Jacksonville State needs just one more win to secure a spot in the Conference USA title game, but coach Charles Kelly insists the focus remains on taking it one game at a time.
When told on Tuesday that a single victory would guarantee a place in the championship, Kelly responded, "I appreciate you letting me know that. I had no idea about that. No idea. Honestly, it's the truth, I had no idea." The Gamecocks (7-2, 5-0 CUSA) share first place with Liberty (8-1, 5-0) in the league standings, while Middle Tennessee (5-4, 3-2) sits third. Jacksonville State holds the tiebreaker over Liberty thanks to a head-to-head win.
Jacksonville State’s remaining schedule includes games at Western Kentucky on Saturday, a home match against Missouri State on November 21, and a trip to Delaware on November 28. A win in any of those three will clinch their spot in the title game.
Despite the proximity to a third straight championship appearance, Kelly said he has not been thinking about that possibility. "In all due respect, absolutely not," he said. His approach rejects the temptation to focus on standings or playoff scenarios. Instead, Kelly concentrates on preparing his team for each challenge as it comes.
Kelly’s mindset traces back to his time at Auburn, where he played defensive back from 1986 to 1989. He recalls his coach Pat Dye adopting a similar philosophy during a tough late-season stretch when Auburn faced Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Dye referred to those games as “Amen Corner,” borrowing the term from golf’s Masters tournament, where the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes have that name because they test a player’s staying power. “When you finish those three treacherous holes and you’re still in the tournament, you say, ‘Amen,’” Kelly explained.
“What we look at is we’re focusing on every shot that we got to make right now,” Kelly said about his team’s approach. “We’re not focused on championship talk; we’re focused on preparing like a champion, because what happens is when you start looking at those outcomes and worried about the outcome, that’s how people lose the Masters.”
Kelly’s Auburn teams won the SEC championship in 1987, 1988, and 1989, sweeping the Florida-Georgia-Alabama stretch each year. He credits Dye’s focus on the immediate task for their success.
“The guys that have won [the Masters] more times than not focus on the next shot,” Kelly said. “So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Jacksonville State’s next game at Western Kentucky will test that philosophy. The Gamecocks must prepare carefully to avoid letting the pressure of their current position distract them. Kelly’s insistence on ignoring the bigger picture could help maintain the team’s composure.
As the team prepares for Saturday’s game, Kelly remains focused on the process rather than the potential outcome. His approach reflects a belief that staying present in each moment offers the best chance at success. The Gamecocks hold the advantage in their conference race, but their coach’s attention stays fully on the tasks ahead.
According to Yahoo Sports.
