Southern enjoys extra preparation time
Southern fullback Lee Mitchell, bottom center, crosses the goal line in the third quarter of the Jaguars' 66-21 loss to New Mexico on Sept. 1 in Albuquerque, N.M. The Jaguars had a bye week last week, giving them extra time to prepare for Thursday's SWAC opener against Mississippi Valley State.
After dealing with all kinds of weather and travel issues before their season opener, Southern couldn’t ask for a much better situation heading into Thursday’s game against Mississippi Valley State.
While the Delta Devils spent last week preparing for Alabama State — the predicted top team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference — the Jaguars were enjoying a bye week that allowed them to start getting ready for Mississippi Valley State early.
And when Valley was finally able to turn its attention to SU on Sunday, it faced a short turnaround before having to make the trip to Baton Rouge on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Southern had adjusted its schedule, treating Saturday like a Monday practice in order to have a normal game week.
“To be able to practice up until the game on Thursday is awesome, because our last practice before the first game was on Tuesday (because of Hurricane Isaac),” SU coach Stump Mitchell said.
MVSU coach Karl Morgan pointed out that Southern will have more game film to go off of as well, since the Delta Devils have played two games to the Jaguars’ one.
“That’s kind of a disadvantage,” Morgan said. “They’ll have two films on us. We’ll have one film of them, and they’ve had the weekend to prepare and get ready. But that’s the way it is, and we’re just trying to make the most of the few days we have.”
But while the scenario sets up nicely, Mitchell isn’t ready to pencil in the win just yet.
“Of course I think that should be an advantage, but if we don’t go out and play the way we’re capable of playing, that advantage can turn to a disadvantage real quickly,” he said.
Parking advisory
With Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. contest taking place on a school day, Southern is making preparations to ensure fans will be able to park and tailgate without issue.
No classes will start after 12:30 p.m., and at that time, students and faculty will be directed to move their vehicles out of areas reserved for game parking.
Students are also being advised to park near residence halls, where shuttles will be provided to take them to class.
In addition, the school will contact fans who hold parking permits for recreational vehicles to notify them of temporary changes because of the incomplete resurfacing work being done to the lot outside the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Athletic Director William Broussard said there will be $10 parking near the stadium and free parking on the west and northwest portions of campus, with shuttles that will ferry fans to A.W. Mumford Stadium from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and back to their cars beginning around 9:15 p.m.
Lagniappe
The game will be “EBR High School Show Your Colors!” night; high school students from East Baton Rouge parish will receive free admission with a valid student ID. … The booster group “A Nation of Dominance” will hold its annual fish fry fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Gate 11 of Mumford Stadium. Plates will cost $7 and include three large pieces of filet catfish, dirty rice, potato salad, peas, cake and a roll. The 501(c)(3) organization will also be accepting donations.