Jacksonville, AL – Rodriguez didn’t panic at 0-3, and seventh consecutive victory pushes Jax State to the verge of a berth in the CUSA title game, with the right to host it.
By: Joe Medley
For coaches around the country agonizing for answers amid momentary disappointment, Rich Rodriguez has a suggestion.
For fans taking to social media and message boards to wring hands, panic and/or trash coaches and players, Rodriguez has an answer.
It’s an answer everyone might consider, anyway.
Do nothing different.
No, really. Do you, boo, and let others worry about washing their linens later.
That’s pretty much what Rodriguez did after Jacksonville State’s 0-3 start to his third season as the Gamecocks’ head coach. He stayed the course.
As of Jax State’s seventh consecutive win Saturday, a 34-31 nerve-racker against Florida International, the Gamecocks stand alone atop Conference USA They face the very real prospect of hosting the conference championship.
Don’t believe Rodriguez treated Jax State’s early-season woes with a hard-edged pfft?
Well, hear the sound of tongue-in-cheek pragmatism as it debate dunks on tail-between-legs populism.
“I can remember sitting here after the third loss,” Rodriguez said during Saturday’s postgame news conference. “That was at Eastern Michigan but we thought, ‘Geez, what’s wrong? What’s happening?’ Trust me, you think I had a lot of thoughts, like I didn’t evaluate everything. I do that anyway, win or lose.
“I did a hard look at everything we were doing, and I came back and said, ‘Gee whiz, you know what? We’re doing the same thing we were doing when we were winning before. Just keep doing the same thing. Just, maybe, do it a little bit better.”
Indeed, the course of Jax State football after 0-3 looks a lot like it looked in Rodriguez’s first two seasons, both nine-win seasons.
Trajectory = upward.
The then-transitioning Gamecocks declared themselves champions of the ASUN in their final FCS season, finishing with the league’s best record even if ineligible to win the title.
The still-transitioning Gamecocks played their way into a bowl in their first FBS season and won it.
The transitioned Gamecocks now stand one victory away from earning a spot in the CUSA title game. They can earn the right to host the thing and win an actual FBS conference,
Bowl eligible, bowl schmeligible. That was last year’s breakthrough, and it was in the bag before mid-November.
In mid-September, everyone worried that Jax State had taken a step backward. Turns out, it was just a stumble.
It’s a victory for the RichRod way at Jax State, but it’s also a victory for reason over reactionaryism.
It brings to mind the Bob Newhart Saturday Night Live skit. The next the a loss or two compels the steps of administrators, fans and even coaches toward ledges … STOP IT!
The next time this coach has lost his fastball, or that coordinator must go … STOP IT!
The next time this quarterback is trash or that defense stinks … STOP IT!
If it’s worked, it just might just resume working, and Rodriguez didn’t even charge $5 for his advice.
Good talk.
Jax State 34, FIU 31
–Kickoff, 1 p.m.
–Jacksonville grad Ron Wiggins, who has been out this season with an injury, is dressed today and going through pregame warmups.
–Jax State wins toss, defers. FIU to receive opening kick.
FIRST QUARTER
–Touchback, FIU to start on its 25
QB Keyone Jenkins passes to 18 yards to Dean Patterson in the corner of the end zone, ruled catch and TD. under review. … Call reversed. … Jax State D gets the stop, and Alejandro Prado is on for a 36-yard field goal try … good at 9:02. Drive: 13 plays, 57 yards, 5:58. FIU 3, JAX STATE 0
–Fair catch, Jax State starts on its 25
Wiggins in the backfield at the back end of this drive, gets his first carry. Goes for a loss. … Garrison Ripp ties the game with a 31-yard field goal at 4:21. Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 4:43. JAX STATE 3, FIU 3
SECOND QUARTER
–Touchback, FIU starts on its 25
Devonte Lyons gashes Jax State’s left side for a 10-yard TD run. PAT good at 14:54. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:26. FIU 10, JAX STATE 3
–Fair catch, Jax State to start on its 25
Wiggins with runs of nine and 15 yards to FIU’s 13. … Sets up Tyler Huff’s 10-yard keeper for a TD through the left side. Rippa PAT is good at 11:16. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:38. JAX STATE 10, FIU 10
–C’Quan Jnopierre returns the kickoff to FIU’s 46
Jax State forces the day’s first punt.
–Flip Rudolph fair catch at Jax State’s 10
Jack Dawson on for his first punt of the day after officials wave off a DPI call, kick goes 38 yards.
–FIU starts at its 49 after a short return.
Jax State’s Zech Poyser recovers a Lyons fumble.
–Jax State starts at its 32.
Big Huff completion to Brock Rechsteiner, 35 yards on the catch and run. … Jax State goes for it on fourth and 11, and Huff hits Cam Vaughn for a first down at FIU’s 15. Flag down. Vaughn covered up in formation, so an ineligible receiver. Huff throws deep for Vaugh, flag, DPI on Hezekiah Masses, first down at FIU 24. … Tre Stewart with a 3-yard TD run at 4:44. Rippa PAT good. Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:27. JAX STATE 17, FIU 10
–Touchback, FIU starts on its 25.
Shomari Lawrence in with a 4-yard TD run up the middle at 1:47. Prado PAT is good. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:59. JAX STATE 17, FIU 17
–Fair catch, Jax State starts at its 25.
Rippa hits a 42-yard field goal as the half ends. Drive: 11 plays, 51 yards, 1:47. JAX STATE 20,FIU 17
THIRD QUARTER
–Fair catch, Jax State starts on its 25.
Jax State goes 3-out.
–FIU starts on its 26.
On fourth and two from Jax State’s 17, Jenkins keeps for two yards and a first down. … J-Rock Swain sacks Jenkins on third and five from Jax State’s 10, but Gamecocks called for defensive holding. First and goal at Jax State’s 5. … On third and goal from the 5, Jenkins sprints right, throws to Eric Rivers for a TD. Prado PAT is good at 7:37. Drive: 13 plays, 74, 6:20. FIU 24, JAX STATE 20
–Fair catch, and Jax State to start at its 25.
Jax State throws three passes, three incompletions. Punt pending.
–Fair catch, and FIU starts at its 28.
Jax State D forces 3-out, punt.
–Rudolph returns 21 yards to Jax State’s 39.
On third and nine at FIU’s 38, Eddie Walls III sacks Huff for a loss of nine. Jax State punts.
–Patterson fair catch at FIU 11.
Jax State forces a punt from the FIU 29.
FOURTH QUARTER
–Out of bounds, Jax State to start at its 40.
Huff throws to a wide-open Sean Brown, who broke uncovered down field for a 56-yard TD reception. Rippa’s PAT is good at 14:22. Drive: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:31. JAX STATE 27, FIU 24
–Touchback, FIU starts at its 25.
Double-reverse pass, and Jenkins finds a wide-open Antonio Ferguson for a 39-yard TD pass at 12:25. Prado PAT good. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:57. FIU 30, JAX STATE 27
–Jax State attempts a rare return, called for holding, will start at its 24 … one yard difference from a fair catch.
Stewart breaks a 56-yard TD run on fourth and 1. Rippa PAT is good at 9:55. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 2:23. JAX STATE 34, FIU 31
–Touchback, FIU starts at its 25.
Jax State forces a punt, starts on its 11.
–After a Jax State punt, FIU starts on its 18.
On fourth down and five from the FIU 23, Jenkins throws incomplete to the FIU sideline Fred Perry with the PBU with 1:49 to play.
FINAL: Jax State wins 34-31, takes sole possession of first place in CUSA because WKU lost to La. Tech.
