Published On: 02.17.21 | 

By: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Football preview: Jacksonville State University tackles ‘second season’ of 2020-21 school year

Jacksonville State University football coach John Grass with his players during a 31-23 home victory over Tennessee State in 2019. The Gamecocks are preparing to begin the spring portion of their 2020-21 season, which includes a March 7 game vs. Tennessee State. (Jacksonville State University Athletics)

Trae Barry knows that life is filled with missed opportunities and he’s not about to miss the one that lies just ahead.

Barry is a tight end for Jacksonville State. The senior had his 2019 season ended by injury and has been working his way back, taking part in the Gamecocks’ four games in the 2020 fall season.

“Some people have recommended not playing this spring, just to continue to do rehab and get better physically and then come back and have a good, successful fall next season,” Barry said. “But God blessed me with these games in front of me and I don’t see why I wouldn’t play them.”

In front of Barry and his Gamecock teammates is an Ohio Valley Conference-only schedule that was scheduled to begin Sunday at Tennessee State University, but that game has been rescheduled to March 7.

Coach John Grass hopes a 3-1 fall record – including a 41-24 loss to FBS Florida State – will prepare his squad for the seven-game conference slate ahead.

“We got to play four games in the fall and I thought we did really well,” Grass said. “I thought for an FCS team, we were very fortunate to get those games in. I was proud of our guys (for) how we handled the 2020 COVID year and being able to just adjust and adapt because it changed almost hourly, definitely daily with what we were doing as a team.”

The JSU football website shows the 2021 spring season as a continuation of the fall campaign. But Grass views it differently.

“Our team, having played in the fall, you’re looking at three football seasons in one year,” he said. “Even though we played four games, it was like playing a full schedule because we practiced from the first of August to the end of the season.”

Young players who were thrust into the lineup in the fall benefited from that experience.

“I know it definitely did not hurt us playing in the fall,” Grass said. “How much of an advantage that’s gonna be, I have no idea. But I know the guys that got to play for us in the fall and got game footage and got snaps in, it helped them develop as a player.

“They’ve got to get in games and do some things right and learn,” he continued. “The biggest thing is they’ve got to get in games and do some things wrong and learn. They can kind of grow as a player when they’re able to do that and afforded that opportunity.”

And while Grass laments the loss of off-season work in the development of his young players, he can’t dismiss the chance to take the field again.

“You get a chance to play a conference schedule and you’ve got the playoff system involved,” he said. “Any time you can play for a championship, I think it’s a good thing.”

Grass acknowledged that some fans would like to see football 365 days a year, so a spring season is just what they want.

“I know our football fan base here in Jacksonville State,” the coach said. “They love football and I think no matter what time of year you’re playing, I think they’re gonna show up and watch it and they’re going to be rooting for the Gamecocks. We’ve got a loyal fan base that loves all our sports. I don’t think any time of the year that we’re playing makes a difference. They’re going to come watch it.”

Read spring season football previews for Birmingham-Southern College, Huntingdon College and Samford University.