Defense is Southern's comfort

Photo: SU Head Coach Pete Richardson has the Jaguars playing championship football.

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Pete Richardson has put together a pretty good worksheet in his 14-plus seasons at Southern.

During Richardson's first 11 seasons - from 1993 through 2003 - the Jaguars won 11 games or more five times, five Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and four black college national championships.

However, Southern hasn't been nearly as good in recent years.

Since winning the SWAC and the black college national championship in 2003 and finishing 12-1, the Jaguars have gone 17-15 over the last three seasons, including back-to-back losing seasons.

Entering this season, Southern officials informed Richardson that he would be evaluated before receiving a contract. He is in the last year of a deal that pays him $200,000 annually.

Through the first five games, Richardson has had the last laugh.

The Jaguars are 5-0 overall, including 3-0 in the SWAC, and are ranked 25th in the nation.

"A lot of good things have happened," said Richardson, whose team was picked to finish third in the league's preseason poll. "We're playing well and we've had great senior leadership. Defensively, we're able to put pressure on the quarterback and offensively, we've protected the football. When you can do those two things it increases your chances of winning."

Southern will try to run its record to 6-0 Saturday when it hosts Alabama A&M for homecoming. Kickoff is 5:30 at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Richardson said some of his players didn't believe the Jaguars were capable of having a big year when preseason practice began. However, as the wins piled up, the players started to believe.

"You see the attitude starting to change in our football team," he said. "We've come from a point where a lot of individuals didn't think we had a chance to win any games to now being 5-0. A lot of them are gradually starting to believe maybe we can get to that championship game.

"I see the enthusiasm and passion they're playing with and also the attention in practice is starting to pick up."

Defections and injuries forced many young players onto the field last season. While that was a problem a year ago, it has been a blessing this season, Richardson said.

"The difference between last year and this year is experience," he said. "We were decimated with injuries last year. A lot of those kids came back and created competition. We finished strong last year and had a good spring practice.

"We were in a lot of tight games last year and made some growing mistakes and we're not making those mistakes this year."

Southern has always been good offensively. This season, however, the Jaguars have been among the top defensive teams in the league.

Free safety Jarmaul George was the SWAC's preseason defensive player of the year, while defensive lineman Vincent Lands was named to the second team.

Cornerbacks Michael Williams and Efe Osawemwenze are all-conference caliber players along with strong safety Glenn Bell.

Why has Southern been so much better on defense this season?

"There's really no secret," Bell said. "It's hard work."


SU Band vs. Alabama State University Band 2007- 5th Quarter Band