Alabama State head football coach
Reggie Barlow addressed the media on the SWAC Weekly Coaches Teleconference reflecting on last Saturday's 37-34 home loss to Jackson State.
The Hornets (4-3, 4-2) and Tigers (3-4, 3-2) combined for more than 950 total yards and 10 touchdowns, as the deciding score was made on a field-goal on the final play of Alabama State's final game at Cramton Bowl.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Barlow said. “I have so much respect for Coach (Rick) Comegy and Jackson State. They're always physical and tough. Love, love, love the way they play the game of football. We were able to score a lot of points and have some success offensively, which is good and made some plays. But, we just didn't do well on defense. We had guys lining up wrong, and (Jackson State) had guys running free. (Offensive Coordinator Derrick) McCall did a good job of keeping us off balance and allowing his team and his guys to make plays.”
Barlow was very candid when asked about the decision to punt the ball on 4
th and 1 from the Jackson State 47-yard line with 1:39 remaining in the game.
“It came down to (the fact that) Jackson State has two of the bigger defensive tackles that you want to see that you want to see in college football,” Barlow said. “Our center and our guards are not very big. I just felt like one – even though it's fourth and inches, there's a 50/50 chance that you could get it or not get it. I didn't like those numbers. I prefer the 70/30 or 80/20-type decisions. Then, if you look at the numbers, there's a 40 percent chance (that) if you punt the ball, (and) if you're blessed they get on their five or 10 (yard line), worse-case, they get it on their 20 and they still have to drive at least 60 yards or so to get a field goal. With a minute and 30 (seconds to go), I played the numbers that it wouldn't happen. They say numbers don't lie – it lied then; but we made that decision, and I still believe it was the right decision. We didn't want to give them the short field if we didn't get it on fourth down. If we didn't get it, now they're right there at midfield. Obviously, we'd had a little problem stopping them, and that was why we made the decision, and we believe it was the right one.”
Barlow was also asked to reflect on the Hornets' final game at Cramton Bowl, the full season home venue for ASU since 1973.
“They've upgraded that facility. It's really nice; I've always thought it was nice,” Barlow said of the venue. “Bama State has had a lot of great, great victories there. Unfortunately, we didn't close it out the right way. I grew up here in Montgomery, so I might have played more games there than a lot of folks…I played their as a high school athlete (at Lanier High School), I played their at Bama State, and I've coached there for the last six years, so I've got tons and tons of memories in that stadium. Kudos to the city for allowing us to play there and our fans to tailgate…It's been great. They've really upgraded the facility. It's really nice. There's a lot of memories there. (With) our new stadium, and us transitioning over here, it is an unbelievable facility. Our new stadium is a luxury stadium. Sometimes when you leave one place and have to go to another one, the fact that you're going somewhere you perceive is a little bit nicer makes it a little bit easier.”
This week is the first open date for the Hornets after playing seven straight weeks to open the season. Barlow said his team would use the time to focus on improving for the stretch run of the season.
“We have the open week this week, and an opportunity to get some work in. We need it in all three phases. We're going to use this time to get better and get physical. I still like our team. We've got some solid players. We're just not playing well as a team and on defense and we've got to get it cleaned up.”
The Hornets will practice Tuesday at 6 a.m., Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.
Wenzig earns National Honors: K/P
Bobby Wenzig earned the FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week, announced by the Sports Network.
Wenzig (JR, K/P,6-2/185, San Diego, Ca.) averaged a career-best 52 yards on six punts, with three of at least 50 yards, including a long of 67 yards, and three downed inside the 20. He ranks No. 2 in the FCS, averaging 47 yards per punt through seven games.
NOTABLES vs. JACKSON STATE:
• Alabama State had a streak of 14 straight wins when scoring at least 30 points end. It was the first loss when scoring at least 30 in a game since losing 64-58 in triple overtime to Tuskegee in the 2007 Turkey Day Classic. The Hornets are 34-5 since 2003 when scoring at least 30.
• QB
Greg Jenkins tied a career high with his seventh rushing touchdown of the season.
• RB
Isaiah Crowell now has a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns this season, the first Hornet with double-digit rushing touchdowns since Keldrick Willams' 17 rushing TDs in 2004.
• WR
Landon Jones tied a career high with five receptions and set a career high with 69 receiving yards.
• WR
T.C. McWilliams is now in sole possession of eighth place in ASU history in receiving touchdowns with 15, breaking a tie with O.L. Actwood (1972-75).
• WR
DeMario Bell had career highs in receptions (two) and receiving yards (76).
• LB
Brandon Slater made his first career interception and scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter.
