Did you know? Facts about Jacksonville State University Gamecocks

By: Deanna Jones, JSU Student (2011-2015)

“Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.” – Dennis Watley

The Jacksonville State University Gamecocks most certainly grabbed everyone’s attention with the almost winning game against the Auburn University’s Tigers. Auburn narrowly pulled it out of the bag with a score of 27-20 in overtime. 

If the Gamecocks had won against the top 10 opposing team, it would have been “one of the biggest upsets in CFB history,” but that’s not the first time for JSU playing top ranked teams. JSU has taken on teams including Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State and five years ago won against Ole Miss with the winning score of 49-48 in double overtime. Though the Gamecocks didn’t win this week, they certainly got everyone’s attention.

Here’s some quick facts to impress your friends with and help you brush up on your JSU Gamecock knowledge:

           1)          Jacksonville State University is located in Jacksonville, Alabama. Jacksonville is located in northeast Alabama and the campus has off-site locations in Fort Payne, Fort McClellan/Anniston, and Gadsden, Alabama.

           2)          JSU started off as a state’s teachers college in 1883. In the 1930s, it changed its name to Jacksonville States Teachers College, and five years later, the college got its first accreditation from the Southern Association of College and Schools. In 1957, it created its first graduate program in elementary education and again changed its name to Jacksonville State College.

3)          In 2008, JSU celebrated its 125^th year anniversary!

4)          JSU recently switched over presidents from Dr. William A. Meehan, who started in 1999 and served as the 11^th president of the University, to Dr. John M. Beehler, who started on July 1, 2015.

5)          Jacksonville State has six different academic colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Education and Professional Studies, College of Nursing and Health Services, College of Graduate Studies and College of Liberal Studies.

Now here are some quick facts about the Gamecock Sports!

1992 NCAA Football Champions

1)          JSU’s football field is named the Burgess - Snow field. It was named after the longtime JSU supporter Paul Snow and the former Head Coach Bill Burgess who lead JSU to the 1992 division II Championship.

2)          JSU is the only school in the nation to lay claim to NCAA national titles in football, men's basketball and baseball at the Division
I or Division II levels

3)          The Burgess - Snow stadium has a seating capacity of 24,000.

4)          JSU’s mascot wasn’t always the Gamecocks and the
colors weren’t always red and white. The first teams was the Eagle Owls and their colors were blue and gold.

5)          1947 was when the Fighting Gamecocks took to the field for the
first time.

6)          JSU is also home to Ashley Martin who was the first woman to play and score in a NCAA football game.

7)          JSU’s marching band is named the Marching Southerners. The band currently holds 600+ members. In 2012, the Marching Southerners were invited to London to perform at the New Year’s Day parade.

8)          In 1996, the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners were invited to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Now you know more about the Gamecocks, so go show some support! Don’t forget to wear your red and white!! GOOOO GAMECOCKS!