Terrence Graves is aware of a factor or two about soccer and structure.
The 2 are intently associated, as Southern’s head soccer coach defined throughout Wednesday’s SWAC Soccer Media Day.
“When you lay the inspiration, then you’ll be able to construct the home. You don’t construct a home from the roof down, you construct from the inspiration up,” Graves stated of putting in a tradition that helped the Jaguars to an 8-5 report and the SWAC West title in 2024. “As soon as these guys understood and acquired in, that set the tone for the tradition. They know I’m a defensive man, so I’ve been aggressive. I’m the eighth of 9 youngsters. My guys perceive I just like the blue-collar, lunchpail kind of man, and that allowed us to have the success we have now.”
Going into his second full yr as head coach, Graves is hopeful Southern, picked to repeat as division champions, will undertake the workmanlike perspective of defensive lineman Ckelby Givens, the SWAC preseason Defensive Participant of the yr.
“He’s very humble, a person of religion, and doesn’t carry consideration to himself; he leads by instance,” Graves stated. “He works on being higher day. On the best way over right here, we talked in regards to the award, and he stated, “That’s preseason, Coach. It’s good, but it surely doesn’t imply something if I don’t do it within the postseason.”
And that’s the place Southern will attempt to make amends following a tricky efficiency towards eventual SWAC and Celebration Bowl champion Jackson State.
“I like this workforce. This workforce is de facto rising, taking over my character and perspective. I feel we are able to get higher and execute,” Graves stated. “We turned the ball over 4 occasions within the championship sport, after which the doorways have been blown off. We’ve bought to do a greater job of executing and being opportunistic on protection and within the kicking sport to present ourselves our greatest likelihood to win.
The quarterback state of affairs is one other space the place alternative exists, and Graves has a number of choices: returning starter Jalen Woods, Mississippi Valley State switch Jamari Jones, true freshman Dillon Compton, and Cam’ron McCoy, who was on the Jackson State workforce that defeated Southern for the convention title a yr in the past.
Graves stated, “I’m happy with Mark Frederick (offensive coordinator/assistant head coach) and Fred McNair (quarterbacks coach) and what they’re doing to get these guys ready and able to go for this season.”
