Jax State Picked to Win 2011 OVC Football Title
7/25/2011 8:00:00 AM | Football
NASHVILLE - For the third time in the past four seasons Jacksonville State University has been picked the favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference football race in a vote by the league head coaches and sports information directors.
The Gamecocks picked up 13 of the 18 first-place votes and received 123 points, which was 17 points ahead of second-place Murray State. The Racers received four first-place votes and were tabbed second in the poll (106). Eastern Kentucky (93) was picked third and defending champion Southeast Missouri (81) was picked fourth and received the remaining first-place vote. The poll is rounded out by Tennessee Tech (73), UT Martin (64), Eastern Illinois (57), Tennessee State (33) and Austin Peay (18).
Overall it marks the fourth time since Jacksonville State joined the OVC in 2003 that the Gamecocks have been tabbed the preseason favorites (JSU was also picked first in 2005, 2008 and 2010) and the Gamecocks claimed OVC Championships in 2003 and 2004.
The Gamecocks enter the 2011 season having been ranked in the football polls for 30 consecutive weeks, the longest such stretch in the school's 108-year football history.
Since joining the OVC in 2003, Jax State holds the highest winning percentage of all FCS teams. The Gamecocks have won 76.6 percent of their conference games, a 48-15 record, while Eastern Kentucky is second with a 70.6 all-time winning percentage in OVC play.
The Gamecocks had one of the most successful seasons in the school's Division I history in 2010, posting a 9-3 overall record and being ranked as high as No. 2 in the national polls. JSU also advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and hosted its first home playoff game in 18 years at the newly renovated Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium. The season started with the Gamecocks claiming one of the biggest wins in school history, a 49-48 double-overtime thriller at Ole Miss.
Five JSU players were named to the Preseason All-OVC team. Senior offensive tackle Odie Rush was the Gamecocks' lone offensive selection, while senior defensive linemen Monte Lewis and Jamison Wadley, senior linebacker Rodney Garrott and junior defensive back Keginald Harris were named to the Presesason All-OVC defense.
Lewis was tabbed the OVC Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year a season after registering 37 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks in 12 games.
Offensively, the team returns starting quarterback Marques Ivory, who threw for 2,248 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Backup quarterback and starting punter Coty Blanchard, who accounted for eight passing and two rushing scores last year on his way to OVC Freshman of the Year honors, also returns to the JSU backfield.
JSU head coach Jack Crowe also welcomes transfer running back Washaun Ealey to the squad from the University of Georgia. Ealey, who will be a junior for JSU in 2011, rushed for 1,528 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bulldogs.
Jacksonville State reports on Thursday, August 4, in preparation for the season opener against UT Martin on September 1.
The Gamecocks picked up 13 of the 18 first-place votes and received 123 points, which was 17 points ahead of second-place Murray State. The Racers received four first-place votes and were tabbed second in the poll (106). Eastern Kentucky (93) was picked third and defending champion Southeast Missouri (81) was picked fourth and received the remaining first-place vote. The poll is rounded out by Tennessee Tech (73), UT Martin (64), Eastern Illinois (57), Tennessee State (33) and Austin Peay (18).
Overall it marks the fourth time since Jacksonville State joined the OVC in 2003 that the Gamecocks have been tabbed the preseason favorites (JSU was also picked first in 2005, 2008 and 2010) and the Gamecocks claimed OVC Championships in 2003 and 2004.
The Gamecocks enter the 2011 season having been ranked in the football polls for 30 consecutive weeks, the longest such stretch in the school's 108-year football history.
Since joining the OVC in 2003, Jax State holds the highest winning percentage of all FCS teams. The Gamecocks have won 76.6 percent of their conference games, a 48-15 record, while Eastern Kentucky is second with a 70.6 all-time winning percentage in OVC play.
The Gamecocks had one of the most successful seasons in the school's Division I history in 2010, posting a 9-3 overall record and being ranked as high as No. 2 in the national polls. JSU also advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and hosted its first home playoff game in 18 years at the newly renovated Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium. The season started with the Gamecocks claiming one of the biggest wins in school history, a 49-48 double-overtime thriller at Ole Miss.
Five JSU players were named to the Preseason All-OVC team. Senior offensive tackle Odie Rush was the Gamecocks' lone offensive selection, while senior defensive linemen Monte Lewis and Jamison Wadley, senior linebacker Rodney Garrott and junior defensive back Keginald Harris were named to the Presesason All-OVC defense.
Lewis was tabbed the OVC Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year a season after registering 37 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks in 12 games.
Offensively, the team returns starting quarterback Marques Ivory, who threw for 2,248 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Backup quarterback and starting punter Coty Blanchard, who accounted for eight passing and two rushing scores last year on his way to OVC Freshman of the Year honors, also returns to the JSU backfield.
JSU head coach Jack Crowe also welcomes transfer running back Washaun Ealey to the squad from the University of Georgia. Ealey, who will be a junior for JSU in 2011, rushed for 1,528 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bulldogs.
Jacksonville State reports on Thursday, August 4, in preparation for the season opener against UT Martin on September 1.
| Order of Finish | Pts | |
| 1. | Jacksonville State (13) | 123 |
| 2. | Murray State (4) | 106 |
| 3. | Eastern Kentucky | 93 |
| 4. | Southeast Missouri (1) | 81 |
| 5. | Tennessee Tech | 73 |
| 6. | UT Martin | 64 |
| 7. | Eastern Illinois | 57 |
| 8. | Tennessee State | 33 |
| 9. | Austin Peay | 18 |
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