WAC Football Media Day Set for July 19
7/15/2022 10:22:00 AM | Football
Media Day Notes
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – 2022 WAC Media Day is set for Tuesday, July 19 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott.
The Sky is the limit. The Stephen F. Austin football team is eager and ready to begin the 2022 season and compete for a WAC championship and qualify for the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row. The event will be live on ESPN +.
Recap of 2021
The Lumberjacks set the WAC on fire in its inaugural season in the league.
Led by fourth-year head coach Colby Carthel, the 'Jacks finished with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in league play. The Lumberjacks posted wins over Tarleton State, Mississippi Valley State, Lincoln, Dixie State (Utah Tech), Abilene Christian, Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas, and Lamar.
Entering the halfway mark of its schedule the 'Jacks were 3-3. Facing adversity, SFA rattled off five wins in a row.
The Lumberjacks qualified for the postseason for the first since 2014 and Incarnate Word won in overtime by a razor-thin 35-28 margin.
New Faces on Staff
The Lumberjacks made several staff changes in the offseason.
Carthel added Joe Cauthen to staff as Defensive Coordinator. Cauthen joined the Lumberjack staff after making recent stops at Buffalo, Houston, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee State and Texas A&M Commerce. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin in 1990, and was the Defensive Line Coach from 1997-98. At Arkansas State, the Red Wolves ranked among the top 21 teams in the nation across a four-season span in defensive touchdowns with 22. In 2015, Arkansas State's defense registered an FBS-high eight touchdowns, leading the country in interceptions in addition to a school record of 26 in the current FBS era. During the 2018 season, A-State had one of the toughest defenses in the country, finishing the season 11th nationally in passing defense, allowing only 177.8 passing yards per game.
Ike Eguae was hired to coach the defensive tackles. Eguae joined SFA after spending the previous seven seasons at Fort Hays State in Kansas.
This past season at FHSU, Eguae's presence was substantial. The Tigers ranked third in the Mid-America Athletic Conference (MIAA) in average points allowed per game (20.7) and total points allowed (228).
Senior Javaris Sanders excelled under Eguae's tutelage in 2021. Sanders finished with 42 tackles, added eight tackles for loss and a team-high four sacks. He also finished two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Eguae was instrumental in coaching Sie Doe, Jr., and Nathan Shepherd to All-America and All-MIAA status in 2016. Doe was the most dominant defensive player in the region, earning both D2CCA Super Region 3 and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors at defensive end. Doe was an All-America First Team selection by three organizations, while being named to five All-America teams overall. Overall, Eguae has coached four All-Americans and 13 All-MIAA selections in just six years at FHSU. He has helped the team to a record of 51-19 in that span, back-to-back bowl game appearances in 2015 and 2016, and back-to-back NCAA Playoff appearances and MIAA Championships in 2017 and 2018. The 2016 team claimed the program's first-ever postseason game win, knocking off Eastern New Mexico 45-12 in the Heart of Texas Bowl.
Bill Bleil joined the program as the offensive line coach. Bleil joins the staff after making recent stops at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, along with a five-year stint as head coach at Western Carolina. He has coached three all-Region selections and three All-America selections during his 28 years of coaching experience. Prior to UMHB, Bleil spent two seasons as the offensive line coach at Lamar, where the offensive line unit ranked 13th in the nation in rushing offense in 2018 and notched the program's first Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2019. At Western Carolina, Bleil was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year following the 2000 season.
Eric Stephens was named the running backs coach. Stephens joined the program after coaching at the prep level for eight years. Stephens most recently coached at Sam Houston High School for two years and coached six seasons at Ellision High School. Stephens played at Texas Tech and was a four-star recruit and consensus All-American out of high school
Carthel Committs
Coach Carthel signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him in Nacogdoches through 2027.
Carthel, who boasts a .636 winning percentage during three seasons with the Jacks, led SFA into the Football Championship Subdivision playoff in 2021 for the first time since 2014. Under his watch, wideout Xavier Gipson finished seventh in the 2021 Walter Payton Award voting. Gipson was the second SFA unanimous All-American and will be a front runner for the 2022 Walter Payton Award.
Carthel was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the FCS Coach of the Year.
With the wins piling up on the football field, SFA has enjoyed a 389% increase in football ticket sales during Carthel's three seasons. The boost in ticket revenue sparked by football's rejuvenation has spread into all areas of the SFA Athletic Department under Ivey's four-year watch.
Total ticket revenue has increased 300%, while total revenue has jumped 232% across the board, including annual fund growth, licensing royalties and total fundraising from private gifts. Basketball ticket revenue has seen the second-largest growth under Ivey's direction with a 236% growth, while total department fundraising has jumped 560% in four years.
Lumberjacks in National Championship Discussions (HERO Sports)
SFA is building something, and 2021 may prove to be a key stepping stone to becoming a national contender. The Lumberjacks were a balanced squad, ranking No. 17 in scoring defense (19.33 PPG) and No. 12 in scoring offense (34.2 PPG). They finished 8-4 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2014, losing 35-28 in OT to UIW in the first round.
Only three of the 17 All-WAC selections were seniors, and 10 of the All-Conference selections were freshmen and sophomores. This was a young team that saw a breakthrough season.
SFA gets its starting QB, star WR, and top RB back. Trae Self threw for 3,201 yards, 28 TDs, and nine interceptions. All-American WR Xavier Gipson led the FCS in receiving yards (1,377) to go along with 14 TDs. Miles Reed ran for 678 yards and three scores. The Lumberjacks are loaded coming back on defense, returning nine of its top 11 tacklers.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – 2022 WAC Media Day is set for Tuesday, July 19 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott.
The Sky is the limit. The Stephen F. Austin football team is eager and ready to begin the 2022 season and compete for a WAC championship and qualify for the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row. The event will be live on ESPN +.
Recap of 2021
The Lumberjacks set the WAC on fire in its inaugural season in the league.
Led by fourth-year head coach Colby Carthel, the 'Jacks finished with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in league play. The Lumberjacks posted wins over Tarleton State, Mississippi Valley State, Lincoln, Dixie State (Utah Tech), Abilene Christian, Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas, and Lamar.
Entering the halfway mark of its schedule the 'Jacks were 3-3. Facing adversity, SFA rattled off five wins in a row.
The Lumberjacks qualified for the postseason for the first since 2014 and Incarnate Word won in overtime by a razor-thin 35-28 margin.
New Faces on Staff
The Lumberjacks made several staff changes in the offseason.
Carthel added Joe Cauthen to staff as Defensive Coordinator. Cauthen joined the Lumberjack staff after making recent stops at Buffalo, Houston, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee State and Texas A&M Commerce. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin in 1990, and was the Defensive Line Coach from 1997-98. At Arkansas State, the Red Wolves ranked among the top 21 teams in the nation across a four-season span in defensive touchdowns with 22. In 2015, Arkansas State's defense registered an FBS-high eight touchdowns, leading the country in interceptions in addition to a school record of 26 in the current FBS era. During the 2018 season, A-State had one of the toughest defenses in the country, finishing the season 11th nationally in passing defense, allowing only 177.8 passing yards per game.
Ike Eguae was hired to coach the defensive tackles. Eguae joined SFA after spending the previous seven seasons at Fort Hays State in Kansas.
This past season at FHSU, Eguae's presence was substantial. The Tigers ranked third in the Mid-America Athletic Conference (MIAA) in average points allowed per game (20.7) and total points allowed (228).
Senior Javaris Sanders excelled under Eguae's tutelage in 2021. Sanders finished with 42 tackles, added eight tackles for loss and a team-high four sacks. He also finished two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Eguae was instrumental in coaching Sie Doe, Jr., and Nathan Shepherd to All-America and All-MIAA status in 2016. Doe was the most dominant defensive player in the region, earning both D2CCA Super Region 3 and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors at defensive end. Doe was an All-America First Team selection by three organizations, while being named to five All-America teams overall. Overall, Eguae has coached four All-Americans and 13 All-MIAA selections in just six years at FHSU. He has helped the team to a record of 51-19 in that span, back-to-back bowl game appearances in 2015 and 2016, and back-to-back NCAA Playoff appearances and MIAA Championships in 2017 and 2018. The 2016 team claimed the program's first-ever postseason game win, knocking off Eastern New Mexico 45-12 in the Heart of Texas Bowl.
Bill Bleil joined the program as the offensive line coach. Bleil joins the staff after making recent stops at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, along with a five-year stint as head coach at Western Carolina. He has coached three all-Region selections and three All-America selections during his 28 years of coaching experience. Prior to UMHB, Bleil spent two seasons as the offensive line coach at Lamar, where the offensive line unit ranked 13th in the nation in rushing offense in 2018 and notched the program's first Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2019. At Western Carolina, Bleil was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year following the 2000 season.
Eric Stephens was named the running backs coach. Stephens joined the program after coaching at the prep level for eight years. Stephens most recently coached at Sam Houston High School for two years and coached six seasons at Ellision High School. Stephens played at Texas Tech and was a four-star recruit and consensus All-American out of high school
Carthel Committs
Coach Carthel signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him in Nacogdoches through 2027.
Carthel, who boasts a .636 winning percentage during three seasons with the Jacks, led SFA into the Football Championship Subdivision playoff in 2021 for the first time since 2014. Under his watch, wideout Xavier Gipson finished seventh in the 2021 Walter Payton Award voting. Gipson was the second SFA unanimous All-American and will be a front runner for the 2022 Walter Payton Award.
Carthel was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the FCS Coach of the Year.
With the wins piling up on the football field, SFA has enjoyed a 389% increase in football ticket sales during Carthel's three seasons. The boost in ticket revenue sparked by football's rejuvenation has spread into all areas of the SFA Athletic Department under Ivey's four-year watch.
Total ticket revenue has increased 300%, while total revenue has jumped 232% across the board, including annual fund growth, licensing royalties and total fundraising from private gifts. Basketball ticket revenue has seen the second-largest growth under Ivey's direction with a 236% growth, while total department fundraising has jumped 560% in four years.
Lumberjacks in National Championship Discussions (HERO Sports)
SFA is building something, and 2021 may prove to be a key stepping stone to becoming a national contender. The Lumberjacks were a balanced squad, ranking No. 17 in scoring defense (19.33 PPG) and No. 12 in scoring offense (34.2 PPG). They finished 8-4 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2014, losing 35-28 in OT to UIW in the first round.
Only three of the 17 All-WAC selections were seniors, and 10 of the All-Conference selections were freshmen and sophomores. This was a young team that saw a breakthrough season.
SFA gets its starting QB, star WR, and top RB back. Trae Self threw for 3,201 yards, 28 TDs, and nine interceptions. All-American WR Xavier Gipson led the FCS in receiving yards (1,377) to go along with 14 TDs. Miles Reed ran for 678 yards and three scores. The Lumberjacks are loaded coming back on defense, returning nine of its top 11 tacklers.
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