The University of Idaho has been playing football for more than 100 years. The University of South Alabama is going on six. If only college football was like wine and got better with age — but it’s not.
The Vandals’ week-five opponent is not your average six-year-old program. In its first five seasons, South Alabama went 31-21 — compared to conference foe Georgia State’s record of 10-35 in its first four seasons.
“That will be one of the tougher teams we play,” Idaho head coach Paul Petrino said of South Alabama. “A lot of people have them picked as the second-best team in the Sun Belt.”
In 2009, Joey Jones was hired by South Alabama to build its program from scratch. In his first three seasons, playing mostly FCS schools, the head coach led his team to a 23-4 record.
In 2012, South Alabama’s first season in the FBS and Sun Belt, Jones and his team faced some growing pains and finished 2-11. Last season, however, USA rebounded with a 6-6 season and was one win away from earning a share of the conference title.
“They were a good team last year, and we’ve studied them very hard,” Petrino said. “They’re very athletic and have a good recruiting base where they are — there is a lot of good talent down there.”
The Jaguars will have a new starting quarterback in 2014, and senior Brandon Bridge is the leading candidate. Bridge, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, was 29-of-66 for 398 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions last season.
Jones will have the luxury of surrounding his first-year starter with a wealth of talent — especially on the offensive line.
The offensive line returns four starters from last season, and welcomes back Melvin Meggs — who started earlier in his career, but missed last season with an injury. Leading the group will be tackles Chris May and Ucambre Williams, both of whom were selected to the preseason all-conference team.
The offense will also return its four leading receivers from a year ago. Shavarez Smith, Jereme Jones, Danny Woodson and Wes Saxton combined for 2,471 of the team’s 3,033 receiving yards.
In addition, University of Alabama transfer Marvin Shinn will be eligible to play this season. Coming out of high school, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver was ranked the nations 10th best wide out, according to rivals.com.
The defensive line wasn’t lucky like the offensive line. The unit lost four seniors who combined for 38 sacks last season. The team does return defensive end Jesse Kelley, who earned second-team all-conference honors.
The rest of South Alabama’s defense looks to be in good shape. The secondary returns three seniors, and linebacker Maleki Harris — another second-team all-conference member.
South Alabama started to gain confidence toward the end of last season. After a disappointing 3-6 start, the Jaguars won its final three games by a combined total of 104-39. With the potential of a high-powered offense and senior leaders on defense, its no wonder why some call them the second-best team in the conference.
“That’s our second home game and our second conference game,” Petrino said. “We just got find a way to get another home victory.”
Idaho will host the Jaguars in front of a dad’s weekend crowd Saturday, Sept. 27.