We are on our way back on the bus from Jacksonville State.
I wish I had better news to pass along but the Redhawks dropped a 29-27 heartbreaker to the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State scored the winning touchdown on a 17-yard pass play with 11-seconds to play.
SEMO had taken a 27-22 lead with 4:06 to play on a Henry Harris Touchdown Run.
I had a chance to talk to Harris and quarterback Matt Scheible after the game and both were down but still optimistic about their chances in the playoffs.
At the worst, the Redhawks will share the OVC title and if Jacksonville State loses to Tennessee Tech next weekend they will win it outright. The playoff bids will come out next Sunday.
The fans on the bus are a little down but still positive about the playoffs.
Thanks for listening, time for me to get some rest.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
One more Quarter to go
What a game! You can feel the intensity all the way up to the press box. SEMO leading 14-13 to start the 4th quarter.
A great touchdown run by Matt Scheible helped put the Redhawks ahead.
Jacksonville State just took the lead on short td run and failed on two point coversion.
Score is now Jax State 19-14.
This may be my final blog for a while as I prepare to head down to the field to get post game.
I will have more reaction later on bus ride.
A great touchdown run by Matt Scheible helped put the Redhawks ahead.
Jacksonville State just took the lead on short td run and failed on two point coversion.
Score is now Jax State 19-14.
This may be my final blog for a while as I prepare to head down to the field to get post game.
I will have more reaction later on bus ride.
Game of big plays so far
It's halftime with Jacksonville State winning 10-7. So far it's been a game of missed opportunties for both teams.
Turnovers and bad passes have cost Jacksonville State while a couple of dropped passes really hurt SEMO on their final drive before halftime.
The Redhawks have come up big in the 2nd half all season, we'll see if they can do it again!
Turnovers and bad passes have cost Jacksonville State while a couple of dropped passes really hurt SEMO on their final drive before halftime.
The Redhawks have come up big in the 2nd half all season, we'll see if they can do it again!
Minutes from Kick off
We are only about 5-minutes from kick off. Beautiful stadium in Jacksonville.
It holds well over 20-thousand but I was told only about 10-15 thousand expected, folks from Jacksonville State tell me with Auburn and Alabama playing around same time it slows down crowd.
I bet the SEMO fans in attendance will make their fair share of noise.
It it is quite a site for an Ohio Valley Conference football game, especially one with a share of the title on the line.
The press box is amazing. Several stories high equipped with state of the art facilities across the board.
Should be fun to watch!
It holds well over 20-thousand but I was told only about 10-15 thousand expected, folks from Jacksonville State tell me with Auburn and Alabama playing around same time it slows down crowd.
I bet the SEMO fans in attendance will make their fair share of noise.
It it is quite a site for an Ohio Valley Conference football game, especially one with a share of the title on the line.
The press box is amazing. Several stories high equipped with state of the art facilities across the board.
Should be fun to watch!
Almost Kick Off
Were on the bus and on our way to Jacksonville State.
The Redhawks and Gamecocks will kick off in about two hours.
Many of the SEMO fans are dressed in Red and Black and some of the students have their faces painted and are carrying signs of encouragement.
You couldn't pick a better day for football with temperatures in the 70's.
The Jacksonville State football stadium holds over 20-thousand and apparently the fans love to tailgate. It should make for a great College football game!
The Redhawks and Gamecocks will kick off in about two hours.
Many of the SEMO fans are dressed in Red and Black and some of the students have their faces painted and are carrying signs of encouragement.
You couldn't pick a better day for football with temperatures in the 70's.
The Jacksonville State football stadium holds over 20-thousand and apparently the fans love to tailgate. It should make for a great College football game!
Game day has arrived for Redhawlks
As I sit in my hotel room waiting for kick off at Jacksonville State, I can only imagine the anticipation for the Redhawks players.
Sure, SEMO has already clinced a share of the OVC Championship and all but wrapped up a bid to the playoffs, but a win over Jacksonville State would be a perfect end to a remarkable turn-a-round season.
Since I have plenty of time on my hands before the bus leaves for the stadium, here are my four keys to victory:
1. A fast start: I think this will be very important in a big game before a large crowd on the road. If SEMO falls behind early and the home fans really get into it, this could be trouble, Then again Southeast was way behind at SIU heading into the 4th quarter and stormed back to win.
2. Turnovers: SEMO has been outstanding in this department, and when they have turned the ball over the defense has risen to the occasion. This is something coach Tony Samuel has stressed all year and it will be critical this afternoon.
3. The Rushing game: This has been SEMO'S bread and butter all season long and I don't seem them getting away from it today. It will be interesting to see how Jacksonville State tries to slow down Henry Harris and Matt Scheible. One thing the Redhawks can do is wear you down and beat you in the 4th Quarter.
4. Defense: The Southest Defense has quietly been very good and consisent all season long. The guys will have their work cut out today against an explosive Gamecocks offense that scored 49-points in a double overtime win at Ole Miss.
A couple of things are certain, this will be a very physical and emotional game.
And the bus ride back to Cape will be a lot more fun with a Redhawks victory.
A
Sure, SEMO has already clinced a share of the OVC Championship and all but wrapped up a bid to the playoffs, but a win over Jacksonville State would be a perfect end to a remarkable turn-a-round season.
Since I have plenty of time on my hands before the bus leaves for the stadium, here are my four keys to victory:
1. A fast start: I think this will be very important in a big game before a large crowd on the road. If SEMO falls behind early and the home fans really get into it, this could be trouble, Then again Southeast was way behind at SIU heading into the 4th quarter and stormed back to win.
2. Turnovers: SEMO has been outstanding in this department, and when they have turned the ball over the defense has risen to the occasion. This is something coach Tony Samuel has stressed all year and it will be critical this afternoon.
3. The Rushing game: This has been SEMO'S bread and butter all season long and I don't seem them getting away from it today. It will be interesting to see how Jacksonville State tries to slow down Henry Harris and Matt Scheible. One thing the Redhawks can do is wear you down and beat you in the 4th Quarter.
4. Defense: The Southest Defense has quietly been very good and consisent all season long. The guys will have their work cut out today against an explosive Gamecocks offense that scored 49-points in a double overtime win at Ole Miss.
A couple of things are certain, this will be a very physical and emotional game.
And the bus ride back to Cape will be a lot more fun with a Redhawks victory.
A
Friday, November 12, 2010
An inside perspective on big game
It's good to be in town for the big SEMO at Jacksonville State game.
I had the good fortune of driving up on the fan bus with some of the players parents.
During one stop, we started talking about the Redhawks chances tomorrow.
Some of the parents said they thought Eastern Kentucky beating Jacksonville State was a big metal lift for SEMO.
They said the players seemed fairly confident before that game, but really confident afterwards that they could win at Jacksonville.
I thought that was an interesting perspective and it will be even more interesting to see how it plays out on the field.
Don't know if you knew this, but this marks the 2nd time Southeast and Jacksonville State have played for the OVC title. The Gamecocks won the title game 22-17 in 2003 to earn a bid to the playoffs.
No doubht the Redhawks will look to turn the tables Saturday.
I had the good fortune of driving up on the fan bus with some of the players parents.
During one stop, we started talking about the Redhawks chances tomorrow.
Some of the parents said they thought Eastern Kentucky beating Jacksonville State was a big metal lift for SEMO.
They said the players seemed fairly confident before that game, but really confident afterwards that they could win at Jacksonville.
I thought that was an interesting perspective and it will be even more interesting to see how it plays out on the field.
Don't know if you knew this, but this marks the 2nd time Southeast and Jacksonville State have played for the OVC title. The Gamecocks won the title game 22-17 in 2003 to earn a bid to the playoffs.
No doubht the Redhawks will look to turn the tables Saturday.
A bus ride to remember
As the final miles wind down on our 8-hour bus ride to Jacksonville State, I couldn't have met a nicer and more interesting group.
The trip was filled with good conversation, good movies and some trivia questions thrown in to keep things interesting.
Trivia aside, here are some of things I have learned on my way to Alabama.
A couple of the SEMO employees on the bus have worked with SEMO football stand outs Henry "H2" Harris and Joshua "JJ" Jackson. Both guys got great reports. By the way Center Sean Middleton worked as a studio camera operator at KFVS and was great to work with as well.
Also on the bus I learned of a man who provides the team with the little Debbie Snack Cakes, another guy who is on the chain gang at Houck stadium marking first downs and finally a couple of families who traveled from the West Coast to watch their sons play in this huge OVC game.
It has been a lot of fun and the game hasn't even started yet.
The trip was filled with good conversation, good movies and some trivia questions thrown in to keep things interesting.
Trivia aside, here are some of things I have learned on my way to Alabama.
A couple of the SEMO employees on the bus have worked with SEMO football stand outs Henry "H2" Harris and Joshua "JJ" Jackson. Both guys got great reports. By the way Center Sean Middleton worked as a studio camera operator at KFVS and was great to work with as well.
Also on the bus I learned of a man who provides the team with the little Debbie Snack Cakes, another guy who is on the chain gang at Houck stadium marking first downs and finally a couple of families who traveled from the West Coast to watch their sons play in this huge OVC game.
It has been a lot of fun and the game hasn't even started yet.
A working Lunch with the Redhawks
The Redhawks fan bus rolls on, we are now a little over two hours away from Jacksonville State.
I just finished a great lunch with SEMO Athletic Director John Shafer.
It's amazing how much you can learn in 45-minutes.
Here's just a couple of the cool tidbits I picked up on from Mr. Shafer.
He worked in the Geogia Bulldogs Athletic Department when the great Herschel Walker was a Freshman running back. Shafer told me Walker used to baby sit his son and would do up to 1-thousand push ups a day. If this dosen't surprise you this might----Walker would do those push ups with his son sitting on his back while watching Soap Operas. Apparently, Herschel is a big fans of Soaps.
Schafer also informed me that SEMO Basketball coach Dickey Nutt is a golfing Buddy with Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Linebacker Dick Butkus.
I could only imagine what I would learn over dinner.
I just finished a great lunch with SEMO Athletic Director John Shafer.
It's amazing how much you can learn in 45-minutes.
Here's just a couple of the cool tidbits I picked up on from Mr. Shafer.
He worked in the Geogia Bulldogs Athletic Department when the great Herschel Walker was a Freshman running back. Shafer told me Walker used to baby sit his son and would do up to 1-thousand push ups a day. If this dosen't surprise you this might----Walker would do those push ups with his son sitting on his back while watching Soap Operas. Apparently, Herschel is a big fans of Soaps.
Schafer also informed me that SEMO Basketball coach Dickey Nutt is a golfing Buddy with Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Linebacker Dick Butkus.
I could only imagine what I would learn over dinner.
Jacksonville State here we come
Hello friends, the bus trip continues to Jacksonville State. We are now passing through Nashville, Tennessee with about 3-4 hours of drive time left.
Our 33-person crew includes SEMO Athletic Director John Shafer, SEMO ticket manager Joyce Penny and assistant ticket manager Marcia Hendrix.
We also have parents of SEMO players, Southeast students and numerous fans.
To pass the time we are watching the Movie "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock about NFL player Michael Oher.
There is a lot of anticipation about tomorrows game, I could only imagine what kind of ride we will have on the way back if the Redhawks win the OVC Title outright!
I have been told SEMO will practice later this afternoon. I'll have more on this later on.
Sorry, got to run were getting to stop to eat.
Our 33-person crew includes SEMO Athletic Director John Shafer, SEMO ticket manager Joyce Penny and assistant ticket manager Marcia Hendrix.
We also have parents of SEMO players, Southeast students and numerous fans.
To pass the time we are watching the Movie "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock about NFL player Michael Oher.
There is a lot of anticipation about tomorrows game, I could only imagine what kind of ride we will have on the way back if the Redhawks win the OVC Title outright!
I have been told SEMO will practice later this afternoon. I'll have more on this later on.
Sorry, got to run were getting to stop to eat.
On my way to Jacksonville State
Hello all, we are on our way via bus to Jacksonville State to watch the SEMO vs. Jacksonville State game for the Ohio Valley Conference Title.
I joined over thirty Redhawks fans this morning as we departed the Show Me Center at 8:00am.
The drive should take about 7-8 hours. We will eat in Murphysboro and continue on from there. So far a great group pumped up for the big game!!!
I joined over thirty Redhawks fans this morning as we departed the Show Me Center at 8:00am.
The drive should take about 7-8 hours. We will eat in Murphysboro and continue on from there. So far a great group pumped up for the big game!!!
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