SWAC opener to test Jags

Southern head coach Stump Mitchell believes the Jaguars’ embarrassing loss a week ago could be the result of his young team, too immature to handle the success of winning their season opener on a national televised stage.
 ”We were not able to handle success,” Mitchell said. “We came out and didn’t practice extremely well the following week and as a result, we ended up losing a home game (to Arkansas-Monticello).”
Southern (1-1, 0-0) now must refocus as it heads into its Southwestern Athletic Conference opener Saturday at Alabama A&M (1-2, 0-1).
“Now we are going to have to see if we handle failure better than we did success — and I’m hoping we will.”
Dropped balls, inconsistencies and injuries are all good reasons why the Jaguars have been unsuccessful in offensive production early on, but much of the reason lies with the priorities of the young players, according to Mitchell.
“One reason why we lost that game, it didn’t have that much to do with Arkansas-Monticello, they did alright,” said Mitchell. “We spent too much time worrying about our gloves, worrying about our pants being over our knees, rather than catching the football or blocking the right guy.”
Mitchell has stressed discipline since he was named head coach, and it seems that no one is exempt from these policies. Some players have reverted to the old laissez-faire policies they once rumored to be used to under the helm of Pete Richardson.
“I don’t want to be the guy coming in here trying to make this a bad year for seniors,” said Mitchell. “I don’t want to be that guy; that’s not my philosophy. I came in to win right now, and I really want this to be a good year for seniors, but these guys have committed some mistakes and I’m not going to sacrifice the chance of having an opportunity to win, simply because I am playing some seniors that are messing up.”
“They have to get their act together and if they don’t, then I will have to turn the other cheek and go with something that will allow us something for the future.”
In week 1, starter McGinty experienced what trainers called “body cramps.” Dray Joseph entered the game at the half and pulled off a come from behind victory.
In week 2, he was asked to step in yet another time — at almost the same time late in the first half — with a different result, however.
Neither quarterback has had time to jell with the offensive strategy; therefore, both have struggled.
Although Mitchell is satisfied with the leadership ability and production of McGinty when healthy, it remains to be seen if the young quarterback can overcome the injury woes.
Mitchell believes the key to success is taking the momentum early.
“We got off to a pretty decent start in Orlando, didn’t get off to a good start at home at all,” said Mitchell.
Making sure they begin the game on a high note was stressed, also, “having the right mindset,” Mitchell said will give the Jaguars the early advantage; playing away from home shouldn’t be a factor, he said.
This Week, Jags focus on…
Offense-
“We expect them to run the ball,” said Mitchell.
The Bulldogs are coming off of an embarrassing 32-6 loss of their own to Texas Southern. Mitchell expects them to try to get their running game established.
Defense–
“There pretty good,” Mitchell said of the veteran group defenders who he seems exited to play against.