Southern University head football coach Terrence Graves said Monday that he remains focused on preparing his team for Florida A&M despite growing speculation about his job status following Saturday’s homecoming loss.
During Monday’s SWAC football coaches media call, Graves addressed his future for the first time since Southern athletic director Roman Banks indicated that the university would “evaluate” the head coach’s status after the Jaguars’ 24-3 loss to Prairie View.
“We’ve talked. We always have conversations every week,” Graves said. “And as I said, right now, I’m the head football coach at Southern. It’s business as usual. I’m doing a conference call. When I get off here, I’m headed to do the coaches show. We’ll have meetings tonight. We have practice tonight like we do every Monday night. So it’s business as usual. Until something changes, then I’m just going to still do what I do.”
The Jaguars, now 1-6 overall and 0-3 in SWAC play, have struggled to find consistency on offense. Graves acknowledged those frustrations while commending his players’ effort and resilience.
“We’re just consistently inconsistent,” he said. “We can move the ball up and down the field, but when it gets close, we fumbled the ball on the 24-yard line going in. It’s been frustrating — disappointing for the seniors, the players, the alumni, everybody.”
When asked how the difficult season has affected him personally and professionally, Graves leaned on faith and perspective.
“I’m a competitor, and certainly I’d rather be six and one than one and six,” he said. “But spiritually, I’m fine. I’m a strong man of faith. I’m at peace with who I am and whose I am.”
Graves added that he refuses to let adversity define his outlook.
“You have two choices in life,” he said. “You either put your head down and go ‘woe is me,’ or you keep your head down and keep working and fight through it. If you fight through it, then you’ll come out better on the other side.”
Southern will host Florida A&M on Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
