The last time Jacksonville State visited Finley Stadium, in 2008, the Gamecocks were led by a former Southeastern Conference quarterback.
Saturday, when 10th-ranked JSU (1-0) plays the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (0-1) there again, it will be the No. 25 Mocs with the former SEC QB.
Former Gamecocks star Ryan Perrilloux was dismissed from LSU for a multitude of off-the-field issues, while UTC’s B.J. Coleman left Tennessee in search of playing time. Both quarterbacks flourished in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Coleman has thrown for 5,518 yards, with 44 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, in his 23 starts at UTC. His impact in the locker room, at practice and in the community has been equally significant.
“I know people at Chattanooga are excited because they probably got the best quarterback in the state of Tennessee, maybe even including the Titans,” JSU coach Jack Crowe said. “It’s more than just his talent — he’s classy and he carries the mantle well of what a quarterback of his talent represents.”
In two seasons at JSU (2008-09), Perrilloux threw for a combined 4,668 yards and tossed 42 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. He also ran for 811 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Crowe is known for giving second chances to players who’ve made mistakes at other schools, as he did with Perrilloux and as he did this offseason with Georgia running back Washaun Ealey and Ole Miss linebacker Clarence Jackson.
“You know, you have to separate environment and circumstance from the person, and you’re not always right in doing it,” Crowe said. “But when you get it right … I mean, Ryan is on the practice squad for the [New York] Giants, and my guess is he’ll be in that league a long time.”
Crowe said “it’s a fulfilling thing” to see a player mature and develop.
“I can tell you that once they become integrated, they raise the level of the players around them, if they’ve got character,” he said. “We were a better program after [Perrilloux] left than we were before he got here.”
UTC coach Russ Huesman has said he won’t take transfers with baggage, regardless of their credentials. And there’s only so many transfers he’s willing to sign, period.
“There’s a big tipping point, and the tipping point is how it affects the chemistry on your football team,” Huesman said.
UTC has four former SEC players on its roster, including starters Coleman and right guard Kevin Revis, who both came from UT.
Ealey had 13 carries for 41 yards and a 43-yard touchdown reception in JSU’s 24-23 come-from-behind win against UT-Martin last week. Jackson, meanwhile, has not yet been cleared to play by the NCAA and may not be available Saturday.
“This is a different environment than UGA … but I’m adjusting to it pretty well,” Ealey said. “Everybody puts their pants on the same way, and I don’t think I’m better than anybody else because I come from an SEC school.”
Extra points
The Southern Conference announced Thursday that local public television station WTCI-TV has joined the SoCon Sports Network and will carry the league’s eight football TV games this fall. … UTC has sold 2,662 season tickets, 14 shy of the school record.