Sunday, August 30, 2009

College Football Preview '09: Southern University Jaguars

SU Jaguars head coach Pete Richardson (16th year, 128-57)

To listen to the media types covering Southern University's football team, the Jaguars sound ready for prime time. Optimism abounds in the Southern camp, with a lot of the key cogs among 17 returning starters that were a couple of close losses away from playing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game. Even venerable coach Pete Richardson, entering his 17th season with the Jaguars, broke out of his stoic façade to voice high hopes for his team.

"I'm excited to see what kind of team we can have," Richardson said. "We've got a lot of guys back who have been through some battles for us, and we're coming into the season pretty healthy. A lot of these guys worked hard, stayed here during the summer, and I think a lot of them have really matured in a year."

Still, all the talk of going from the "Bluff to Birmingham" for the SWAC Championship Game might be a little premature. After all, the Jags haven't claimed a SWAC title since 2003 and haven't even won their own division since 2004. Last season, SU had to win two of their last three - one in overtime -- just to finish with a winning 6-5 record in 2008, and the squad showed a disturbing knack for self-destructing at crucial times last year. Fourth-quarter losses to Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M punched a hole in what could have been a banner year.

Jaguar senior All-SWAC QB Bryant Lee #16

2009 JAGUAR SCHEDULE

Sept. 5 at UL Lafayette (6 p.m.)
Sept. 12 Central State (OH) (6 p.m.)
Sept. 19 Tennessee State (6 p.m.)
Sept. 26 *Alcorn State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 3 *at Jackson State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 17 Fort Valley State (5:30 p.m.)
Oct. 22 *Prairie View A&M (6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 31 *at Ark.-Pine Bluff (2:30 p.m.)
Nov. 14 *vs. Alabama State (2:30 p.m., Mobile, Ala.)
Nov. 28 *vs. Grambling (1 p.m., New Orleans)
Dec. 5 *at Texas Southern (1 p.m.)

Home games in bold. *denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
SU's division status at risk, official says
Jaguars have final scrimmage
Southern basketball schedule released
Trip to Ohio State highlights SU women's schedule
'Jena Six' defendant Mychal Bell attending Southern, hoping to ...
Jaguars have final scrimmage
Bustle expects Southern to bring crowd
Wilson stands out in scrimmage
Nicholls soccer blanks SU
Lee gives Southern a chance to challenge in SWAC
Itching for a championship
Southern soccer to host NW State today
Still sidelined
Southern set to open new locker room facility
Southern's Chatman takes to safety like a natural
Keys: Run game just keeps on giving
Southern fine-tunes coverages

No comments: