SOUTHERN JAGUARS: (1-0)
FACES LSU: Sept. 10, Tiger Stadium, 6:30 p.m.
HEAD COACH: ERIC DOOLEY (1-0 at Southern, 21-17 overall)
NUMBER OF HEAD COACHES, 20 SEASONS: Four
2021 RECORD: 4-7 (3-5)
OVERALL RECORD, 10 SEASONS: 67-44
CONFERENCE: SWAC
LAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: 2013
CONFERENCE TITLE GAME RECORD: 3-4
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, LAST: 9 (all HBCU), 2003
THIS SEASON: Southern barely broke a sweat in handing NAIA Florida Memorial a 86-0 thrashing, the second most points scored in school history … The Jaguars built a 42-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, leading 56-0 at halftime … Southern outgained Florida Memorial 611-92 … Southern had three running backs with 84 yards or more … Quarterback Besean McCray totaled 157 yards and three touchdowns in limited action … The Jaguars defense also contributed a pair of scores with a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception return for another score.
NAME GAME: The Jaguars have turned to a page from their past with the hiring of former Southern assistant coach Dooley, who spent 13 years on the staff of legendary coach PETE RICHARDSON … Dooley spent the past four years as head coach at Prairie View A&M and guided the Panthers to the SWAC’s Western Division title and league championship game against Jackson State in 2021 … Juco-transfer quarterback BESEAN MCCRAY won the team’s starting job in spring practice and will try to execute the Jaguars’ high-octane approach under Dooley and will have a veteran offensive lineman in DALLAS BLACK returning at center … Southern also is hopeful of rectifying one of the league’s worst defenses with All-SWAC defensive tackle JASON DUMAS transferring from Prairie View, the signing of linebacker JALEN CAMPBELL from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the presence of transfer TERENCE DUNLAP, a grad student defensive back from Troy.
TIDBITS: Southern is coming off its first losing season in 10 years … It happened under the watch of interim coach JASON ROLLINS, who took over after DAWSON ODUMS left for FCS Norfolk State … The Jaguars, who added 16 signees from the NCAA transfer portal in the offseason, were picked to finish first in the SWAC’s Western Division according to a preseason coaches/SID poll, edging out Alcorn State.
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