2015 Southern Heritage Classic

[kwc]

From the Commercial Appeal:

 

Jackson State-Tennessee State shaping up as a Classic homecoming

 

Pete Wickham

5:08 PM, Sep 10, 2015

 

September 10, 2015 - Keith Wilson, with Professional Field Services, sprays a fresh coat of white paint onto the Souther Heritage Classic logo at the Liberty Bowl after a Wednesday rain storm washed away some of the paint. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

 

 

For 17 Tennessee State and Jackson State players, Saturday’s Southern Heritage Classic will be a homecoming. For JSU safety Derrick Bobo, the 6 p.m. game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium will be homecoming times two.

 

The redshirt junior was a high school star at Whitehaven, and one of six former standouts from the school on the two rosters for the 26th SHC. He signed with the University of Memphis, but before last season transferred to Jackson State. However, a week before the opener started, he tore the meniscus in his left knee and missed the entire season.

 

He doesn’t look back at the decision to leave the Memphis Tigers. “It was what was best for me and my family,†he said. “Right now I’m just blessed. Around this time last year I was sitting in my room suffering, thinking how can I help team and knowing I had to heal first.â€

 

He got his first college game action Saturday night in JSU’s 70-14 loss at Middle Tennessee State. The scoreboard wasn’t pretty, but he’ll take the stat line that had him making six tackles on the night.

 

“We had a couple of stops (late in the first half) and thought we might be able to get closer,†said Bobo, “but in the end the D just got a little gassed. We have to get better, but it’s nice know the hard work I’ve been putting in hasn’t been unnoticed by the coaches.â€

 

JSU coach Harold Jackson, starting his second season at his alma mater, has a clear picture of what he wants to see.

 

“Derrick Bobo is one of the guys we expect to step up,†Jackson said. “He’s still learning the system and getting back into game shape, but this week we expect him to step up to the plate.â€

 

One of the folks he likely will be asked to shut down is Whitehaven alum Patrick Smith. The sophomore wideout hauled in a touchdown pass last week that started a fourth-quarter comeback that gave TSU a 24-14 win over Alabama State in its opener at Nissan Stadium.

 

TSU quarterback O’Shea Ackerman-Carter, named Ohio Valley Conference newcomer of the week after throwing three fourth-quarter TDs, told Smith “he was going to get one (TD) Saturday. He’s a great receiver, shifty, knows how to deal with defenses. He’s one of my favorite targets.â€

 

Bobo said it wouldn’t matter if it was his little brother. The fact that JSU has lost three straight to TSU in the Classic, including a 35-7 rout last year, adds to the urgency.

 

“My whole family and most of the Whitehaven community will there. You don’t want to lay an egg,†he said. “From a selfish standpoint, we haven’t beaten these guys in a while. We’ve got to focus and make sure we get the win this time.â€

 

At the end of the day, he said, “You want to go up to your old friend and say ‘I got you on that play.’ â€

 

Vincent Hunter, another Whitehaven grad who had been at UAB when its football program was disbanded, is now a backup left guard at JSU.

 

Jordan Williams, Whitehaven’s quarterback a year ago, is a rookie on the JSU squad, which also includes sophomore defensive linemen Demaris Peppers (Fairley) and Brendan Loggins (Carver) and freshman DL Brandon McCoy (Central).

 

There’s a raft of Mid-Southerners on the TSU roster besides Smith. Redshirt senior James Lewis of Arlington, who came crosstown from Vanderbilt, is in the offensive line rotation. There are two more Whitehaven products, redshirt freshman OL Thomas Burton and freshman DL Myles Chalmers. Melrose has two redshirt freshmen on the TSU roster, LB Dell Porter and OL Justin Brooks. Others include freshman DBs Gabe Scott (Trezevant) and Greg Harvey Jr. (Cordova), rookie RB Marcus Deanes (Southwind), freshman OL Camren Jones (Ridgeway) and redshirt freshman WR Patrick Hill (Sheffield).

 

And Tennessee State coach Ron Reed said he and his staff are not shy about wanting to add to the Memphis delegation

 

“We’re all fanning out to games in Memphis Friday night to recruit,†he said.

 

26th Southern Heritage Classic

 

Here’s a look at the SHC schedule of events. For more info, visit southernheritageclassic.com

 

FRIDAY

 

5 a.m.: V101 Tom Joyner Show, broadcasting from Tiger Lane

9 a.m.: Classic College Fair, Pipkin Building

7 p.m.: Greek Showdown, Nabors Auditorium, Southwest Tennessee Community College

7:30 p.m.: Classic Music Festival, Landers Center, Anthony Hamilton, Fantasia, Johnny Gill, Avery Sunshine, hosted by Jammin Jay Lamon

 

SATURDAY

 

8 a.m.: Classic Tailgate, Liberty Bowl parking lot, Tobey Park

8 a.m.: Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones Golf Classic, Tunica National

9 a.m.: Parade on Park Ave. from Haynes to Airways, Orange Mound, high school bands

10 a.m.: Battle of the Bands, Whitehaven Stadium, high school bands

11 a.m.: Classic Fashions & Brunch, Holiday Inn, University of Memphis

6 p.m.: Southern Heritage Classic, Tennessee State vs. Jackson State

Edited September 11, 2015 by kwc

[BlackHavenSenator]

Another fun Classic Weekend.