Jacksonville, AL – Third-year Gamecocks head coach Rich Rodriguez talks after Saturday’s practice on Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium.
Jacksonville State University’s football team is gearing up for the upcoming season, and third-year Gamecocks head coach Rich Rodriguez shared insights after their first practice on the new turf field. Rodriguez was excited about the opportunity to finally get his team on the field in the stadium, stating, “First practice on the new turf, really nice…it looks great, feels great, and we got some good work done.”
Coach Rodriguez emphasized the importance of utilizing these next 12 days effectively before their first game. When discussing the offense, he acknowledged that while the team knows their assignments, consistency remains a key area of focus. “If you have one guy screw up on offense, it’ll screw up the whole play,” he noted. The goal over the coming days is to fine-tune schematics and ensure everyone is aligned to avoid setbacks.
Defensively, Rodriguez highlighted the need to eliminate mistakes that lead to big plays, stressing the importance of consistency on both sides of the ball. The Gamecocks practiced against scout teams during the day, and the coach pointed out areas of improvement on both offense and defense that will be addressed before game day.
Special teams will also see a sharpened focus in the final stretch. Rodriguez confirmed that while the team has covered all special teams units, the intensity and execution levels must rise in the coming days.
As Rodriguez and the Gamecocks continue preparations, fans and supporters eagerly await their first game, confident that the team will be ready to hit the ground running.
