Jags set to play spring football game

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA Sports) - Thanks to efforts the last two-and-a-half weeks, University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones has changed the format for the program's annual spring game.

Last season, the offense took on the defense in a format similar to a regular scrimmage. But since the Jaguars have achieved all of the goals set forth for spring drills according to Jones, the rising juniors in the program drafted Red and White teams that will compete as USA takes part in the last of 15 spring practices Wednesday.

"Last year we really didn't have enough people to split into teams," Jones stated. "And since we have achieved all of our goals up to this point, we don't need any more evaluations of the players. Rather than having the offense play the defense, which we've been doing every day in practice, now they can go out and have a little fun.

"You can already feel the intensity and hear the trash talk. Their spirits have jumped, they are really looking forward to this."

Although the contest - which is being sponsored by the Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic - will start at 6 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, tailgating will begin and the parking lot is set to open at 3 p.m. Stadium gates are scheduled to be opened at 5 p.m., with fans attending the game seated in only the West grandstand.

Admission to the Jags' spring game, as well as the parking lot, is free and open to the public. Members of the USA Athletic Ticket Office will be on hand to assist individuals wishing to purchase exact seating locations for the 2010 campaign, while Jagwear - the official merchandise of USA Athletics - will be available on the stadium concourse.

There will be a special presentation at halftime honoring a donor to the Jaguar football program, and after the contest players will be available to sign autographs.

The format for this year's game comes from Jones' experience as a player at Alabama. The White team will be guided by Myles Gibbon, who started each of the Jags' first six games, and will feature the program's leading rusher and receiver from the fall in Brandon Ross and Courtney Smith. On defense, the White roster includes defensive back Zach Brownell and linebacker Charlie Higgenbotham, who ranked second and third on the team in tackles in 2009.

USA's leading tackler in its inaugural season, Justin Dunn, will guide the Red squad's defensive unit. Clifton Crews and Enrique Williams - who tied for fourth in stops in the fall - are also part of the team's linebacking crew. Brennan Sim, who was 13-of-20 passing in his only start of 2009, a 35-0 victory over Huntingdon (Ala.) College in the regular-season finale, will lead an offense that includes receivers Ralph Turner and Kelly Vail as well as Eli Smith at running back.

"We did this back when I was at Alabama," said Jones. "Of course, we had 20 days of practice back then and were going pretty much full speed the whole time. Our kids knew that if we didn't achieve our goals we would've had another offense versus defense game. They did a great job this spring."

The captains also selected five assistant coaches on the USA staff to lead their side, and the program's support personnel were divided as well, leaving Jones as the only neutral observer of Wednesday's event.

"I'll be on the winning side, I promise that," he joked. "Whichever team is ahead, I'll kind of ease to that sideline.

"I wanted to stay neutral and watch the game," Jones continued. "It lets me get out of being a head coach and allows our assistants to coach each team and have fun with it."

Wednesday's spring game wraps up a period of 21 days during which the Jaguars will be on the field on 15 occasions. USA won't return to practice until preseason camp opens in August, while the 2010 season is set to begin Saturday, Sept. 4 against Pikeville (Ky.) at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.