Mutual respect obvious: JSU vs. Delta State

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

Any rivalry friendly in first Delta State-Jackson State football game, but precious pride will be on line

Flipping his cell phone open and pointing to the screen, Jackson State receivers coach Jerry Mack has proof that today's football game isn't the usual ho-hum college opener.

Mack's phone has dozens of messages from some guy named "Roberts."

Turns out that's short for Delta State first-year head coach Ron Roberts.

Mack and Roberts are friends and worked together as assistants at DSU before Mack took the receivers job in Jackson and Roberts became the Statesmen's head coach in the off-season.

"Look at this, he's been talking smack for the past few weeks," Mack said while thumbing through the messages.

But then he shrugs his shoulders, grins and makes an admission.

"Of course, I've been giving him a little bit to chew on, too," he said. "You know what, I might have even started it."

Jackson State hosts Delta State at 6 p.m. today at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. It is the first meeting in football between the schools.

The barbs between coaches are all good natured, but the tone has been set. There's a lot of pride at stake when these two proud programs take the field.

Both could claim to be the favorite in today's game and have a decent argument. Consider the following:

Jackson State is a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) team with 63 scholarships, 28 more than Division II Delta State can offer under NCAA guidelines.

JSU is entering its second season under coach Rick Comegy, who led the Tigers to their first winning season since 2002 and return 17 starters.

But on the other side, No. 12-ranked Delta State is one of the nation's elite teams at the Division II level. Last season, the Statesmen posted a 12-3 record and advanced to the national semifinals.

DSU has beaten Division I-AA teams in the recent past, including a 17-14 victory at Stephen F. Austin last year. Earlier in the decade, the Statesmen beat Southwestern Athletic Conference member Mississippi Valley State three out of four years, including a 45-0 drubbing in 2003.

"I've coached at Delta State and let me tell you something - they're no joke," Mack said. "If we don't respect their athleticism and strength, we'll have trouble. Knowing Coach Roberts, they'll be a very physical team."

Much like Mack, Jackson State's players and coaches express nothing but respect for Delta State and say they understand the danger the Statesmen pose.

But linebacker Marcellus Speaks, who transferred from Delta State two years ago, said that respect for the Statesmen doesn't mean the Tigers have an excuse to falter.

Because no matter how good Delta State may be, it won't look pretty to lose a home opener to a Division II program.

"Delta State's going to be a great football team and we know and respect that," Speaks said. "But if we really want to be a great team in the SWAC, these are games we have to win."


Keys for Jackson State

NO. 1

PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK

Led by Division II All-American Michael Eubanks, Delta State's linebackers are exceptional. JSU's offensive line needs to figure out a way to keep Eubanks and Co. out of the backfield and give quarterback Jimmy Oliver some time in the pocket.

NO. 2

SECONDARY RENAISSANCE

Jackson State's secondary was picked on without mercy last season when the team lost four of its final five games. Much of the same group returns and they'll have a huge test right off the bat trying to contain Delta State's spread offense. In particular, CB Keith Camp and S LaBrose Hedgemon need to show improvement.

NO. 3

PUT PRESSURE ON WILSON

Delta State junior Dedrick Wilson will be making his first start for the Statesmen and the JSU defensive front needs to make sure it's unpleasant. If Corey Clark, Daniel Brooks and Marcus Benard can put pressure on Wilson and force him into a few turnovers early, the Tigers could grab a large lead early.

Look out for...

MICHAEL EUBANKS

Delta State linebacker

The Statesmen had nine players receive some sort of preseason All-America honors this summer, but none is more feared than outside linebacker Michael Eubanks.

Coming into his senior season, Eubanks (6 feet 2, 225 pounds) is just two sacks shy of tying the school record. He had 24 tackles for a loss and 10 1/2 sacks during last season's run to the NCAA Division II national semifinals despite being double- and triple-teamed in many games.

After watching film of Delta State, Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said Eubanks would have the full attention of his offense.

"Their entire defense is fast, but that Eubanks guy is at a whole other level," Comegy said. "He's the type of guy that could end up playing on Sundays with his speed and strength. Right now, we're trying to figure out a way to slow him down."

Eubanks, the son of former Alcorn State star Melvin Eubanks, leads a defense that returns nine starters and last year led the Gulf South Conference in scoring defense, total defense and rush defense. Much of the same is expected this year.

And football isn't where Eubanks' prowess stops. He's also working on a double major in biology (pre-med) and chemistry.