HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Football

Guest Column: The mind of Alcorn’s Fred McNair, a common thread

Van Chestang by Van Chestang
February 11, 2019
0
Fred McNair Alcorn
1.9k
VIEWS

The unassuming disposition of Alcorn State’s head football coach Fred McNair falls right in line with the institution he represents. Both are quiet, reserved, and modest in countenance, yet vast in appearance. Though if you take time and dig deeper, you’ll see a rich history interwoven connecting the two.

Dating all the way back to 1992- 94, continuing to Alcorn State’s past 3 SWAC Championships, five straight Eastern Division titles along with 2014’s HBCU national title, there has been one lucky charm, a common thread so to speak…Fred McNair.

In the Steve McNair era, it was Fred McNair (also known as “Original Air”) who first recruited and then cultivated Steve’s eminence talent for Alcorn. Whether by phone, being the big brother of counsel, or by combing through film analyzing coverages and quarterback mechanics, Original Air was there for Steve and Alcorn.

Unbeknownst to most, Fred McNair was honing his talents of being a recruiter and QB whisperer of sorts with Steve. Fred has proven to be quite the recruiter for Alcorn State once more, hauling in five, yes, five 3-star recruits on offense alone this past signing day for the Braves.

Once former Braves head coach Jay Hopson pegged Fred as the quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach in 2012, Fred went to work. Enter John Gibbs Jr., McNair’s first assignment. Gibbs was a prospect who wasn’t known as much of a passer his freshman year with just a 48 percent completion percentage for 1,406 yards and eight touchdowns, but as we eventually witnessed, he had something. Gibbs had a twinkling; a spark that was recognized by the coaching staff that was needed for this Braves squad.

Fred McNair
Photo credit: Herman Shelton

By 2014, his Junior year, Gibbs had transformed into a champion and filled out his 6-6 frame. He managed to throw 189-of-324 passes for 2482 yards, and 21 touchdowns, combined with 1,006 rushing yards on 135 carries and 11 touchdowns. When Gibbs’s season was cut short by injury in 2015, backup Lennoris Footman stepped right in. Living up to his namesake, Footman led the Braves in spectacular fashion leading the team to another SWAC championship and Celebration Bowl appearance. Footman proved to be a consummate leader for the Braves. Only injuries hampered him as he saw his completion percentage rise from a mere 40% to 60% by his senior year under McNair’s tutelage.

Next in line to lead Alcorn State was incumbent Noah Johnson, an extremely talented player, but raw. How could now head coach McNair harness his skill set to maintain the Braves’ championship form? In my opinion, it all culminated during a precarious time during the 2018 season: homecoming versus Alabama State.

Johnson struggled mightily, but despite his struggles, Alcorn still dominated the matchup and probably could have easily won that game with Johnson at the helm. Instead, McNair’s uncanny vision led him to sit Johnson as fans and teammates alike watched in agony as Alcorn succumbed to the Hornets in a tough 28-25 overtime loss on that clement day. What fans, teammates, and Johnson learned were that McNair needed him to be at his absolute best at all times to navigate the treacherous SWAC waters ahead.

Going into the 2018 season, McNair knew his Braves faced a steep 10-game stretch without a single bye week until the final week of the season. There could be no more missteps in SWAC play. Johnson responded emphatically, throwing for 2207 yards and 15 touchdowns (boasting a 62 percent completion percentage) while rushing for 1080 yards and 11 touchdowns. Johnson finished the season as a SWAC champion and SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2018.

Fred McNair’s gamble paid off. He raised the SWAC trophy with his players and staff in jubilation in the Braves’ first-ever home-based SWAC Championship Game. He is proving to be a savant for Alcorn. It was his first SWAC championship as head coach, his third as a member of the coaching staff, and fifth … as a common thread.

Van Chestang is an Alcorn State University alumnus

Tags: Alcorn State
Van Chestang

Van Chestang

Related Posts

HBCU football veterans have message for ex-NFL players turned coaches

by HBCU Sports
July 17, 2025
0
HBCU football veterans have message for ex-NFL players turned coaches

As HBCU football programs attract coaches with celebrity status, discussion is still stirring about what it means. During the MEAC/SWAC Challenge press conference, coaches participating in the game...

Read moreDetails

Southern football in 2025 will be built on foundation and lunch pail guys

by Chris Stevens
July 17, 2025
0
Terrance Graves. Southern

Terrence Graves knows a thing or two about football and architecture. The two are closely related, as Southern's head football coach explained during Wednesday's SWAC Football Media Day....

Read moreDetails

Grambling State coach says ‘bank accounts’ are running college football

by HBCU Sports
July 17, 2025
0
Grambling State coach says ‘bank accounts’ are running college football

In a candid conversation about the shifting landscape of college football, one HBCU coach didn’t mince words about the impact of NIL deals. “The game has changed so...

Read moreDetails

HBCU football coach resigns day after conference media day appearance

by Jarrett Hoffman
July 16, 2025
0
HBCU football coach resigns day after conference media day appearance

With a month remaining before the start of the 2025 HBCU football season, Edward Waters head coach  Toriano Morgan resigned. According to a report from Football Scoop, Morgan...

Read moreDetails

Here’s how T.C. Taylor and Jackson State plan to defend its HBCU national title

by HBCU Sports
July 16, 2025
0
T.C. Taylor, Jackson State

After the thrilling heights of last season’s national championship run, Jackson State finds itself awash in expectation to repeat in 2025. Coach T.C. Taylor, whose leadership helped galvanize...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
South Carolina State spoils homecoming for Howard, wins 27-21

South Carolina State announces 2019 football schedule

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • TPs Pre-Season Rankings
  • NCAA Hirings, Firings And Retirings 2024-2025 Part 2
  • SWAC Announces "SWAC TV"
  • Can we 12 PV fans + 5 probationary PV fans have some WIC, Welfare, Stamps, Section 8, something for the sTu game ticket?
  • Texas Southern, y'all hard-headed and don't listen.
  • If you're subscribing to the "SWAC TV" sTu vs PVAMU football game, can you sign in please?
  • Song Requests Thread for the 2025 Band Season
  • Teddy Bridgewater suspended for giving impermissable benefits to his players
  • Listings of FCS Schools Opting In and Opting Out of the House settlement
  • The 24th thread about Trump

  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

X