South Alabama Jaguars football

The South Alabama Jaguars football program, established in 2009, will be a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I FBS in 2012.

History
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, former University of Alabama and Atlanta Falcons receiver, as the first head football coach in the university's history. The team currently plays its home games in Ladd Peebles Stadium.

2009
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.

2010
After playing a 7-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.

2011
The 2011 season marked the beginning of South Alabama's 2-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 be 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 Jaguar's game against North Carolina State on Sept. 17 was aired on ESPN3. The Jaguars finished the season 6-4.

2012
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.

2013
The South Alabama Jaguars will have full Division I FBS status for the 2013-14 season. The Jaguars will remain in the Sun Belt Conference and will compete in the East Division.

Year-by-year results

 * Statistics correct as of the end of the 2011-12 college football season

#5
A tradition that started in South Alabama's second season, following the death of running back Anthony Mostella, Coach Joey Jones selects a senior that "earned it" would be given Mostella's #5 jersey for the season. A fan favorite, Mostella was known for his leadership and hard work ethic. Coach Joey Jones wanted to pay respect to Mostella by giving his #5 jersey to a senior each season that displayed the leadership skills and work ethic that Mostella portrayed.

Homecoming
With the establishment of the football team Homecoming was officially moved to the fall where it had previously supported the school's varsity basketball team.

An attempt by the students of the University to entice a grassroots movement for support of NCAA football in 2006 led to multiple acts of temporary and non destructive vandalism across the campus organized in a single night dubbed by the organizing students as "viva la resistance." Since the Jaguar football team was established homecoming has featured an event called "junk the jungle," in which toilet paper and streamers are used to cover all the trees in the schools central traffic circle. It can only be assumed that this is done in remembrance of those student pranksters as this is identical to one of the acts they committed. Other acts committed that night included sidewalk chalk and window painting of various campus buildings and walkways featuring messages such as "NCAA football," "We Want Football," and drawing images of footballs. The schools track field was also spray painted with the letters "NCAA," in large characters. The individual pranks were conducted by small teams where the final act of "junking the jungle," included all the students invited to participate.

First Down Chant
After most first down gains by the South Alabama Jaguars' football team, the Public Address announcer typically booms out: "Annnnd that's another South Alabama..." followed by thousands of fans rising from the Ladd-Peebles Stadium bleachers with their forefingers pointing upward in the air, completing the sentence loudly with the words: "FIRST DOWN!!!". This is known as "the first down" chant to most Jaguars football fans.

Ladd Peebles Stadium
Ladd Peebles Stadium as been home to the South Alabama Jaguars football program since it was established in 2009. Ladd Peebles has been a key venue in Mobile's history. Open in 1948, the first event held inside the stadium was a college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Vanderbilt Commodores on October 2, 1948. The stadium also lives in Alabama Crimson Tide football folklore as the site of legendary head coach Bear Bryant first game in charge of the Crimson Tide. Ladd Peebles has hosted various other events, from concerts and boxing matches to festivals, and has a present full-capacity of 50,000 seats.

Conference affiliation

 * 2009–10: NCAA unclassified
 * 2011–12: I-FCS Independent (transitioning to FBS)
 * 2013–future: Sun Belt Conference