see where Onyiuke got that feeling.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Case of deja vu confronts JSU Tigers

Rick Comegy received a reminder that he could have gone without Tuesday morning.

The second-year Jackson State coach was asked about being in familiar territory going into Saturday's noon kickoff against Grambling State (5-1, 5-0 SWAC).

JSU (4-2, 4-0) was undefeated in the SWAC after a win over Southern University last year. Up next was Grambling State. A 36-7 loss was the first of three straight before dropping four of five to end the season.

Comegy was asked how he planned to stop history from repeating itself.

"I don't plan to think about it," Comegy said. "I also plan to just play football.

"We grew as a football team. That's the major difference. No matter what happens ... if we stumble, I don't think we'll spiral."

40 YEARS AT MEMORIAL

A face-off between the last two teams undefeated in conference play draws plenty of interest.

The game being broadcast nationally on ESPN Classic adds a little more flavor.

Tack that onto the fact that Jackson State will celebrate 40 years of football at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium by hosting Grambling State, and the atmosphere grows to red-line type proportions.

Jackson State College first kicked off a football game inside Memorial Stadium on Oct. 21, 1967 - a homecoming game against Grambling State.

Roderick Paige coached Jackson State to a 20-14 victory.

Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson led Grambling College. JSU will honor Robinson during Saturday's game.

INJURY REPORT

Starting center Lorenzo Breland suffered a stinger in the victory over Southern. Comegy said he should be fine to play Saturday.

Photo: Transfer RB, #3 Erik Haw, 6-1/215, Columbus, OH/Ohio State gain yards against Southern University in last week game.

-Kareen Copeland

Friday, October 12, 2007

Jackson State Transfer Tigers bonding into team with 1 uniform color, 1 common goal


By Kareem Copeland, Clarion Ledger

THE JSU GAME
What: Jackson State at Southern
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Radio: WOAD-1300 AM

As Jackson State prepares for Saturday's game at Southern University, the Tiger coaches and players say recent success can be traced to a bonding process that took more than a year to take hold.

"It takes awhile for a championship team to gel," said running back Eric Haw.

Especially when that team's lineup is dotted with transfers from around the country.

Thirty-five players listed in the JSU media guide are transfers, from programs such as Ohio State, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Southern Miss and South Florida.

There are junior college transfers, too, from Pearl River, Hinds and Coahoma in Mississippi, to Compton and L.A. Pierce in California.

That is a strength of the JSU program - an ability to recruit nationwide.

However, all those players from all those programs presented some problems, too. At least it used to, coach Rick Comegy explained.

"They came from all over the place," Comegy said. "When they came, they were still wearing their own shirts under their practice gear. They still had pride in where they came from.

"They were kind of big-chested about where they came from."

The media guide personal bios shine a little light on Comegy's thinking. Under the category of "If I could add one team to our schedule it would be," Haw, a former Buckeye, lists Ohio State.

Wide receiver Carlos Simpson, a former Bearcat, lists Cincinnati.

Quarterback Tray Rutland, a former Bulldog, lists Mississippi State.

Even Comegy was new to the program in 2006. This year, the second-year coach asked the group to leave the past and embrace their new home, new teammates and new program.

"Even though we won some games (last year) I don't know if it really meant a lot to them," Comegy said.

All that might have changed when JSU lost 16-13 to Tennessee State to start this season 0-2.

Combined with losses in four of the final five games of 2006, the Tigers had lost six of seven and were reeling.

"They all put their hearts in that game," Comegy said about the Tennessee State loss. "I knew after that we were a football team from Jackson State.

"They knew who they were playing for. They were proud of their colors. And they understood where they were. Everything else was erased."

It's hard to argue with what has happened since.

Jackson State (3-2, 3-0 SWAC) has run off three consecutive victories and sits atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division standings heading to Baton Rouge.

"They know each other now," JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said. "We've become one whole family instead of strangers.

"Everyone understands each other, the coaching staff and the expectations of this program. It's more of a one heartbeat-type atmosphere."

Said Haw, who ran a career-best 159 yards and three touchdowns in last Saturday's 32-20 victory over Alabama State: "It's a team game. We want to come in and play ball together as one unit, one goal, one team, one dream."

Comegy isn't naive enough to believe that's the only reason results have taken a turn for the better.

The players have learned and bonded, but so has the coaching staff.

"I think we got a little over-excited last year and we didn't stay strict about business," he said. "We may not have done a thorough job of going back and really going down the details of our exploitations.

"This year we're doing a much better job, regardless if we win, of being highly critical of our mistakes."

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Jackson State coach Comegy reprimanded

Photo: JSU Head Coach Rick Comegy

Jackson State’s band, the Sonic Boom of the South, will not be at the game Saturday, according to Jackson State. The band has “temporarily halted performances until allegations of hazing have been investigated,” Jackson State said in a release.
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter


The Southwestern Athletic Conference on Wednesday reprimanded Jackson State coach Rick Comegy for his comments Monday during the league’s weekly football teleconference.

A news release issued by the SWAC office said the reprimand does not include a suspension, but that “future incidents could result in a fine and/or suspension from athletic competition.”

Comegy, on Monday, termed the environment at Southern‘s A.W. Mumford Stadium as “hostile” and said many of his team’s fans “are not taking their families” to the football game.

Southern and Jackson State play here at 6 p.m. Saturday.

On Tuesday, Tony Clayton, a member of the Southern University Board of Supervisors, said he called SWAC interim Commissioner Duer Sharp and asked for Comegy’s comments to be investigated and action taken against Comegy, including a suspension.

“For this particular situation, SWAC policy has determined that a public reprimand is the appropriate course of action,” Sharp said in the statement.

Wednesday’s statement from the conference office said Comegy had “apologized for his comments to Southern University and the City of Baton Rouge.”

Jackson State on Tuesday issued a statement from President Ronald Mason Jr. regretting “any misunderstanding caused.”

Comegy, in his second year at Jackson State, has never coached a game in Mumford Stadium.

Monday, when asked to make a standard introductory statement discussing the upcoming game by the conference’s mediator, SWAC spokesperson William Bright Jr., Comegy talked about what he had been “hearing” about “a somewhat hostile” situation at Mumford Stadium and that Jackson State fans would not come to the game as families.

“I hear a lot of horror stories about going to Southern,” Comegy was quoted as saying in The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger. “They say it’s a real critical situation. I hear we’re not taking our families and kids and stuff like that.”

Comegy declined to give specific examples.

Because of computer difficulties (affecting all of the SWAC’s Web site), the audio from the teleconference has yet to be available on the Internet, Bright said.

Comegy and SU coach Pete Richardson spoke Tuesday.

“I had a chance to talk to him, and sometimes you make statements that come out,” Richardson said. “It’s a situation he made and he’s probably going to regret. I’ll just leave it at that.

“I think it’s going to be a great football game. I don’t want that to distract both sides coming down to see the game. Our administration has done a number of things to make our place safe, and we figure it is safe. Some incidents happened in the past that really weren’t associated with the game itself. I’m quite sure he’ll understand the tradition of the rivalry of this football game.”
Richardson said he was not overly upset by the comments.

“For an individual who hasn’t really been to our stadium to make a statement, you kind of get angry at times,” Richardson said. “But if I listened to everything people say, I’d be angry all the time.”

Meanwhile, Jackson State’s band, the Sonic Boom of the South, will not be at the game Saturday, according to Jackson State.

The band has “temporarily halted performances until allegations of hazing have been investigated,” Jackson State said in a release.

The Sonic Boom and Southern’s Human Jukebox have been known to play for more than an hour after games to the delight of fans.

Coach’s honors
Richardson named wide receiver Gerard Landry (10 catches for 98 yards and one TD), linebacker Corey Ray (seven tackles in his second game) and Anthony Wells (punt block, two tackles) as his offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week for the A&M game.

Who’s the new No. 28?
SU spokesman Kevin Manns presented James Verrett with a No. 28 game jersey, with Verrett’s name on the back before Wednesday’s news luncheon.

Verrett is in his final week of work for WAFB-TV, having been with Channel 9 for 15 years. Verrett is moving to Atlanta to work as the Atlanta Hawks courtside reporter for FSN South and SportSouth.

Basketball starts Friday
The SU men’s basketball team will have “Early Night Madness” — the team’s first practice of the season — at 7:01 p.m. Friday in Seymour Gym.

The event is staged by the school’s student government association. The team will be introduced, go through some drills and then scrimmage.

J-State coach calls Southern campus ‘hostile’


By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Jackson State University coach Rick Comegy said many of his team’s fans would not be traveling to Southern for the game Saturday because he had heard the atmosphere in and around A.W. Mumford Stadium is “hostile.”

“A lot of people are not taking their families,” Comegy said.

SU (5-1, 3-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) hosts Jackson State (3-2, 3-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Comegy, in his second season at Jackson State, has never been to a game at Mumford Stadium.

“My understanding is, it’s always been a hostile situation when we get down there,” said Comegy, who declined to detail any specific incident.

Jackson State has played at Mumford Stadium just once this decade, in 2005. Three other games were at the Superdome in New Orleans.

“I’m quite sure there’s not going to be anything happening,” SU coach Pete Richardson said.

Gunfire marred two previous Jackson State games at Southern.

In the third quarter of the 1996 game, a Southern University police officer fired a shot into the air to break up a brawl outside the stadium between the stadium and the tennis courts. The game was halted in the third quarter, with players, coaches and officials hitting the ground.

During the third quarter of the 1990 game, a 20-year-old man was shot in the West stands after an altercation stemming from a dice game. That sent that side of the stadium into bedlam.

In each of the last two seasons, Southern has had a shooting incident outside the stadium.

In September last season, at a private parking lot across the street from Mumford Stadium, 59-year-old Freddie Jackson was shot and killed. Mississippi Valley State was the visiting team for the season opener.

And in 2005, at the homecoming game with Alabama A&M, shots were fired into a crowd of tailgaters south of the stadium. Bullets struck three, including a female Southern student.

The shooting was the result of two feuding groups crossing paths on campus, Southern University police said.

None of the instances involved one school’s fans acting out against the other school’s fans.

In the wake of last season’s shooting, Southern has taken steps to try to avoid any further problems.

The general area in which both shootings occurred, south of the stadium, has been closed to tailgaters, and blue tarps cover the fencing so that no loitering occurs. Also, game times this season have been moved to 7 p.m. from 6 p.m.

“They’re very welcome,” Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said of Jackson State fans. “We welcome all of our visiting teams.”

LaFleur said perhaps the only problem visiting fans could have is with parking.

“If you’re not familiar with Southern, it can be difficult, because all the parking near the stadium is reserved,” LaFleur said.

Also, there are limited roads into campus, making traffic flow difficult for big games. Saturday’s homecoming game with Alabama A&M was sold out, and cars were still flowing over the Harding Boulevard ramp as late as halftime. That game drew a sellout crowd of 24,600.

“We’re excited about having Jackson State come, because they have a huge following,” Richardson said.

The game has traditionally been one of the biggest draws in either black college football or Football Championship Subdivision football. Games at Jackson State’s Memorial Stadium traditionally draw 50,000 to 60,000.

“It shows the excitement and passion of SWAC football to the utmost,” Comegy said. “It shows what the SWAC can do. &hellip It should be setting up for an exciting game. I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’ll be great.”

Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band

Friday, October 5, 2007

Keeping it simple makes JSU defense hard to handle

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

It's been said before by football coaches that strategy on the field is much like chess, with teams making adjustments based on the opponent's previous move.

But you won't hear Jackson State defensive coordinator Darrin Hayes make that claim. To him, chess is way too complicated to be compared to football.

"With my defense, I want them to be thinking more checkers and less chess," Hayes said. "Football's not that hard of a game on defense. You have some base formations and rules, but from there you rely on your athleticism and instincts."

And with that strategy in mind, Hayes and head coach Rick Comegy have built a defense that's simple, allowing players to fly around the football field with wild abandon. So far it's worked - JSU (2-2 overall, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) is giving up just 16.5 points per game and a SWAC-low 229.5 total yards per game.

The Tigers host Alabama State (4-1, 3-1) at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Defensive ends Daniel Brooks and Marcus Benard, along with linebacker Marcus Jamison, most typify the "hit first, think later" approach. Benard - a junior college transfer from Michigan - has been particularly effective, with 24 tackles, including 5 1/2 for a loss and a team-high three sacks.

"When I came to Jackson State, I told the coaches that I might look like a lunatic out on the field," Benard said. "But at the same time - I know what I'm doing. You've got to be a little nasty to play the defensive line."

Balancing the ruthlessness of the guys up front is the secondary, which is having a very impressive bounce-back season after struggling in 2006.

All four starters in the secondary - Domonique Johnson, LaBrose Hedgemon, Keith Camp and Malcolm Palmer - have at least one interception through four games. But unlike Benard, they've done most of their damage with patience and precision.

"I think patience just comes more with playing the secondary," Hayes said. "Those guys have been great at holding their positions and picking their spots to gamble. But they're keeping it simple. They stay in a few base formations and make sure their receivers aren't getting any big plays."

Stuck between those two extremes is junior linebacker Marcellus Speaks, who has quickly emerged as the leader of the defense. He leads the Tigers with 32 tackles, including seven for a loss, and is also charged with calling out formations and making sure everybody is in the right position.

"I've really been pleased with the way Speaks has embraced the leadership role on defense," Comegy said. "With Speaks in the middle, it moves everybody to their natural positions and makes us a much better defensive team."

Speaks said his personality is basically a mixture of the entire defense. On one play, he might need to calm down the defensive line and then yell at the secondary on the very next play to provide a spark.

"I like the way our guys are playing," Speaks said. "The emotional guys are up front and it gets a little more conservative as you move to the back. But everybody understands their role and we have a balance of attitudes. We'll need that if we want a SWAC championship."