BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Head coach Stump Mitchell didn't mince words when he addressed the media at the conclusion of the first spring practice Wednesday. He is excited to be the head coach at Southern.
And when asked if he plan on extended his stay in Baton Rouge until Sept. 1, the date of Southern's 2012 season opener against New Mexico, Mitchell's response offered a touch a humor while reaffirming his commitment to the program.
"No, I won't be here," said Mitchell, who begins his third season at Southern. "I'll be in Albuquerque."
Under clear skies and the watchful eye of a robust media contingent, Mitchell and the Jaguars kicked off the first of 15 practices Wednesday in the shadows of A.W. Mumford Stadium.
The Jaguars initial spring practice lasted roughly an hour and 30 minutes and spanned 17 periods. The team, dressed in shells, participated in several drills, including 7-on-7, one-on-one and special teams before ending with team drills with quarterbacks J.P. Douglas and Dray Joseph splitting reps.
"It was an awesome day. It's been a while since we lost that Bayou Classic," said Mitchell. "We went out and got the players that we think we need to go with the guys we had our first two years. We're excited about it."
Wednesday's practice also provided a first look at a retooled coaching staff. Mitchell confirmed that former defensive coordinator O'neill Gilbert and former offensive coordinator Ricky Diggs are no longer with the program.
Mitchell also introduced a new coach on his staff and announced defensive line coach Dawson Odums as his new defensive coordinator.
"(Manny Martin) was coaching high school in Miami," said Mitchell. "He played at Alabama State, so he's familiar with the SWAC, and we've got some guys coming in from Miami, so I wanted them to have a coach that they could relate to."
"Hopefully, they can relate to all of us, but to have someone from that area, I thought that would benefit those guys immensely."
DAY 1 PHOTO ALBUM
Martin, who will serve as the defensive backs coach, joins wide receivers coach Jorge Baez as coaches with Miami ties, which paid huge dividend in Stump's third recruiting class.
Southern's all-time leading scorer, Breck Ackley, returns as a special teams assistant and the Jaguars administrative assistant. Ackley was a member of Mitchell's 2010 staff before a one-year stint as a member of Southeastern's staff last year.
But Mitchell added that he anticipates some more changes on his staff in the near future.
"There were some coaches here (today) that probably won't be here, before it's all said and done, but that's the way it goes in this business."
As for the business of football, the Jaguars showed no signs that the recent coaching saga distracted in them any way. For Mitchell, there was no more positive sign considering the task the team faces in 2012.
Said Mitchell: "We've got to win a lot of games. I mean a lot of games, and I understand that, and that's what I was brought here to do: to help the APR, to help enrollment, to help put people in the seats. We haven't quite done that, but hopefully, this will be the year."
COURTESY: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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