Texas Southern will not be intimidated when they take on Alabama State Saturday.
Not with what they’ve been though.
Texas Southern (4-0) is off to its best start since 2000 when the school won the SWAC championship.
Head coach Darrell Asberry credits the resurgence from a 2013 season that saw them drop to 2-9 to a roster that stayed committed to the program through a litany of NCAA sanctions and penalties that saw scholarship reductions and banishment from postseason play.
“We’ve come a long way, Asberry said. “It’s the attitude of the kids. “They’ve been through a lot together and they’re so much better.”
Texas Southern’s resolve was tested early when the offense lost starting quarterback Homer Causey for three weeks due to injury.
Backup Jamal Small was a solid replacement, as he threw seven touchdowns to just two interceptions in four games.
“It is a plus when you have two good quarterbacks who can make plays for you,” Asberry said. “Both of those guys will play.”
Their next opponent, Alabama State (3-1), will be a litmus test for the rebuilding process.
“This is the game people say we aren’t supposed to win,” he said about facing the SWAC East favorites. “If this program can go into Montgomery and get a win, that would be great for this program.”