Behind the Beak

Former Gamecock pitcher and MLB All-Star Todd Jones sits down with Tyler Brown to discuss his career at Jacksonville State, his time as a major leaguer and what he is doing with his time since retiring after the 2008 season. Jones pitched at JSU from 1987-89 before being taken by the Houston Astros as the 27th overall pick in the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft. In 16 years in the MLB, the right-hander saved 319 games, ranking 21st all-time in the category, and was named the American League's Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 2000 after leading the league with 42 saves.

In this week's episode, Tyler Brown sits down with Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner Beth DeBauche and Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications Kyle Schwartz to see how the league has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. DeBauche discusses how the OVC is preparing for the upcoming season, what cost-saving measures could be seen and how her day-to-day has changed since March. Schwartz digs into how this season's media days are changing, how the usual "OVC Football Game of the Week" will broadcast and what fans may see different from a media standpoint.

Eli Jenkins is one of the most decorated quarterback in Jacksonville State history. All-American, 2015 FCS Quarterback of the Year, 2015-16 OVC Male Athlete of the Year and Player of the Year, National Player of the Week… if there’s an award, Jenkins won it in his five seasons as a Gamecock from 2012 to 2016. In this week’s episode, Behind the Beak catches up with the football legend and takes a look back at one of his most memorable games – the 2015 win over Chattanooga in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.

Misty Cassell Ray has served as Jacksonville State's Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance since 2008 and worked in the compliance department since 2004. A two-time JSU graduate, Ray began working in athletics as a student upon her arrival to campus in 2000. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the compliance office is busy sorting out COVID-19 waivers, new recruiting rules and NCAA-implemented dead periods. Misty joins the show to help explain what changes are coming to the world of college athletics and what fans can expect to see happen over the next few months.

Head golf coach James Hobbs has been a Gamecock since 1977, coming on as an assistant men's basketball coach to begin his Jacksonville State career. He took over the golf teams in 1983, and between coaching the three programs, he is one of the most decorated coaches in Jax State history. A member of the JSU Athletics Hall of Fame, he helped lead the Gamecocks to the Division II Men's Basketball National Championship title in 1985. On the golf side, Hobbs has made 15 NCAA regional appearances, claimed 13 conference titles and been voted conference coach of the year nine times. He takes listeners through his career, discusses the rise of Jacksonville State golf and reflects on the 1985 basketball national championship run.

The 2016 softball season was voted the greatest moment in Jacksonville State’s 25-year Division I history. That year’s squad went 26-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play, claimed the title in the OVC Championships and won two games in the Auburn Regional. Head coach Jana McGinnis was named the league’s Coach of the Year and then-senior Ella Denes was named OVC Player of the Year. Both join Tyler Brown for episode 23 to recap the memorable season.

Before his 13-year career in the NFL, defensive back Eric Davis was a member of the Jacksonville State football team. Davis letter with the Gamecocks from 1986 to 1989 for head coach Bill Burgess. During that time, the Anniston native helped JSU go from a 3-6-1 record a year before his arrival to a 13-1 mark in 1989 that saw the team claim the Gulf South Conference title and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II Championship game. Davis played for the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions during his professional career. In that time, he was twice named to the Pro Bowl, voted an All-Pro three times and helped the 49ers to a Super Bowl title to cap off the 1994 campaign.

In part two of Episode 21, assistant men’s basketball coach Tommy Wade discusses surviving both stage-four cancer and a heart attack that left him unconscious in a hospital for more than a month.

In part one of Episode 21, assistant men’s basketball coach Tommy Wade talks about his time as a student-athlete and coach, his thoughts on the Ohio Valley Conference as a league veteran and recruiting at Jacksonville State.

Head women’s basketball coach Rick Pietri just wrapped up a signing class that includes four total signees – three that inked NLIs last week. He gives listeners an in-depth look at each signee, how he sees each of the newest Gamecocks contributing to the program and discusses how the pandemic has affected the recruiting trail.