BATON ROUGE - After a slow start through three games on the offensive side of the ball, Southern football head coach Marshall Faulk decided to shake things up against Louisiana Christian.

Jags offensive coordinator Ken Merchant was moved from the sideline to the booth, and playcalling duties were handed to senior advisor Fred McNair.

"It's a collaborative effort," said Faulk. "I kind of moved (McNair's) role up to where I wanted him communicating with the quarterbacks. Ken (Merchant's) a New Yorker. He gets fired up, and the chemistry with my quarterback is just not where I want it to be. I needed a little Mississippi drawl, a little slower pace, when things aren't good, to soothe him down."

The early returns on the change, albeit against an NAIA opponent in Louisiana Christian, looked quite good. The Jags put up over 500 yards of total offense, and Trey Holly rushed for 200 yards with two touchdowns.

"That's how we're going to operate from here on out," said Faulk.

Southern plays Jackson State in the Boombox Classic to open SWAC play on Saturday, Sept. 26.