Jacksonville St.entering new era against MSU

By By Danny P. Smith / special to The Star
Sept. 14, 2002
STARKVILLE Jacksonville State football coach Jack Crowe has called this a "unique week and football game" for his program.
Saturday's game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs will be the first time the Gamecocks have ever played against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference.
Crowe has found himself working on the mental state of his squad more this week than anything else.
The Bulldogs do not want to take that challenge lightly. All they have to do is remember last year's 21-9 homecoming loss to Troy State and know that any team is capable of pulling off a big victory.
The two teams will meet at Davis-Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Two weeks ago, Jacksonville State squeaked passed Alabama A&M 20-17, and Mississippi State lost to nationally-ranked Oregon 36-15. Both had an open date last week.
Crowe expects the Bulldogs to be pumped up to defend their home turf after losing to the Ducks.
Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill respects what the Gamecocks have in the way of players, including the running backs, quarterback and receivers.
Jacksonville State running backs Rondy Rogers and Kory Chapman combined for 168 yards rushing in the win over Alabama A&M. Chapman, who had 70 of those yards, is a native of Batesville and attended Northwest Community College in Senatobia.
The Gamecocks used a two-quarterback system in the game with returning starter Reggie Stancil and backup Anthony Mayo passing for 132 total yards.
It was the Jacksonville defense that was the most impressive against Alabama A&M as the unit only gave up 27 yards passing. The Bulldogs were able to collect 192 yards through the air against Oregon and would like to build on that against the Gamecocks.
The Bulldogs should get a shot in the arm with the return of Fant behind the center. Fant, who passed for 1,352 yards last season, had to sit out the Oregon game due to a one-game suspension by the NCAA.
When Crowe thinks about players like MSU's Fant and Dontae Walker on offense and Mario Haggan and Josh Morgan on defense, he realizes this is not just another opponent.