HAMMOND, La.  – With five-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champion and FCS preseason No. 6 Jacksonville State visiting Strawberry Stadium next Thursday at 7 p.m., the Southeastern Louisiana football team will have to be at its best in all three phases, including special teams.
 
One area that SLU features proven contributors is in the return game. Two-time All-American Juwan Petit-Frere returns for his senior season as one of the nation's most dynamic kickoff returners, while Devonte Williams and Austin Mitchell give the Lions multiple options at punt returner.
 
Petit-Frere, Williams and Mitchell are all preseason All-Southland Conference choices. Special teams coordinator Ross Jenkins, who also coaches the tight ends and serves as recruiting coordinator, says the Lions' success in the return game is a team effort.
 
"We definitely have some weapons in the return game," Jenkins commented. "But for us to be successful, we have to execute at the other positions. We have to be fundamentally sound and make the most of the opportunities we're given."
 
Southeastern will feature a lot of new faces in the kicking game. After handling kickoffs for the majority of the 2018 season, Nathan Holliday is expected to take over placekicking duties. The Lions will also have a new punter in Austin Dunlap, while Billy Walch and Jake Rotenberry are competing to replace multi-year starting long snapper Glenn Freeman, who graduated following the 2018 campaign.
 
"As they've adjusted to college football and concentrated on doing their job, we've seen our new guys make good progress," Jenkins said. "All of those guys are capable and as they focus more on their individual techniques and what's expected of them, we expect they'll continue to improve."
 
Next Thursday's game against the Gamecocks will also be Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day at Strawberry Stadium. All SLU faculty and staff can receive two complimentary tickets by presenting their Southeastern faculty/staff ID.
 
To avoid ticket lines, faculty and staff are encouraged to pick up their tickets prior to game day at the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office, which is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Friday. On game day, tickets may be picked up at the ticket booths in Friendship Circle or Strawberry Stadium.  
 
SEASON TICKETS
For season ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. The Lions open their home schedule versus No. 6 Jacksonville State on Aug. 29, before welcoming Southland Conference foes Lamar (Sept. 21), UIW (Oct. 12), Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 2) and Nicholls (Nov. 21).
 
2019 PROMOTIONS
For full details on promotions surrounding the Southeastern Louisiana football team's 2019 home schedule visit www.LionSports.net/FootballPromos.
 
INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN FOOTBALL WITH FRANK SCELFO
Inside Southeastern Football With Frank Scelfo will debut on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at Tope La Catering in downtown Hammond. Hosted by Scelfo, the Lions' second-year head coach, and Allen Waddell, the hour-long show will air weekly from Tope La Catering, located at 113 East Thomas Street. The season's first show will air on Tuesday due to Labor Day. The season's remaining shows will be held each Monday through Nov. 18 with a 7 p.m. start for each. The show will air on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network (KSLU-FM (90.9), Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM/1400 AM). Fans can also listen live at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Radio FX and TuneIn Radio apps. A live video stream of the show will be available at www.youtube.com/sluathletics.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @SLUFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.