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Team: South Alabama Jaguars
Conference: Sun Belt Conference
Home Games: Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Head Coach: Joel Erdman
Bowl Games: Camellia Bowl, Arizona Bowl
Rivals: Troy University
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Despite being a brand-new football program, the South Alabama Jaguars came out running and haven't let up since. They began playing in 2009 as an unclassified team, with plans to be fully transitioned to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) by 2013. Joey Jones was the first head coach, and the Jaguars' first season was undefeated. In 2011, the Jaguars began their transition to the NCAA and had a successful 6–4 season, with their matchups against West Alabama and
North Carolina State
televised on ESPN3. In 2013, the team's first year as full members of the NCAA Division I-FBS and the
Sun Belt Conference
, the Jaguars had a season record of 6–6 overall and 4–3 in Sunbelt Conference games. In 2014, the Jaguars became the youngest FBS team to play in a bowl game. The team beat SEC member
Mississippi State
in 2016 and ended the season playing at the
Arizona Bowl
. Seasons 2017 and 2018 were a bit of a struggle, but 2019 promises to be an exciting year with head coach Joel Erdman, who is in his second year at South Alabama. Get your South Alabama Jaguars football tickets at StubHub now and come join your fellow fans at the Ladd–Peebles Stadium.
''South Alabama first fielded a football team in 2009 as an independent team with plans to fully transition to the Sun Belt Conference by 2013. The Jaguars faced Sun Belt teams in 2012 but were not eligible for the conference title game or any bowl games. The Jaguars' 2013 season was their first year as fully eligible members in the Sun Belt Conference, and they finished the season with a record of 4–3 in conference play.'
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South Alabama is not afraid of challenges as the team's 2019 schedule demonstrates. The Jaguars will face seven opponents that went to bowl games last year and four teams that won their bowls. This schedule also has two conference champions, two title game qualifiers and a Big Ten team that won four of their last six games the previous season. The Jaguars will face
Nebraska
on August 31,
Jackson State
on September 7,
Memphis
on September 14,
UAB
on September 21,
ULM
on September 28,
Georgia Southern
on October 3,
Troy
on October 16,
Appalachian State
on October 26,
Texas State
on November 9,
Louisiana
on November 16,
Georgia State
on November 23 and
Arkansas State
on November 29.
''The South Alabama Jaguars play at the Ladd-Peebles stadium. This stadium was built in 1948 and is multi-purpose. It has hosted the Senior Bowl since 1951 as well as other types of events. You can see concerts, trade shows and conventions at this 33,471-seat venue. Fans enjoy tailgating before South Alabama Jaguars football games, and the stadium fills with impressive team spirit when you attend in person.'
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The Jaguars have appeared in two bowl games in their short history. The Jaguars played in the
Camellia Bowl
in 2014 against
Bowling Green
with a score of 28–33. The team played the
Air Force Falcons
in the Arizona Bowl in 2015 for a score of 21–45.
''Since the Jaguars are a fairly young team, they do not have a storied rivalry history with anyone. However, they do play a rivalry series with Troy in the “ ”Battle for the Belt.“ ” Both teams are in-state and Sun Belt rivals. Their first meeting was in 2012, and their record is 3–3 through 2018.'