No. 5 — Texas Southern head coach Darrell Asberry
Darrell Asberry has a tough task on his hands.
Asberry was hired last December to revive a Texas Southern program that just a few short years ago unexpectedly won the conference championship.
A task that might take longer than expected with losses of key players in the backfield and at the receiver position. Then there is the whole postseason ban thingy that casts a dark cloud over the outfit.
Asberry spent the last six years at Division II Shaw winning three CIAA crowns and leading the school to two postseason appearances.
Entering 2012, the one-time Jackson State offensive assistant will have no such luxury taking over a unit that is primed to make a run at a championship.
But what he will have at his disposal is one of the better defenses in the SWAC. Retaining Kevin Ramsey as defensive coordinator to direct the group certainly helps matters.
Being consistent on offensive and special teams, however, will serve as barometers to determine if Asberry’s pre-season declarations of emphasizing discipline and accountable is effective (especially after blasting the Riko Smalls-led offense after a lackluster spring game performance).
The Tigers don’t figure to win the Western Division this season. But Asberry’s job — with renewed vigor pumping through the fan base as a result of the team playing at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston — is to ensure TSU is competitive until the rebuild is compete.
