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

Bigger than rivalries: Alcorn State gets support from rival SWAC coach after battling through harrowing week

Kendrick Marshall by Kendrick Marshall
September 20, 2021
0
Felix Harper, Alcorn State

Photo: Mandela Jones/HBCU Sports

795
VIEWS

Alcorn State was placed in the unenviable position of preparing for a game without the ability to practice or work out due to a lack of training staff.

For two days, last week ahead of its game at South Alabama, the Braves couldn’t practice or, said head coach Fred McNair, even put the players through routine conditioning drills.

By NCAA rule, all athletic programs must have a trainer available for practices and games.

Also read: Alcorn State cancels practice amid ‘disheartening’ athletic training staff shortage

Despite the challenges of the week, Alcorn State fought valiantly in a 28-21 loss to the Jaguars. But those untenable 48 hours not involved in on-field football activity was evident, said McNair.

“We didn’t get a chance to condition the young men like we should have,” he said in response to a question about whether his players physically were worn down in the fourth quarter. We didn’t get a chance to condition at all.

“Later on in the game, it kind of caught up with us. So my guys were cramping up because of that. I told the guys that we don’t make excuses, we find solutions. The guys played hard for this coaching staff and continue to do that.”

McNair said the team now has a full-time athletic trainer working with the team. A report by the Vicksburg Post indicated that the team lost its full-time trainer right before the season and had been using part-time workers outsourced from Mississippi-based Merit Health.

When asked what message should the school’s administration take away from the sequence of events that hamstrung the football operation, the longtime coach said, “just this is a very important position to have in your department.”

During his portion of Monday’s media session, Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders offered support for McNair and lamented about Alcorn’s plight.

“I wish we could have the relationship that we could call each other because we have how many hospitals in this city (Jackson),” said Sanders. “I probably would have did it myself … sent you several trainers. Those kids deserve to be there. Those kids deserve to play.”

And we can’t practice because of trainers? Like, please. My brother McNair is a darn good coach and that’s a good team.

Sanders, the egalitarian that he is, petitioned McNair to reach out to him for assistance.

“My brother McNair if you can hear me right now if you have any problem call me. If I can help, I’m gonna help immediately,” said Sanders, who explained that he first encouraged McNair while on a recruiting trip at Southern Miss. with one of his sons.

“This is bigger than these little rivalries. This is about these kids, man. That’s a problem up top. That’s not him, that’s a problem somewhere else.  This is one of our treasures in HBCU. We’ve got to have his back.”

Tags: Alcorn State
Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall is an award-winning journalist and a graduate of Jackson State University.

Related Posts

A beefed up Alcorn State vows it will not ‘get pushed around’ again in 2025

by HBCU Sports
July 19, 2025
0
All-SWAC defensive lineman cites NCAA ruling as reason for transfer portal entry

Alcorn State isn't going to be a pushover in 2025. Fresh off a year in which several close losses knocked the Braves out of the SWAC West title...

Read moreDetails

Tennessee State adds DC Defenders UFL title-winning coach to football staff

by HBCU Sports
July 19, 2025
0
One-time HBCU football player Shannon Harris named UFL Coach of the Year

Reggie Barlow continues to assemble a strong staff for his first year at Tennessee State. The longtime HBCU coach has hired D.C. Defenders UFL championship coach Shannon Harris...

Read moreDetails

Fraternity chapter expelled from HBCU campus after hazing death investigation

by Chris Stevens
July 18, 2025
0
Fraternity chapter expelled from HBCU campus after hazing death investigation

An HBCU has decided to remove a Black Greek Letter Organization from its campus following the death of a student pledge. Southern University has expelled the Beta Sigma...

Read moreDetails

Reggie Barlow says Tennessee State OVC/Big South preseason ranking ‘is cute’

by HBCU Sports
July 18, 2025
0
Reggie Barlow not shying away from Tennessee State roster or financial challenge

Tennessee State University’s new head football coach, Reggie Barlow, didn’t mince words about the Tigers eighth-place projection in the league’s preseason poll. “That preseason poll is cute,” Barlow...

Read moreDetails

Delaware State locks up basketball coach to contract extension

by Chris Stevens
July 18, 2025
0
On the eve of the MEAC tournament, each head coach explains how their team can win it all

A rising HBCU basketball program plans to keep its coach around for the long haul. Delaware State announced that men's basketball coach Stan Waterman has signed a contract...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Alabama A&M running back Gary Quarles named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week

Alabama A&M running back Gary Quarles named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Subscribe

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • The 24th thread about Trump
  • TPs Pre-Season Rankings
  • Southern puts assistant band director on leave amid probe into death of fraternity pledge
  • If you're subscribing to the "SWAC TV" sTu vs PVAMU football game, can you sign in please?
  • Lighten the Mood XIV
  • Saban whines to Trump about NIL
  • SWAC Announces "SWAC TV"
  • The Chi on Showtime (Thread 3)
  • EA Sports
  • Can we 12 PV fans + 5 probationary PV fans have some WIC, Welfare, Stamps, Section 8, something for the sTu game ticket?

  • 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