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."
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."
No comments:
Post a Comment