Jackson State is turning the page to SWAC play with a little extra motivation.
As the Tigers prepare for the start of conference competition, head coach T.C. Taylor is reminding his players of where the league expected them to finish — and using those preseason expectations as fuel.
Jackson State opens SWAC play this weekend against Southern after a strong start to the season. The Tigers’ nonconference schedule, Taylor said, has helped prepare his team for the challenges ahead.
But the biggest motivation may come from something much simpler: remembering what others thought of them.
“I told those guys, remember what the conference thought you would finish at,” Taylor told the media on Monday. “You know, that’s going to be huge. Remember what they think, you know, the conference think of you.”
Jackson State, which has won the SWAC East four of the last five seasons, was picked to finish second behind Alabama State in the standings in the conference preseason poll.
Taylor’s message is clear. The Tigers have heard the preseason projections, and now they have an opportunity to show where they believe they belong.
Rather than dwelling on the expectations, Jackson State is using them as motivation heading into the portion of the schedule that ultimately matters most.
“It’s something that motivates us,” Taylor said. “And we’re ready to go, you know, come this weekend.”
For Jackson State, the start of SWAC play brings a different level of urgency. The Tigers now have the opportunity to turn their preseason expectations into results — beginning this weekend.
