Valdosta State at West Alabama on TV

[JohnStOnge]

Don't know if you can get it but #1 D-II Valdosta State goes to #12 West Alabama Thursday night this week for a televised game. I know it's on my system.

I think West Alabama is ridiculously under-rated at #12. But we're about to see. Should be an intense atmosphere regardless. I guarantee you West Alabama at least thinks it's the best team in D-II and they've got the #1 ranked team coming into their place. It'll be hoppin'.

[SuperHornet]

W. Alabama is #14 in the coaches' poll.

Grand Valley is #25 (#24 coaches' poll) and TX A&I is in a death spiral at 3-2, having lost 2 straight?

What gives?!?

[MSUDuo]

What channel?

[JohnStOnge]

What channel?

The telecast is by GSC-TV. In my area it is being provided on Cox Sports Television (CST). According to its site CST is carried in at least parts of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Virginia and Missouri. I'm guessing some other regional providers will cover it as well.

Interesting that in the latest D-II Massey Ratings West Alabama is the higher ranked team. Massey has West Alabama at #3 in D-II and Valdosta State at #7. If you stuck West Alabama's Massey Rating into the FCS Massey Ratings it'd be at #16. Valdosta State's would be at #26.

[CAA Flagship]

W. Alabama is #14 in the coaches' poll.

Grand Valley is #25 (#24 coaches' poll) and TX A&I is in a death spiral at 3-2, having lost 2 straight?

What gives?!?

Brian Kelly is at Notre Dame

[JohnStOnge]

Speaking of coaches, West Alabama's coach wears a sweater vest and when I was watching one of their games the guys calling it said he does that because Jim Tressel did it. As soon as I saw him I thought he looked dressed like Jim Tressel and later the announcers said that. Kind of strange. But apparently he's a really good recruiter.

[JohnStOnge]

If you read this post and watch the game here is a player to watch:

West Alabama'sJavae Swindle. He is very small...especially height wise. He's listed at 5'4", 162 lbs. But he's extremely quick and fast. I watched one West Alabama game during which the guys calling the game said he's 10.3 in the 100 meters. Whether that's exactly true or not, there's no doubt that he's really fast at the top end. He also has very quick acceleration. Goes from 0 to full speed in a heartbeat. He's got that "Barry Sanders" cutting and evading ability. And he's surprisingly hard to tackle when someone does get their hands on him. Pretty darned good power for a small guy like that.

I have seen four West Alabama games this year; one live and three on TV. In each one I saw him do something that made my jaw drop. They split the carries up a lot at West Alabama so he's only got 439 yards in 5 games. But he's averaged 9.5 yards per carry. He had 62 yards on only 7 carries for an average of 8.9 per tote against McNeese. Yeah I know McNeese has looked bad defensively over its last two games but that's still pretty darned impressive average.

Hopefully I haven't jinxed him so if you watch you'll see some of the kinds of stuff I've seen this guy do.

[JohnStOnge]

Well apparently I did jinx Swindle as he never got going at all. Also West Alabama didn't look as smooth on offense as I've seen them look. But they did make plays including some big ones and won 49-30.