South Alabama Jaguars football The South Alabama Jaguars football program , established in 2009 , will be a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I FBS in 2012 . History . On December 6 , 2007 , the university ' s Board of Trustees approved the addition of football to the intercollegiate athletics program . The team began play in 2009 with a planned full transition to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ( Division I - A ) by 2013 . On February 15 , 2008 , President Gordon Moulton and Athletic Director Joe Gottfried announced Joey Jones , former University of Alabama and Atlanta Falcons receiver , as the first head football coach in the university ' s history . The team currently plays its home games in Ladd Peebles Stadium . 2009 . On September 5 , 2009 , the University of South Alabama Jaguars defeated Hargrave Military Academy 30 - 13 in the program ' s first ever game in front of more than 26 , 000 fans . The team completed its first season undefeated at 7 - 0 , outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 321 - 41 . 2010 . After playing a 7 - game schedule in 2009 , the Jaguars played 10 games in 2010 . The 2010 schedule was made up of schools from NCAA Division I - FCS , NCAA Division II , the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics , and no Junior Colleges . The team completed its second season undefeated at 10 - 0 , outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 413 - 130 . 2011 . The 2011 season marked the beginning of South Alabama ' s 2 - year transition phase from unclassified to Division I FBS status . South played as a Division I - FCS Independent for the 2011 season . The Jaguars were scheduled to play 11 games in 2011 but after ending its contracts with UC Davis and Edward Waters College early , and only replacing them with a game against Mississippi Valley State , South played 10 games in the 2011 season . The 2011 schedule was be made up of schools from NCAA Division I - FBS , NCAA Division I - FCS , and NCAA Division II . For the first time , South Alabama had games televised . The 2011 season opener against West Alabama was televised on local channel WJTC , as well as on ESPN3 . The Jaguar ' s game against North Carolina State on Sept . 17 was aired on ESPN3 . The Jaguars finished the season 6 - 4 . 2012 . The 2012 season was South Alabama ' s final year in the transition phase to full Division I - FBS status . The Jaguars began to face Sun Belt Conference teams in a full conference schedule , but were not eligible for either the conference title or post - season bowl games . The Jaguars did not perform well in their non - conference play , going 1 - 4 , with the only victory over FCS opponent Nicholls State . The Jaguars also struggled in Sun Belt Conference play , going 1 - 7 , with their only victory over Florida Atlantic . The team finished 2 - 11 , and in last place in the Sun Belt . 2013 . The South Alabama Jaguars will have full Division I FBS status for the 2013 - 14 season . The Jaguars will remain in the Sun Belt Conference and will compete in the East Division . Traditions . # 5 . A tradition that started in South Alabama ' s second season , following the death of running back Anthony Mostella , Coach Joey Jones selects a senior that " earned it " would be given Mostella ' s # 5 jersey for the season . A fan favorite , Mostella was known for his leadership and hard work ethic . Coach Joey Jones wanted to pay respect to Mostella by giving his # 5 jersey to a senior each season that displayed the leadership skills and work ethic that Mostella portrayed . Homecoming . With the establishment of the football team Homecoming was officially moved to the fall where it had previously supported the school ' s varsity basketball team . An attempt by the students of the University to entice a grassroots movement for support of NCAA football in 2006 led to multiple acts of temporary and non destructive vandalism across the campus organized in a single night dubbed by the organizing students as " viva la resistance . " Since the Jaguar football team was established homecoming has featured an event called " junk the jungle , " in which toilet paper and streamers are used to cover all the trees in the schools central traffic circle . It can only be assumed that this is done in remembrance of those student pranksters as this is identical to one of the acts they committed . Other acts committed that night included sidewalk chalk and window painting of various campus buildings and walkways featuring messages such as " NCAA football , " " We Want Football , " and drawing images of footballs . The schools track field was also spray painted with the letters " NCAA , " in large characters . The individual pranks were conducted by small teams where the final act of " junking the jungle , " included all the students invited to participate . First Down Chant . After most first down gains by the South Alabama Jaguars ' football team , the Public Address announcer typically booms out : " Annnnd that ' s another South Alabama . . . " followed by thousands of fans rising from the Ladd - Peebles Stadium bleachers with their forefingers pointing upward in the air , completing the sentence loudly with the words : " FIRST DOWN ! ! ! " . This is known as " the first down " chant to most Jaguars football fans . Facilities . Ladd Peebles Stadium . Ladd Peebles Stadium as been home to the South Alabama Jaguars football program since it was established in 2009 . Ladd Peebles has been a key venue in Mobile ' s history . Open in 1948 , the first event held inside the stadium was a college football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Vanderbilt Commodores on October 2 , 1948 . The stadium also lives in Alabama Crimson Tide football folklore as the site of legendary head coach Bear Bryant first game in charge of the Crimson Tide . Ladd Peebles has hosted various other events , from concerts and boxing matches to festivals , and has a present full - capacity of 50 , 000 seats .