The Southern University football team and head coach Pete Richardson definitely know about uncertainty.
Just weeks ago Richardson, a man that normally uses words such as ‘individuals’ and phrases like ‘it’s just a matter’ of said his team was due for a breakout season.
But in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, the Jaguars have yet to register a win, 0-2, with losses to University of Houston, 55-3, and Tennessee State, 34-32.
Both of those losses came on the road and undoubtedly under some extreme and adverse circumstances.
But with the arrival of Hurricane Ike scheduled to hit the Gulf Coast Thursday or early Friday, Richardson and staff are still unsure if Saturday’s home opener and first Southwestern Athletic Conference game against rival Mississippi Valley State is still a go.
“(Gustav) is the worst storm I’ve been a part of,” said SU Sports Information Director Kevin Manns. “It was a rough week for our team.”
With the SU practice field left in ruins after Gustav and the National Guard being housed in the F.G. Clark Activity Center, the Jaguars only got in one practice day. That came Wednesday when SU had a light walk through before prepping for Thursday’s trip to Nashville.
“The decision to play wasn’t made until late Wednesday,” Manns said. “We were unable to use the practice fields because they were soaked with water. We also had damage to our goal posts.”
Because of power outages SU was also unable to swap game film with TSU coaches, and instead had to stop in Huntsville, Ala. to get film from Alabama A&M coaches. The change in travel plans turned a normal bus to Nashville in to a 12-hour trip.
“I take my hat off to our players and staff,” Manns said. “We went out of our way and stopped in Alabama to get game film because we weren’t able to swap tapes with TSU. We watched film Friday morning and broke down what we could in our walk through up there before Saturday’s game.”
Richardson, the coaching staff and players did everything in their power to weather the wave of emotions thrusted upon them as a result of Gustav and almost returned to Baton Rouge with a much needed win.
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