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League championship game could feature rematch
Alabama A&M in East, Grambling in West favorites to return to Birmingham
By TOMMY HICKS
Sports Reporter
BIRMINGHAM -- If the coaches and sports information directors of the Southwestern Athletic Conference are correct, the league is in for a rerun at this year's championship game.
Grambling, led by head coach Doug Williams, will be seeking its fourth consecutive SWAC crown and is picked by the coaches and SIDs to get that opportunity as the West Division champion. In the East, Alabama A&M, which faced the Tigers a year ago, is picked to get another chance to claim the title.
Southern is the No. 2 pick in the West, followed by Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View. Jackson State is picked to challenge Alabama A&M in the East, followed by Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State.
Here is a quick look at the SWAC teams (with the exception of Alabama State, which is highlighted on this page):
EAST
-- ALABAMA A&M: There's a good reason why the Bulldogs are picked to repeat as the East champs -- experience. Alabama A&M has 14 starters returning from the team that dropped its first two games (Jacksonville State and Grambling) before winning eight of its next nine, then lost to Grambling in the SWAC title game.
Talent is another reason. Offensively, the Bulldogs will look to linemen Robert Lewis and Jonathan Woodard and tight end Jacob Wilson of Mobile to take charge. Running back Jeremiah Bonds, who rushed for 584 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, leads the backfield. Tim Robinson Jr. and Johnny Keith will wrestle for the starting quarterback spot, with Jonathan Rowland set at fullback. Nick Wells is the top receiver.
Consensus All-America pick Robert Mathis, last year's SWAC Defensive Player of the Year who set Division I-AA records for sacks, tackles for losses and forced fumbles, is gone. But the defense still has Ali Hasan and Jerald Harris on the line, Lionel Macklin at linebacker and Henry Freeman, Martel Holt, Levernonte Turner and Reginald Johnson returning in the secondary.
"We just feel good about our situation, especially now that we've had a year to work with this group," second-year head coach Anthony Jones said.
-- JACKSON STATE: The Tigers are expected to make it hard for Alabama A&M to earn a return trip to the title game. With 13 returning starters, Jackson State has the nucleus of a strong team, although first-year head coach James Bell declared, "We have no returning starters" in opening competition for every position.
The offense features quarterback Robert Kent, who passed for 3,374 yards and 31 touchdowns last year. He'll look for wide receiver Chris Jones (57 catches, 807 yards) and Tim Manning (665 catches, 1,077 yards) with his passes. Torrey Ross also returns at receiver, with linemen James Randle, Chris Bates and Albert Stinson offering protection.
Lineman Deon DeBoise leads the defense, with help from fellow returning starters Arthur Sample and Bobby Mays up front, as well as free safety Lamont Woulard, linebacker Bobby Bell and defensive back Michael Cooley.
The Tigers were 7-4 a year ago.
-- ALCORN STATE: A strong start last season was countered by a difficult finish. The Braves won five of their first six games but dropped four of the final five to finish the year 6-5 overall, 3-4 in the SWAC. Head coach Johnny Thomas said a rash of injuries was the biggest culprit in his team's troubles down the stretch.
The linebacker corps will be the strength of the Alcorn defense, with All-SWAC pick Omega Logan leading the group along with Jermaine Johnson and Dwan Wilson, who is also a preseason All-SWAC pick. Up front, Bryan Williams is the anchor. The secondary is led by Tyrone Parsons.
Running back Sidney Dumas leads the offensive returnees and a solid group of running backs. LaDarien Strauss will be the leader of the offensive line. Donald Carrie will be the quarterback, with Kelvin Clark and Clifford Perry the top receivers.
-- MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE: The Delta Devils have a big name in charge, but Willie Totten is no longer eligible to play. Still, following a 5-6 record last season in his first year as head coach, especially on the heels of a winless 2001 season, there is optimism MVSU is on the rise.
"Last year we came up here waving the flag," Totten said. "This year, we're not waving the flag. We feel like we're doing the things we have to do to get better."
Quarterback Carey Weaver leads an offense that has nine returning starters. Weaver is joined by fullback Brandon Dawson and wide receivers Will Smith, Jimmy Davenport and Kendrick Wade, as well as linemen Travis Martin, Coy Miller, Michael Smith and Blake Basherini. On defense, six starters are back, including nose tackle Damion Williams, end Brian Smith, linebacker Daimeon Collins and backs Sean Hill, Prince Hite and Okeefe Henderson.
The defense made a huge turn around last year, placing among the leaders in several key categories where a year ago the Devils finished last in the league in almost every defensive category.
WEST
-- GRAMBLING STATE: Doug Williams is doing a fine job of following in the footsteps of legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson. Williams has led the Tigers to three straight SWAC titles and 30 wins in that span, while picking up the league's Coach of the Year honor all three of those seasons.
He has assembled plenty of talent at Grambling, which boasts SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Bruce Eugene -- 4,455 yards and 43 touchdowns passing, 535 yards, nine touchdowns rushing last year -- at quarterback. Eugene has Calvin Colquitt and Tramon Douglas back to catch his passes, as well as tight end Gershone Jessie. Center Lance Wright and guard Darryl Rodgers return on the offensive line.
End Calvin Arnold, tackle Jimmy Zachary and linebacker John Petty return to their starting spots on defense, as do cornerback Octavious Bond and strong safety Michael Daigre.
"Hopefully, we can duplicate what we've done the last few seasons," Williams said.
-- SOUTHERN: Pete Richardson enters his 11th season at Southern looking for his sixth SWAC title. He has three times led the Jaguars to 11-win seasons. Coming off a 6-6 mark last season, Richardson said, "The only direction we've got to go is up."
Helping him toward that goal will be 13 returning starters, seven on offense and six on defense. The top returning player is SWAC preseason Defensive Player of the Year pick Lenny Williams, a senior defensive back who has already earned three All-SWAC honors. He collected six interceptions and 72 total tackles a year ago.
Joining Williams as returning starters on defense are lineman Perry Davis, linebacker Eddie Green, linebacker Jabari Green, end Aandr? Payton and end Kevin Young. Offensively, the Jaguars are led by quarterback Quincy Richard, who passed for 11 touchdowns and 1,279 yards last year. He'll be well-protected, with linemen Chad Green, Nicholas Price, Mynia Smith and Thomas Saulsby back in the starting lineup. Wide receivers Ard Alfred and Adam Nelson are also back.
-- TEXAS SOUTHERN: Time wasn't on the Tigers' side last year, at least not according to coach Bill Thomas. On the way to a 4-7 record (3-4 in the league), the team lost four games in the final two minutes and all seven losses came in the final five minutes.
"If things fall right for us we could fare well and hopefully have a real good year," Thomas said.
Those hopes are aided by the fact the Tigers have a solid offensive line, led by Herbert Rouse and a young, but talented group of receivers. Jacob Chavan leads the quest for the starting role at quarterback. On defense, the Tigers have All-SWAC pick Robert Watson leading the way from his end position. The linebackers and secondary are a concern, Thomas said, with young players filling most of those positions.
-- ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF: Another team looking for improvement is UAPB. The Lions were a disappointing 3-8 last year, including 3-6 against SWAC teams. The good news, according to coach Lee Hardman, is the fact there are 11 returning starters on the roster.
"The key for us will be depth," he said.
Quarterback Antonio Lovelady, who passed for 1,318 yards and 11 touchdowns, returns. So, too, does running back Calvin Thomas, wide receiver Brian Thomas Miller and tight end Brian Jones. Linemen Sedarrin Freeman and Robert Toatley are also back.
On defense, the secondary will be the leading group. Free safety Randy Caldwell, strong safety Terrell Hammonds and cornerback Keith Scott return. Last year, the secondary accounted for 14 interceptions, seven by Caldwell. Lineman Rodney Washington and linebacker Haywood Small also return to their starting slots.
-- PRAIRIE VIEW A&M: The Panthers are still looking for their first winning season since 1976 when they were 6-5. They were 5-5 in 1988. PVAM has won just nine games since 1989, including last year's 1-10 mark, but that win came in a 35-13 decision over SWAC champ Grambling.
"A long time back, Prairie View was a champion," new coach C.L. Whittington said. "We have that opportunity again. I have been given an opportunity."
And a big challenge. Fourteen starters are back, seven each on offense and defense. The offensive line boasts three of those returnees -- Lamond Foster, Brian Mitchell and Chris Thomas. Fullback Donald Brown also returns, as do tight end Jason Ford and wide receivers Charles Washington and Bertrum Jackson.
Alabama A&M in East, Grambling in West favorites to return to Birmingham
By TOMMY HICKS
Sports Reporter
BIRMINGHAM -- If the coaches and sports information directors of the Southwestern Athletic Conference are correct, the league is in for a rerun at this year's championship game.
Grambling, led by head coach Doug Williams, will be seeking its fourth consecutive SWAC crown and is picked by the coaches and SIDs to get that opportunity as the West Division champion. In the East, Alabama A&M, which faced the Tigers a year ago, is picked to get another chance to claim the title.
Southern is the No. 2 pick in the West, followed by Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View. Jackson State is picked to challenge Alabama A&M in the East, followed by Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State.
Here is a quick look at the SWAC teams (with the exception of Alabama State, which is highlighted on this page):
EAST
-- ALABAMA A&M: There's a good reason why the Bulldogs are picked to repeat as the East champs -- experience. Alabama A&M has 14 starters returning from the team that dropped its first two games (Jacksonville State and Grambling) before winning eight of its next nine, then lost to Grambling in the SWAC title game.
Talent is another reason. Offensively, the Bulldogs will look to linemen Robert Lewis and Jonathan Woodard and tight end Jacob Wilson of Mobile to take charge. Running back Jeremiah Bonds, who rushed for 584 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, leads the backfield. Tim Robinson Jr. and Johnny Keith will wrestle for the starting quarterback spot, with Jonathan Rowland set at fullback. Nick Wells is the top receiver.
Consensus All-America pick Robert Mathis, last year's SWAC Defensive Player of the Year who set Division I-AA records for sacks, tackles for losses and forced fumbles, is gone. But the defense still has Ali Hasan and Jerald Harris on the line, Lionel Macklin at linebacker and Henry Freeman, Martel Holt, Levernonte Turner and Reginald Johnson returning in the secondary.
"We just feel good about our situation, especially now that we've had a year to work with this group," second-year head coach Anthony Jones said.
-- JACKSON STATE: The Tigers are expected to make it hard for Alabama A&M to earn a return trip to the title game. With 13 returning starters, Jackson State has the nucleus of a strong team, although first-year head coach James Bell declared, "We have no returning starters" in opening competition for every position.
The offense features quarterback Robert Kent, who passed for 3,374 yards and 31 touchdowns last year. He'll look for wide receiver Chris Jones (57 catches, 807 yards) and Tim Manning (665 catches, 1,077 yards) with his passes. Torrey Ross also returns at receiver, with linemen James Randle, Chris Bates and Albert Stinson offering protection.
Lineman Deon DeBoise leads the defense, with help from fellow returning starters Arthur Sample and Bobby Mays up front, as well as free safety Lamont Woulard, linebacker Bobby Bell and defensive back Michael Cooley.
The Tigers were 7-4 a year ago.
-- ALCORN STATE: A strong start last season was countered by a difficult finish. The Braves won five of their first six games but dropped four of the final five to finish the year 6-5 overall, 3-4 in the SWAC. Head coach Johnny Thomas said a rash of injuries was the biggest culprit in his team's troubles down the stretch.
The linebacker corps will be the strength of the Alcorn defense, with All-SWAC pick Omega Logan leading the group along with Jermaine Johnson and Dwan Wilson, who is also a preseason All-SWAC pick. Up front, Bryan Williams is the anchor. The secondary is led by Tyrone Parsons.
Running back Sidney Dumas leads the offensive returnees and a solid group of running backs. LaDarien Strauss will be the leader of the offensive line. Donald Carrie will be the quarterback, with Kelvin Clark and Clifford Perry the top receivers.
-- MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE: The Delta Devils have a big name in charge, but Willie Totten is no longer eligible to play. Still, following a 5-6 record last season in his first year as head coach, especially on the heels of a winless 2001 season, there is optimism MVSU is on the rise.
"Last year we came up here waving the flag," Totten said. "This year, we're not waving the flag. We feel like we're doing the things we have to do to get better."
Quarterback Carey Weaver leads an offense that has nine returning starters. Weaver is joined by fullback Brandon Dawson and wide receivers Will Smith, Jimmy Davenport and Kendrick Wade, as well as linemen Travis Martin, Coy Miller, Michael Smith and Blake Basherini. On defense, six starters are back, including nose tackle Damion Williams, end Brian Smith, linebacker Daimeon Collins and backs Sean Hill, Prince Hite and Okeefe Henderson.
The defense made a huge turn around last year, placing among the leaders in several key categories where a year ago the Devils finished last in the league in almost every defensive category.
WEST
-- GRAMBLING STATE: Doug Williams is doing a fine job of following in the footsteps of legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson. Williams has led the Tigers to three straight SWAC titles and 30 wins in that span, while picking up the league's Coach of the Year honor all three of those seasons.
He has assembled plenty of talent at Grambling, which boasts SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Bruce Eugene -- 4,455 yards and 43 touchdowns passing, 535 yards, nine touchdowns rushing last year -- at quarterback. Eugene has Calvin Colquitt and Tramon Douglas back to catch his passes, as well as tight end Gershone Jessie. Center Lance Wright and guard Darryl Rodgers return on the offensive line.
End Calvin Arnold, tackle Jimmy Zachary and linebacker John Petty return to their starting spots on defense, as do cornerback Octavious Bond and strong safety Michael Daigre.
"Hopefully, we can duplicate what we've done the last few seasons," Williams said.
-- SOUTHERN: Pete Richardson enters his 11th season at Southern looking for his sixth SWAC title. He has three times led the Jaguars to 11-win seasons. Coming off a 6-6 mark last season, Richardson said, "The only direction we've got to go is up."
Helping him toward that goal will be 13 returning starters, seven on offense and six on defense. The top returning player is SWAC preseason Defensive Player of the Year pick Lenny Williams, a senior defensive back who has already earned three All-SWAC honors. He collected six interceptions and 72 total tackles a year ago.
Joining Williams as returning starters on defense are lineman Perry Davis, linebacker Eddie Green, linebacker Jabari Green, end Aandr? Payton and end Kevin Young. Offensively, the Jaguars are led by quarterback Quincy Richard, who passed for 11 touchdowns and 1,279 yards last year. He'll be well-protected, with linemen Chad Green, Nicholas Price, Mynia Smith and Thomas Saulsby back in the starting lineup. Wide receivers Ard Alfred and Adam Nelson are also back.
-- TEXAS SOUTHERN: Time wasn't on the Tigers' side last year, at least not according to coach Bill Thomas. On the way to a 4-7 record (3-4 in the league), the team lost four games in the final two minutes and all seven losses came in the final five minutes.
"If things fall right for us we could fare well and hopefully have a real good year," Thomas said.
Those hopes are aided by the fact the Tigers have a solid offensive line, led by Herbert Rouse and a young, but talented group of receivers. Jacob Chavan leads the quest for the starting role at quarterback. On defense, the Tigers have All-SWAC pick Robert Watson leading the way from his end position. The linebackers and secondary are a concern, Thomas said, with young players filling most of those positions.
-- ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF: Another team looking for improvement is UAPB. The Lions were a disappointing 3-8 last year, including 3-6 against SWAC teams. The good news, according to coach Lee Hardman, is the fact there are 11 returning starters on the roster.
"The key for us will be depth," he said.
Quarterback Antonio Lovelady, who passed for 1,318 yards and 11 touchdowns, returns. So, too, does running back Calvin Thomas, wide receiver Brian Thomas Miller and tight end Brian Jones. Linemen Sedarrin Freeman and Robert Toatley are also back.
On defense, the secondary will be the leading group. Free safety Randy Caldwell, strong safety Terrell Hammonds and cornerback Keith Scott return. Last year, the secondary accounted for 14 interceptions, seven by Caldwell. Lineman Rodney Washington and linebacker Haywood Small also return to their starting slots.
-- PRAIRIE VIEW A&M: The Panthers are still looking for their first winning season since 1976 when they were 6-5. They were 5-5 in 1988. PVAM has won just nine games since 1989, including last year's 1-10 mark, but that win came in a 35-13 decision over SWAC champ Grambling.
"A long time back, Prairie View was a champion," new coach C.L. Whittington said. "We have that opportunity again. I have been given an opportunity."
And a big challenge. Fourteen starters are back, seven each on offense and defense. The offensive line boasts three of those returnees -- Lamond Foster, Brian Mitchell and Chris Thomas. Fullback Donald Brown also returns, as do tight end Jason Ford and wide receivers Charles Washington and Bertrum Jackson.