South Alabama

South Alabama

Leagues Played
NCAAF 135 NCAAF Bowl Games 3
Links
Wikipedia

Results

NCAAF Bowl Games 12/24 00:00 715 [27] South Alabama v Eastern Michigan [22] W 59-10
NCAAF 11/26 00:00 1 [7] South Alabama v Texas State [8] L 44-52
NCAAF 11/18 22:00 1 [6] Marshall v South Alabama [2] W 0-28
NCAAF 11/11 22:00 1 [5] Arkansas State v South Alabama [10] W 14-21
NCAAF 11/02 23:30 1 [10] South Alabama v Troy [2] L 10-28
NCAAF 10/28 21:00 1 [4] UL Lafayette v South Alabama [7] L 33-20
NCAAF 10/17 23:30 1 [14] Southern Miss v South Alabama [10] W 3-55
NCAAF 10/07 23:00 1 [12] South Alabama v UL Monroe [11] W 55-7
NCAAF 09/30 16:00 1 [9] South Alabama v James Madison [3] L 23-31
NCAAF 09/23 21:00 1 [115] Central Michigan v South Alabama [10] L 34-30
NCAAF 09/16 23:00 1 [11] South Alabama v Oklahoma State [41] W 33-7
NCAAF 09/09 21:00 1 [110] Southeastern Louisiana v South Alabama [110] W 17-35

The South Alabama Jaguars football program, established in 2009, represents the University of South Alabama in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. South Alabama joined the FBS in 2012 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC).

History

Joey Jones era (2008–2017)

Coach Joey Jones

On December 6, 2007, the university's Board of Trustees approved the addition of football to the intercollegiate athletics program. The team began play in 2009 with a planned full transition to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) by 2013. On February 15, 2008, President Gordon Moulton and Athletic Director Joe Gottfried announced Joey Jones, Birmingham–Southern head coach, as the first head football coach in the university's history. The team would play its home games at Ladd–Peebles Stadium, which it would call home until the 2020 opening of Hancock Whitney Stadium.

On September 5, 2009, the University of South Alabama Jaguars defeated Hargrave Military Academy 30–13 in the program's first ever game in front of more than 26,000 fans. The team completed its first season undefeated at 7–0, outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 321–41.

After playing a seven-game schedule in 2009, the Jaguars played 10 games in 2010. The 2010 schedule was made up of schools from NCAA Division I-FCS, NCAA Division II, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and no Junior Colleges. The team completed its second season undefeated at 10–0, outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 413–130.

The 2011 season marked the beginning of South Alabama's two-year transition phase from unclassified to Division I FBS status. South played as a Division I-FCS independent for the 2011 season. The Jaguars were scheduled to play 11 games in 2011 but after ending its contracts with UC Davis and Edward Waters College early, and only replacing them with a game against Mississippi Valley State, South played 10 games in the 2011 season. The 2011 schedule was made up of schools from NCAA Division I-FBS, NCAA Division I-FCS, and NCAA Division II. For the first time, South Alabama had games televised. The 2011 season opener against West Alabama was televised on local channel WJTC, as well as on ESPN3. The Jaguars' game against North Carolina State on September 17 was aired on ESPN3. The Jaguars finished the season 6–4.

The 2012 season was South Alabama's final year in the transition phase to full Division I-FBS status. The Jaguars began to face Sun Belt Conference teams in a full conference schedule, but were not eligible for either the conference title or post-season bowl games. The Jaguars did not perform well in their non-conference play, going 1–4, with the only victory over FCS opponent Nicholls State. The Jaguars also struggled in Sun Belt Conference play, going 1–7, with their only victory over Florida Atlantic. The team finished 2–11, and in last place in the Sun Belt.

The South Alabama Jaguars gained full Division I FBS status for the 2013–14 season in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jaguars also became eligible to win the Sun Belt Championship and for a post season Bowl game. The team finished the year at .500 with a 6–6 record, going 4–2 in home games. The Jaguars also went 4–3 in Sun Belt Conference play.

The South Alabama Jaguars finished the 2014 season with a record of 6–6, making them bowl eligible for the second straight year. On December 3, President Tony Waldrop, on behalf of the university and the football team, accepted an invitation to play in the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. This was the first bowl game in South Alabama football history. As a result, in their 5th year of competition, and their 2nd of bowl eligibility, South Alabama broke Florida Atlantic's record and became the youngest FBS team to make a bowl game. In the first Camellia Bowl pit the Jaguars and Bowling Green. South Alabama lost their first bowl game 33–28.

The 2015 South Alabama Jaguars football team was led by seventh-year head coach Joey Jones and played their home games at Ladd–Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Jaguars were members of the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in Sun Belt play to finish in a five-way tie for fifth place.

In 2016, South Alabama recorded its first victory over an SEC opponent when it defeated Mississippi State by a score of 21–20 the opening weekend of the season. The victory was also USA's first over a Power 5 opponent. South Alabama stunned No. 19 San Diego State 42–24 for their first win over a ranked opponent. The Jaguars would go on to finish the season with a 6–7 record, losing to Air Force in the Arizona Bowl.

It was announced on November 20, 2017, Joey Jones would step down as coach at the end of the 2017 season.

Steve Campbell era (2018–2020)

Coach Steve Campbell

On December 7, 2017, Steve Campbell, formerly head coach of Central Arkansas, would be the new coach for South Alabama football in 2018. Campbell coached for 3 seasons at South Alabama and went 3–9, 2–10, and 4–7 in those seasons. He was fired by the University at the end of the 2020 season after a 29–0 loss to rival Troy and finished with a 9–26 record in his time with the Jaguars.

Kane Wommack era (2021–2023)

On December 12, 2020, Kane Wommack, the defensive coordinator at Indiana and former defensive coordinator at South Alabama, was named the head coach of the Jaguars football program. In his first season with the Jaguars, Wommack went 5–7 overall and 2–6 in conference play. In his second season as the head coach, Wommack led the team to a 10–2 record (7-1 in conference play) and their first bowl game since the Joey Jones era. In his third season as the head coach, Wommack led the team to a 7–6 (4–4 in conference play) and their first bowl game win in program history. He was hired by Alabama as their defensive coordinator on January 15, 2024.

Major Applewhite era (2024–present)

On January 18, 2024, Major Applewhite, former head coach of Houston and offensive coordinator at South Alabama, was named as the new head coach for the Jaguars.