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 SCHEDULESept. 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
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Southern University football coach Lyvonia “Stump” Mitchell will be paid the same salary as his predecessor, Pete Richardson. Mitchell got a three-year contract at $200,000 per season with a fourth year as a mutual option, Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur said Wednesday. Richardson, who spent 17 years as Southern’s coach, was paid $200,000 for his final seasons. He retired after last season and was replaced by Mitchell, a former Washington Redskins assistant coach, in January.
