What was months, then turned into weeks, has now becomes just days as the start of the 2010 football season is around the corner.
What a better way to start off the preseason festivities than with the annual SWAC Media Day held at the Cahaba Grand Convention Center in the center of Alabama.
Joined by sophomore receiver Chris Williams (Birmingham, Ala.) and senior defensive lineman Reginald Foster (Amite, La.), head coach Karl Morgan braved the trip from the Mississippi Delta to Birmingham for his first conference media day.
“Today has been an enlightening experience,” said Morgan. Morgan, along with Williams and Foster, spent the initial hours of the day answering questions from the conference-spread media contingent.
Forty-six days and counting until the start of the season and the Mississippi Valley State group all seemed filled with enthusiasm and energetic.
“I am just elated that the summer is over,” said Williams during the interview session. “I know that a number of my teammates have been working hard individually back on their hometowns. Now it is time for us to come together and show the hard work that has been put in.”
Foster remarked that he was eager to get back into the routine and assist the program as it searches for a conference title. “I am entering my senior season at MVSU. I would love nothing better to play hard for Coach Morgan – bring him in with a title and I personally leave with a ring.”
Announced at the banquet were the predicted order of finish and the preseason all-conference teams. When the order was announced, the Delta Devils were picked to finish fifth in the Eastern Division, which is already serving to drive both Williams and Foster.
“Being chosen fifth removes the target off our back, but also now we know that no one expects much from us outside of our locker room, and that is cool. We know how good we want to be, now we must go out and prove it on the field,” said Foster.
“I think that a lot of people do not know what to expect of us,” said Williams. “While that sounds bad to a lot of people, all it means is that we have a lot of work to do. Truth be told, I feel like going to work out in the gym and on the field right now.”
With the Delta Devils predicted to finish fifth, three members of the team were chosen. Foster, along with senior linebacker Rory Malone and senior defensive back Markkus Davis were named to the preseason second team.
Foster finished last season with 59 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and a pass breakup. Malone led the team in tackles with 76 and added 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a pass breakup. Davis was second on the team in tackles (72) and finished with three tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups.
