((HT: Florida Sports Today))
Florida Tech is starting their football program this season with an opener against Stetson (who is also starting their program again this season themselves). They had 120 kids come out for their first round of practices...
Which is a good thing...
They're diving into their Gulf South Conference-Division II schedule full bore and mixing in some NAIA schools to fill out their grid in Melbourne.
But, as is the way with most confident teams, they decided to cut a track celebrating their successes that they're going to have... via edited rap video...
Here's their first attempt at it...
Ah, the optimism of youth...
In both act and age...
But it needs some work...
Showing posts with label Gulf South Conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gulf South Conference. Show all posts
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
So THIS Is What Happens In Those Meeting Rooms
((HT: Shorter University their own selves))
The HQ has known what has gone on in football meeting rooms during the preps for the regular season...
Apparently, at Shorter University...
They break out...
The HQ is quite impressed with head coach Phil Jones doing his thing from a seated position...
The HQ has known what has gone on in football meeting rooms during the preps for the regular season...
Apparently, at Shorter University...
They break out...
The HQ is quite impressed with head coach Phil Jones doing his thing from a seated position...
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Big Swede's Gulf South Previews: Week 2
((HT: d2football.com))
As far as this week is concerned, we have to wait until Saturday for football. That should allow the two teams that fell last weekend to lick their wounds. Is there any chance a couple more GSC teams go down this week?
SATURDAY 1 PM EASTERN - DELTA STATE AT ELIZABETH CITY STATE
Classic 'Coaches Speak' reminds us that teams make their biggest improvements from week one to week two. To me that just means you found out how good or bad you were in the first week and spend the next week fixing your issues. Delta State will find out if last week was a fluke or if it is going to be long season.
Elizabeth City State lost to Newberry 46-20 last week. Their former three-star recruit running back DaRonte McNeil was a workhouse carrying the ball 24 times for 124 yards. Coming off a game where they were dominated on the ground defensively, expect McNeil to match last week's total of rushes. Xavier Triplett and the DSU defense need to get their act together. The offense looks like it's not in sync yet. They just don't look capable to carry the team like in years past. How well this unit stops the ECSU running game will dictate the outcome.
Quarterback Trevor Wooden could turn things on and light up the world this week. When he looked good last week, he looked as good as a Kate Upton doing a jungle photo shoot. When he looked bad, he looked like June Shannon (Honey Boo Boo's mother) doing anything.
The ECSU defense allowed 238 yards on the ground against Newberry. Wooden and his fellow rushing weapons in Jamey Chadwell's offense have a chance to shut a lot of people up this week. Or they could keep people from talking about them for a while.
Prediction: Delta State over Elizabeth City State 27-21
SATURDAY 3 PM EASTERN - TUSCULUM AT WEST GEORGIA
As easy as last week was for West Georgia is how hard this week will be. Tusculum has long been a very good Division II program. Despite losing last week to Urbana 53-33, Tusculum created a lot to fear.
Quarterback Bo Cordell threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns while playing from behind. He spread the ball pretty evenly to his two best receivers Xzanvion Smith and Ken Funnye who combined to haul in 221 of those 389 yards. This tough West Georgia secondary has it's work cut out for them.
All that is nice to look at but the fact of the matter is that they still allowed Urbana to score 55 points. DJ Mendenhall went 22 of 30 for 305 passing yards, ran for 54 yards while scoring five total touchdowns. If that's not going H.A.M. I don't know what is. It wasn't just passing that gave them fits, Tusculum also allowed two 100 yard rushers in the contest.
If West Georgia is going to win this game it is by being multi dimensional. They can't just rely on the running game. Here is where we find out if Austin Trainor is the real deal Holyfield. UWG can run the ball. They have a versatile back field. The question is can Trainor carry the load through the air. I think he is better than people are anticipating.
Prediction: West Georgia over Tusculum 35-28
SATURDAY 6:30 PM EASTERN - SHORTER AT NEWBERRY
Two teams that seem to operate with similar theories in running the football should keep this game close. Newberry was able to drop 46 on Elizabeth City State to open the season on the back of 238 rushing yards and 118 passing yards.
Shorter will need to operate their methodical offense. Newberry had six players with three rushes or more last weekend. They are deep with athletic talent. Keep the ball from them while making the most of your opportunities will be the recipe for success for Shorter. The more chances Newberry has, the higher their chances are to win.
Prediction: Newberry over Shorter 34-21
SATURDAY 7 PM EASTERN - HARDING AT NORTH ALABAMA
This new running game of North Alabama gets an early test against a dominant defensive line this week. We'll find out how good this attack is because Harding returns 9 of 11 defensive starters and has been preparing for UNA for a while, with this being their first game of the year.
In 2011, the starters on this Harding defensive front combined for 29 tackles for loss. If the Lion rushing game is stalled can Chris Alexander win the game through the air?
This is where we find out how good the North Alabama running game is. We also find out if Chris Alexander can make big plays. We may also find out how far UNA needs to go to get back to their dominant ways.
Limiting what Harding quarterback Kevin Martin does in the option game will be vital. While this will be just his fifth start, he is the leading returning rusher for Harding. Can the former GSC member knock off one of it's marquee names?
Prediction; Harding over North Alabama 21-17
SATURDAY 7 PM EASTERN – FORT VALLEY STATE AT VALDOSTA STATE
The two teams have totally different feelings this week. Fort Valley is riding high after a last minute upset of Delta State while Valdosta State is looking for redemption after a fourth quarter collapse.
This is also a trap game for VSU. This game is sandwhiched between the build up of a trip to Michigan last week which went on all off season and the knowing about the trip to Dallas, Texas for a game in Jerry's World next week.
Blazer quarterback Cayden Cochran will not play against FVSU with another injury. In his limited time as the signal caller of Valdosta State, Cochran has suffered his fair share of injuries. His style of play is all-out all the time and he isn't afraid of contact.
Unfortunately for him, a quarterback coming off a great performance last week will fill in for him. Could Graham Craig steal his job if he builds on his 12 of 19 183 yard performance a week ago?
If VSU can force the inefficient Antonio Henton (who has been playing college football as long as Squints Palladouris from The Sandlot says 'The Beast' is to be locked up: FOREVER) to beat them through the air, he should make mistakes. The key to success is keeping the ball away from Fort Valley State running back Seth Hill. You do that by jumping out to a big lead.
Prediction: Valdosta State over Fort Valley State 34-14
SATURDAY 7 PM EASTERN – WEST ALABAMA AT SAMFORD
This is a great litmus test for the class of the GSC. West Alabama can find out just where they are by facing FCS Samford, who beat Furman 24-21 to open their season.
UWA will need to go to it's best player all day to send a message. Matt Willis should carry the rock at least 25 times. This is why he was taken out after exploding last week, so that he can have fresher legs for this big one. A lot of you don't care if a Division II schools tops an FCS one; West Alabama does and should.
Think about what this could do for recruiting or marketing among the rest of the state's smaller schools. Beating Samford would tell the state of Alabama that there is a new program on the rise. Look out for the Tigers. The test for the UWA defense early on should be exciting. Samford running back Fabian Truss is coming off a 19 rush 112 yard performance while quarterback Andy Summerlin was efficient in a 216 yard, two touchdown day.
Let's see how well Shontral Ford, D'Erick Johnson and Rico Jernighan can do against this passing game. Samford may be in for a surprise if they try to attack that secondary.
Prediction: West Alabama over Samford 31-27
As far as this week is concerned, we have to wait until Saturday for football. That should allow the two teams that fell last weekend to lick their wounds. Is there any chance a couple more GSC teams go down this week?
SATURDAY 1 PM EASTERN - DELTA STATE AT ELIZABETH CITY STATE
Classic 'Coaches Speak' reminds us that teams make their biggest improvements from week one to week two. To me that just means you found out how good or bad you were in the first week and spend the next week fixing your issues. Delta State will find out if last week was a fluke or if it is going to be long season.
Elizabeth City State lost to Newberry 46-20 last week. Their former three-star recruit running back DaRonte McNeil was a workhouse carrying the ball 24 times for 124 yards. Coming off a game where they were dominated on the ground defensively, expect McNeil to match last week's total of rushes. Xavier Triplett and the DSU defense need to get their act together. The offense looks like it's not in sync yet. They just don't look capable to carry the team like in years past. How well this unit stops the ECSU running game will dictate the outcome.
Quarterback Trevor Wooden could turn things on and light up the world this week. When he looked good last week, he looked as good as a Kate Upton doing a jungle photo shoot. When he looked bad, he looked like June Shannon (Honey Boo Boo's mother) doing anything.
The ECSU defense allowed 238 yards on the ground against Newberry. Wooden and his fellow rushing weapons in Jamey Chadwell's offense have a chance to shut a lot of people up this week. Or they could keep people from talking about them for a while.
Prediction: Delta State over Elizabeth City State 27-21
SATURDAY 3 PM EASTERN - TUSCULUM AT WEST GEORGIA
As easy as last week was for West Georgia is how hard this week will be. Tusculum has long been a very good Division II program. Despite losing last week to Urbana 53-33, Tusculum created a lot to fear.
Quarterback Bo Cordell threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns while playing from behind. He spread the ball pretty evenly to his two best receivers Xzanvion Smith and Ken Funnye who combined to haul in 221 of those 389 yards. This tough West Georgia secondary has it's work cut out for them.
All that is nice to look at but the fact of the matter is that they still allowed Urbana to score 55 points. DJ Mendenhall went 22 of 30 for 305 passing yards, ran for 54 yards while scoring five total touchdowns. If that's not going H.A.M. I don't know what is. It wasn't just passing that gave them fits, Tusculum also allowed two 100 yard rushers in the contest.
If West Georgia is going to win this game it is by being multi dimensional. They can't just rely on the running game. Here is where we find out if Austin Trainor is the real deal Holyfield. UWG can run the ball. They have a versatile back field. The question is can Trainor carry the load through the air. I think he is better than people are anticipating.
Prediction: West Georgia over Tusculum 35-28
SATURDAY 6:30 PM EASTERN - SHORTER AT NEWBERRY
Two teams that seem to operate with similar theories in running the football should keep this game close. Newberry was able to drop 46 on Elizabeth City State to open the season on the back of 238 rushing yards and 118 passing yards.
Shorter will need to operate their methodical offense. Newberry had six players with three rushes or more last weekend. They are deep with athletic talent. Keep the ball from them while making the most of your opportunities will be the recipe for success for Shorter. The more chances Newberry has, the higher their chances are to win.
Prediction: Newberry over Shorter 34-21
SATURDAY 7 PM EASTERN - HARDING AT NORTH ALABAMA
This new running game of North Alabama gets an early test against a dominant defensive line this week. We'll find out how good this attack is because Harding returns 9 of 11 defensive starters and has been preparing for UNA for a while, with this being their first game of the year.
In 2011, the starters on this Harding defensive front combined for 29 tackles for loss. If the Lion rushing game is stalled can Chris Alexander win the game through the air?
This is where we find out how good the North Alabama running game is. We also find out if Chris Alexander can make big plays. We may also find out how far UNA needs to go to get back to their dominant ways.
Limiting what Harding quarterback Kevin Martin does in the option game will be vital. While this will be just his fifth start, he is the leading returning rusher for Harding. Can the former GSC member knock off one of it's marquee names?
Prediction; Harding over North Alabama 21-17
SATURDAY 7 PM EASTERN – FORT VALLEY STATE AT VALDOSTA STATE
The two teams have totally different feelings this week. Fort Valley is riding high after a last minute upset of Delta State while Valdosta State is looking for redemption after a fourth quarter collapse.
This is also a trap game for VSU. This game is sandwhiched between the build up of a trip to Michigan last week which went on all off season and the knowing about the trip to Dallas, Texas for a game in Jerry's World next week.
Blazer quarterback Cayden Cochran will not play against FVSU with another injury. In his limited time as the signal caller of Valdosta State, Cochran has suffered his fair share of injuries. His style of play is all-out all the time and he isn't afraid of contact.
Unfortunately for him, a quarterback coming off a great performance last week will fill in for him. Could Graham Craig steal his job if he builds on his 12 of 19 183 yard performance a week ago?
If VSU can force the inefficient Antonio Henton (who has been playing college football as long as Squints Palladouris from The Sandlot says 'The Beast' is to be locked up: FOREVER) to beat them through the air, he should make mistakes. The key to success is keeping the ball away from Fort Valley State running back Seth Hill. You do that by jumping out to a big lead.
Prediction: Valdosta State over Fort Valley State 34-14
SATURDAY 7 PM EASTERN – WEST ALABAMA AT SAMFORD
This is a great litmus test for the class of the GSC. West Alabama can find out just where they are by facing FCS Samford, who beat Furman 24-21 to open their season.
UWA will need to go to it's best player all day to send a message. Matt Willis should carry the rock at least 25 times. This is why he was taken out after exploding last week, so that he can have fresher legs for this big one. A lot of you don't care if a Division II schools tops an FCS one; West Alabama does and should.
Think about what this could do for recruiting or marketing among the rest of the state's smaller schools. Beating Samford would tell the state of Alabama that there is a new program on the rise. Look out for the Tigers. The test for the UWA defense early on should be exciting. Samford running back Fabian Truss is coming off a 19 rush 112 yard performance while quarterback Andy Summerlin was efficient in a 216 yard, two touchdown day.
Let's see how well Shontral Ford, D'Erick Johnson and Rico Jernighan can do against this passing game. Samford may be in for a surprise if they try to attack that secondary.
Prediction: West Alabama over Samford 31-27
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Shorter University Heading to D2
Not really a surprise to NCAA Division II followers, but the worst-kept secret is now official, but Rome, Georgia's Shorter University has been granted acceptance into the NCAA and will head for the Gulf South Conference.
“This is a wonderful day for Shorter University and for our athletic program,” said Bill Peterson, who just completed his fourth year as Shorter’s Director of Athletics. “We are truly blessed and so appreciative of the support we have received from both our administration and our Board of Trustees. In particular, I would like to thank our coaches and our student-athletes. Their efforts made this tremendous possibility a reality. They are just a great group.”
From the university their ownselves...
Shorter immediately begins the three-year transition process as a candidate member for the NCAA during the 2011-2012 season, during which it will remain an active affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Shorter has been affiliated with the NAIA since the 1950s.
Shorter remains eligible for regular season and post-season tournament championships in both the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) and Mid-South Conference (MSC) during the 2011-2012 athletic campaigns, and also remains eligible to compete in NAIA national tournaments.
“We are very proud of our long-term relationship with the NAIA, the SSAC and the Mid-South, and we look forward to another great year in 2011-2012,” Peterson said. “We have been blessed with many wonderful friendships, in particular NAIA CEO Jim Carr and championship director Dennis Green along with our two commissioners, Dr. Kurt Patberg of the SSAC and Steve Baker of the Mid-South.”
The university will enter the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years as an NCAA “provisional status” member while moving towards membership in the Gulf South Conference.
During this two-year provisional status period, Shorter will compete against full Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II schedules and be required to operate under NCAA Division II regulations, but will be ineligible to compete in post-season play. Shorter’s athletic schedules will include Gulf South Conference members such as the University of Alabama-Huntsville, University of North Alabama, University of West Alabama, Delta State University, Valdosta State University, University of West Georgia and the University of West Florida, among others.
Here's what the Hawks will be chasing...
((HT: NCAA/ESPN/youtube))
“This is a wonderful day for Shorter University and for our athletic program,” said Bill Peterson, who just completed his fourth year as Shorter’s Director of Athletics. “We are truly blessed and so appreciative of the support we have received from both our administration and our Board of Trustees. In particular, I would like to thank our coaches and our student-athletes. Their efforts made this tremendous possibility a reality. They are just a great group.”
From the university their ownselves...
Shorter immediately begins the three-year transition process as a candidate member for the NCAA during the 2011-2012 season, during which it will remain an active affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Shorter has been affiliated with the NAIA since the 1950s.
Shorter remains eligible for regular season and post-season tournament championships in both the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) and Mid-South Conference (MSC) during the 2011-2012 athletic campaigns, and also remains eligible to compete in NAIA national tournaments.
“We are very proud of our long-term relationship with the NAIA, the SSAC and the Mid-South, and we look forward to another great year in 2011-2012,” Peterson said. “We have been blessed with many wonderful friendships, in particular NAIA CEO Jim Carr and championship director Dennis Green along with our two commissioners, Dr. Kurt Patberg of the SSAC and Steve Baker of the Mid-South.”
The university will enter the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 academic years as an NCAA “provisional status” member while moving towards membership in the Gulf South Conference.
During this two-year provisional status period, Shorter will compete against full Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II schedules and be required to operate under NCAA Division II regulations, but will be ineligible to compete in post-season play. Shorter’s athletic schedules will include Gulf South Conference members such as the University of Alabama-Huntsville, University of North Alabama, University of West Alabama, Delta State University, Valdosta State University, University of West Georgia and the University of West Florida, among others.
Here's what the Hawks will be chasing...
((HT: NCAA/ESPN/youtube))
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