Stump Mitchell loves JSU fans "giving us the finger"

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Southern University head football coach Stump Mitchell said he's hoping for a big home crowd this Saturday for Jackson State.

Mitchell wants the atmosphere to besimilarto lastseason's meeting between the two, a game the Tigers stole in the closing moments 49-45 in Jackson.

"I don't think our fans will be giving them the finger, like their fans gave us," Mitchell said. "But, I love that. I love them giving us the finger. It reminded me of the NFL. It was awesome."

The coach believes that kind of intensity makes the matchup exciting. And, while Grambling has obviously always been Southern's top rival,many Jaguar fans believe the series with JSUis the nastiest.

"I sense great football. I sense football at it's highest level," Mitchell added.

Last year's contest drew over 42,000 fans to Veterans Memorial Stadium. And, while only 9,200 showed up at AW Mumford Stadium for Southern's home opening 21-6 triumph over Alabama A&M, Jaguar fans were clustered around the ticket offense Tuesday afternoon buying their seats.

Christopher Jones, Southern's sports information director, said sales have indeed been brisk. This will be the first time since 2007 the two team schoolshave met in Mumford, with former SU Athletic DirectorGreg Lafleur moving a pair of the games to Jackson, in an attempt to raise more money for the Jaguarprogram.

"If you thought last weekend was special, this week will be outstanding. We need the community in the stands. We need them in the stadium," Mitchell said.

The second-year coach continued to state what has been obvious...Southern's offensive strength is throwing the football. Sophomore quarterback Dray Joseph torched the Alabama A&M secondary for 308 yards passing and 3 TDs last weekend.

On the flip side, the Jaguars have struggled badly trying to run the ball,gaining a measly 26 yards rushing on just 22 attemptsversus the Bulldogs.

"The problem with the running game is the same thing that's good in the passing game. That's the offensive line," Mitchell explained.

Mitchell said while Southern has excelled in pass protection, the team has been unable to create seams needed for the running backs. Though he's a former NFLback himself and has always stressed rushing the ball, Mitchell has no problem winning games with an air attack.

"I'm okay. As long as we win, I don't care how we get it done. I think everyone knows we have some of the best receivers in the conference," Mitchell added.

He likewise praised the play of senior defensive back Demetric Rodgers. He said Rodgers has made a tremendous turnaround from last season, when Mitchell initially yanked his scholarship. The coach said Rodgers has paid his own way at Southern andisdoing very well, after "playing hisown game" in 2010.