Southern coach Eric Dooley walked into SWAC Media Day with a custom-tailored suit with accompanying shoes to match.
Along with him in Birmingham were valuable accessories in linebacker Jalan Campbell and presumed starting quarterback Harold Blood.
The Jaguars had a good season in Dooley’s first season, winning the SWAC West and making an appearance in the SWAC Championship Game.
But much like Dooley has made it a hallmark to up his gear game with crafted attire, the second-year Southern coach wants to do the same with the roster, too.
And on Tuesday, Dooley explained that no position on the field has an entrenched starter, not even at quarterback, a position that was inconsistent throughout 2022 despite Southern nearly capturing a conference title.
“I believe in breeding competition at every position that we have,” Dooley told HBCU Sports. “You know, we always say that — it’s not in a bad way — that no one is safe. You got to hone your skills, and you got to love competition. When you’re that player, that should bring the best out of you.”
In the offseason, Dooley and his staff added five quarterbacks to the roster with the purpose of creating competition and quality depth.
Out is quarterback BeSean McCray, who started every game but was benched in the conference championship game for backup Bubba McDaniel.
In now is Blood, a fourth-year player, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown and an interception in five games last season. He played well enough in the spring game to get the No. 1 nod.
“I got my feet wet last year,” Blood told The Advocate on Tuesday. “I’m ready to showcase my ability. Confidence comes from being comfortable and prepared. Another year in the system. I understand the offense like the back of my hand.
“The spring was OK. I’m in a transition, and I’m trying to do everything I can to elevate my game from good to great.”
Even though Dooley has stockpiled quarterbacks and says he wants to create a fight for the job, Blood is the guy at this point.
He just wants to send a message to his quarterback, and the team, that nothing in 2023 is guaranteed.
“It’s still competition. That mean’s you cannot be a starter and think you can lay it down,” said Dooley. “We want guys to understand that you practice how you play so those guys can continue to practice at a high level. We want the best guys to be out on the field. If you don’t have competition, you have a team that’s going to settle anything.
“But my philosophy has always been if you have one (quarterback), you got none. So we understand where we are.”
