PsOTW & Tuesday news

NOTE: I hope this posts correctly. Blogger won't let me sign in on the Web, so I'm trying this with the e-mail posting tool. Sorry, folks.

Players of the week have been announced. As we noted yesterday, Eastern Illinois running back Norris Smith, a sophomore, gets the offensive nod after gaining 154 yards on 22 carries and two scores against Murray State. UT-Martin linebacker Markeseo Jackson, a senior, picks up the honor on defense, with eight tackles, seven solo tackles, a fumble recovery and a broken-up pass against Samford. Southeast Missouri State punter, David Simonhoff, also a senior, is the specialist of the week; he booted six for an average of 50.7 yards, with a long punt of 69 yards. And Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner, a sophomore transfer from South Carolina, is the newcomer of the week, after throwing for 260 yards and two touchdowns against Jax State.

And now, Tuesday's news:

For the second day in a row, The Anniston (Ala.) Star (sorry, subscribers only) asks what Jacksonville State will do now that it's not playing for an OVC championship. Again, the answer is pretty much this: Keep playing football. Another item says cornerback and return man Craig Agee will undergo surgery on a broken finger this week. It's not expected to keep him out of Saturday's game against Tennessee Tech. Also, JSU athletic director Jim Fuller says he still is negotiating with coach Jack Crowe about a new contract.

The Gadsden (Ala) Times also examines the Gamecocks' road forward. Crowe tells the paper: "I think in our best interest, if we are going to talk about a championship, we need to talk about the one next year, in 2007."

For Southeast Missouri State, the goal is to finish above .500, according to the Southeast Missourian. Coach Tony Samuel says the Redhawks will need a better effort in the second half of games from here on out to accomplish that.