'Jacks Head to Dallas to Open Against SMU
9/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team will kick off the 2009 season Saturday, Sept. 5, at SMU. It marks the second consecutive season the Lumberjacks have opened the season aganist an NCAA FBS opponent. The Lumberjacks are entering their third season under the direction of head coach J.C. Harper, and are coming off a 4-8 (.333) campaign last season. SMU struggled last year to a 1-11 (.083) record, but the lone victory came against Southland Conference member Texas State. Saturday's game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Saturday's contest will mark the first-ever meeting between SFA and the Mustangs on the gridiron.
The Lumberjacks are 45-32-5 (.579) all-time in season openers, but have dropped three of the last four. The 'Jacks' lone victory during that stretch was 56-19 win over Langston in Nacogdoches last season.
The Lumberjacks enter the 2009 campaign looking for their first winning season since 2004 when they went 6-5.
The Lumberjacks have been picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference according to preseason polls of the league head coaches and media relations directors. SFA did receive one first-place vote in the league head coaches' poll. Coaches and SIDs were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Lumberjacks return several players who received local and national attention during the offseason. Junior linebacker Jabara Williams and senior defensive end Tim Knicky were named to numerous preseason All-America teams, while Williams was also named to the Buck Buchanan Preseason Watch List. Along with Knicky and Williams, senior wideout Duane Brooks was named preseason first-team All-SLC. Brooks is coming off a record-breaking junior campaign that saw him earn SLC Newcomer of the Year honors. Senior receiver Contrevious Parks was a preseason second-team all-conference selection. A 2008 honorable mention All-American, Parks also received preseason all-conference honors as a return specialist.
J.C. Harper became the 18th head coach of the SFA Lumberjack football team in December, 2006. Harper spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach. He is 4-19 (.174) during his time at SFA. SMU head coach June Jones is in his second season with the Mustangs' program, after a nine-year stint at Hawaii where he rebuilt the Warrior's program into national prominence.
