Though his team is 0-4 and about to face No. 1 Alabama, Georgia State coach Trent Miles said he likes what he is seeing from his team.
“I’m really happy with our guys,” he said. “They are really trying to get it right.”
He said he is noticing the players are watching more film, something he opined about two weeks ago. In addition, he said the players are executing in practice better.
“They’ve learning how they practice is how they will play,” Miles said.
Senior wide receiver Danny Williams said that players have always watched film, but now they are studying it more.
He said that, through film study, the wide receivers picked up on which Jacksonville State cornerbacks liked to jam wide receivers at the line and which liked to play off, for example.
Miles said the next step is to consistently be able to perform in games.
“Execute when an opponent is breathing down your neck,” Miles said.
He said Alabama, which he described as one of the best programs in college football’s history, has already learned the preparation-equals-results theory he is trying to teach his players.
“They have it figured out on how to practice, work during the week, eat right, all the little things with football and away from football to get over the top,” he said.
Tight end a problem
Georgia State tight end Keith Rucker is questionable for Saturday, leaving the Panthers with a hole at the position. Rucker, a freshman who has four catches for 46 yards, has an injured ankle.
Bill Teknipp, who split time with Rucker, is out for the season with a knee injury that was diagnosed after the game at West Virginia.
“We are still determining who will be tight end,” Miles said.
Drew Pearson, a redshirt junior and the only other tight end listed on the depth chart, didn’t practice on Monday because of a concussion and isn’t expected to play Saturday.
Sean Jeppesen, normally a fullback, could slide into an H-back role with Gerald Howse playing fullback.
Against No. 1
Georgia State has never beaten a top-ranked team in any sport. The softball team beat Alabama 5-1 when it was No. 2 on April 17, 2012.
Miles is also 0-3. All three times, the teams he was an assistant coach on teams that lost to USC.
In 2007, the Trojans beat Washington, where Miles coached running backs, 27-24.
In 2005, the Trojans beat Washington 51-24.
In 2004, the Trojans beat Notre Dame, where Miles coached wide receivers, 41-10.
Ties to Alabama
Georgia State has a few ties to Alabama:
Of course, former coach Bill Curry also coached the Tide. Current strength and conditioning coach Ben Pollard worked at Alabama from 2001-04. Miles’ wife Bridget graduated from Alabama in 2001.
“She’s ‘Roll Panthers,’ all the way,” Miles said.
The Panthers will play four teams from the state this season, culminating with the season finale against South Alabama. Georgia State will also play Troy on Oct. 12 at the Georgia Dome.
The team has just one player, linebacker Joseph Peterson, from Alabama. He attended Dothan High School and grew up a fan of the Tide. He wasn’t recruited by them.
“Not even a call, but there’s nothing wrong that,” he said. “I’m just ready to play. It’s a blessing to go and play against them.”
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