2008 Woodie Awards
Rugby returns with Black-Red Game this Saturday
Web Editor
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: Sports
On Saturday, 30 men decked out in red and black will face off against their friends and teammates for two grueling 40-minute halves.
Cock Rugby, Jacksonville State University's rugby club will be facing off against itself in a red vs. black game in preparation for the start of the new season.
The game will be the last practice game for the team, and the best training for the new batch of rookies, before they take the field at JSU on Feb. 4 against Bryan College for their first game of the spring season.
The ruggers ended last season with a hard-fought 28-15 loss against the University of Alabama. This season, however, with 24 veteran players returning, the team is feeling confident.
"If we play a heads-up game; if we play smart and we stay healthy, we'll do well," said coach Mike Trowse.
Two of the team's toughest opponents will be faced back to back.
On Feb. 11, Cock Rugby will take on the University of the South at home, then the next week they'll go on the road against Tennessee Tech.
"They're both really technical teams," said Zachary McCumber. "They have more endurance."
McCumber sees the experience that the team has built into its pack, or forwards, as the group's strongest asset. Of course, being a member of the pack, he acknowledges his bias.
Their weaknesses are in their small numbers and the fact that a fifth of the team are rookies, with new ones joining almost every time they practice.
"Our rookies are still pulling some penalties that shouldn't be done," said McCumber.
Which is one of the reasons the red/black game on Jan. 28 is so important.
"It will be a learning game for everybody," said team captain and club treasurer Justin Armstrong.
No matter how well the team does this year, Coach Trowse sees it as a foundation for better things to come.
"We'll do pretty good in the spring," he said. "But I'm looking to next fall and next spring when we'll have the same guys."
All games at noon.
Jan. 28: Red/Black game
Feb. 4: Bryan College at home
Feb. 11: University of the South at home
Feb. 18: at Tennessee Tech
Feb. 25: at Lee University
Mar. 4: at Kennesaw State University
Mar. 25: Playoffs
Cock Rugby, Jacksonville State University's rugby club will be facing off against itself in a red vs. black game in preparation for the start of the new season.
The game will be the last practice game for the team, and the best training for the new batch of rookies, before they take the field at JSU on Feb. 4 against Bryan College for their first game of the spring season.
The ruggers ended last season with a hard-fought 28-15 loss against the University of Alabama. This season, however, with 24 veteran players returning, the team is feeling confident.
"If we play a heads-up game; if we play smart and we stay healthy, we'll do well," said coach Mike Trowse.
Two of the team's toughest opponents will be faced back to back.
On Feb. 11, Cock Rugby will take on the University of the South at home, then the next week they'll go on the road against Tennessee Tech.
"They're both really technical teams," said Zachary McCumber. "They have more endurance."
McCumber sees the experience that the team has built into its pack, or forwards, as the group's strongest asset. Of course, being a member of the pack, he acknowledges his bias.
Their weaknesses are in their small numbers and the fact that a fifth of the team are rookies, with new ones joining almost every time they practice.
"Our rookies are still pulling some penalties that shouldn't be done," said McCumber.
Which is one of the reasons the red/black game on Jan. 28 is so important.
"It will be a learning game for everybody," said team captain and club treasurer Justin Armstrong.
No matter how well the team does this year, Coach Trowse sees it as a foundation for better things to come.
"We'll do pretty good in the spring," he said. "But I'm looking to next fall and next spring when we'll have the same guys."
All games at noon.
Jan. 28: Red/Black game
Feb. 4: Bryan College at home
Feb. 11: University of the South at home
Feb. 18: at Tennessee Tech
Feb. 25: at Lee University
Mar. 4: at Kennesaw State University
Mar. 25: Playoffs