Jaguars prepare for ’09 season

Last year’s Bayou Classic game in the Louisiana Superdome drew 59,874 fans who saw Grambling defeat Southern 29-14 and deny SU a shot at the Southwestern Athletic Conference title. 
What can we expect from our Jaguars this season?
 ”The guys have to make personal commitments and take sacrifices to be suc-cessful at winning a SWAC championship,” said head coach Pete Richardson.
After finishing with a 6-5 record in 2008, the Jags have huge expectations heading into the 2009 season.
“Overall the offense returns a lot of experience including a gifted wide receiver and quarterback,” said Richardson.
Ranking eighth nationally in total offense with 292 yards per game last season, the Jaguar offense returns multiple starters including first-team All-SWAC quarterback Bryant Lee and first-team HBCU All-American wide receiver Juamorris Stewart.
Lee threw for 2,682 yards and 20 TDs while completing 62 percent of his passes and also running for 534 yards with six touchdowns. For his efforts, he has been added to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually upon the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
On the other hand, former Istrouma standout Juamorris Stewart is best known in the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the league’s most-productive receiver with great athletic ability. Stewart led the SWAC with 76 catches for 1,385 yards and 12 TDs, earning him a unanimous selection to the 2008 All-SWAC Team.
Sounds like we have a lot to look forward to this season, but, is that true?
As we all know, defense wins championships.
So what does that say about the defense?
“We lack experience on the defensive side of the ball and we have new players in the secondary” said Richardson.
Last season, SU’s scrappy play led to several games slipping through their grasp which they led at halftime, and are now forced to chase around op-posing quarterbacks with in-experienced pass rushers.
Once again, the Jaguars are faced with mental decisions that can make or break their season. In this case it’s all about who wants it more.
The Southern Jaguars will open the season on the road against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 5.