Third and Long: SWAC - League crown, not national, still the goal
By Tony Moss, The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - And so it was that a bizarre set of circumstances led national I-AA observers to look upon last year?s Bayou Classic with a little more attention than usual.
The traditional Thanksgiving weekend affair between Grambling and Southern would help determine who would play for the SWAC Championship, as it has before and often will, but that wasn?t what was on the I-AA nation?s mind. Due to the scheduling irregularities that came with the Sept. 11 tragedy, the Tigers/Jaguars contest was being played on the last week of the regular season, and not the same day as the opening playoff round, as is the norm. The victor in the nationally broadcast GSU/Southern game would go on to the SWAC Championship the following week, conflicting with the opening playoff round, but the loser would be free to enter in the round of 16 if invited as an at-large entry. At 8-2 and in the national rankings for the entire season, there was talk that Grambling could factor into the postseason mix. But GSU won, as predicted, and the I-AA nation was saved the debate that would have come with the SWAC?s first participant since 1997.
There is no longer a debate, except for those of us who wonder why the league doesn?t send its champion to the playoffs, and kind of wish it did. The SWAC is perennially I-AA?s attendance leader, and with the new regional playoff format in place, the conference would be very likely to earn its share of home games. The SWAC complained for years that the deck was stacked against its teams in the early rounds, due in large part to a low strength of schedule that sent programs like Alcorn State and Jackson State to what the league viewed as undesirable first-round venues.
That wouldn?t happen as often with the altered system, but it shouldn?t make much of a difference where the SWAC is concerned. The league will have a December championship game for the fourth straight year in 2002, and the conference is close to extending their contract with the City of Birmingham to host the game for an additional two. Until that time, the I-AA nation will continue to look at the SWAC and its nationally ranked programs and wonder "what if?"
Below is a team-by-team look at the 2002 SWAC race, with teams ranked by The Sports Network?s predicted order of finish:
SWAC Eastern: 1. Jackson State; 2. Alcorn State; 3. Alabama State; 4. Alabama A&M; 5. Mississippi Valley State.
SWAC Western: 1. Grambling State; 2. Southern; 3. Texas Southern; 4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff; 5. Prairie View A&M.
1. JACKSON STATE (7-4, 5-2). LAST YEAR: Robert Hughes? club scored its first loss in a wild, 61-58 affair against Alabama State on Oct. 6, yielding the SWAC Eastern driver?s seat to the Hornets in the process. A 30-16 defeat at the hands of eventual league champion Grambling State two weeks later effectively eliminated JSU, though the Tigers affected the race by spanking rival Alcorn State (52-28) on Nov. 17.
OFFENSE: The offensive attack will start with quarterback and Payton Award candidate Robert Kent (245-453, 3640 yards, 31 TD, 21 INT, 184 rushing yards, 9 TD), who will look to match all of his totals last year other than the interception tally. Tailback Tarnaka Counslor (677 rushing yards, 8 TD) could see more work due in large part to the graduation of top receivers T.C. Taylor (84 receptions, 1234 yards, 11 TD) and Lawrence Story (55 receptions, 831 yards, 5 TD). Tim Manning (28 receptions, 581 yards, 6 TD) is the best returning wideout, and Chris Jones (12 receptions, 178 yards), Robert Jacobs (19 receptions, 292 yards, 2 TD), and Cletis Gordon should be among the new names in the mix at that slot. Protecting Kent will be tackles Michael Matthews, Johnny Maddox and center Chris Bates, among others.
DEFENSE: The Tigers were assaulted in the passing game a year ago, giving up 2,586 passing yards and finishing next to last in the league with 31.1 points yielded per game. The pass rush will have to be better, so Bobby Bell (17 tackles, 1 sack) has been moved from linebacker to end and will combine with returnee Bobby Mays (49 tackles, 6 sacks). Deon DeBoise (43 tackles, 6 sacks) and Llvee Archie (25 tackles) will be the tackles. Linebacker Elgin Andrews (112 tackles) is the team?s top defender, and will team with former backups Brandon Jones (8 tackles) and James McGowan (7 tackles) in that corps. New defensive coordinator Greg Johnson has done a lot of shuffling to his secondary, but free safety Lamont Woulard (10 tackles) and strong safety Corey Bonner (11 tackles) should be present there. Michael Cooley (9 tackles, 1 INT) and Al Moore (4 tackles) were listed as the starting corners coming out of the spring.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Johnnie Neal (3-7 FG, 25-30 XP) did the place-kicking a year ago, and will also likely add punting to his repertoire. Manning has seen time as a punt (11.8 avg., 1 TD) and kickoff (29.5 avg.) returner.
SCHEDULE: The Tigers will likely have their tails handed to them by I-A Southern Miss (8/31), and must follow that contest up with road games against North Carolina A&T (9/7), Tennessee State (9/14), and Southern (9/21). JSU also has Alabama State (10/12) and Grambling State (10/26) among its seven road contests.
PROGNOSIS: Jackson State certainly has some areas of concern, such as receiver, linebacker, and the secondary, and the Tigers will also play arguably the toughest schedule in the SWAC. Still, JSU has plenty of talent with Kent and Counslor on offense and Andrews on defense, and should ultimately have fewer question marks than the other teams in the eastern division. Hughes hired a proven defensive coach in Johnson, and the Tigers should be markedly improved on that side of the ball this season, despite the new faces. Look for Jackson State to claim the division championship, but don?t expect Hughes and company to be favored over Grambling or Southern in the SWAC title game.
2. ALCORN STATE (6-5, 5-2). LAST YEAR: After an 0-11 2000 season, head coach Johnny Thomas likely saved his job by rallying his troops for a winning campaign. A 20-17 win over Alabama State in week two helped the Braves gain confidence, and a home victory over Samford (17-7) was also something of which to be proud. Thomas and company were eliminated from SWAC Championship contention with a 52-28 loss to Jackson State on Nov. 17.
OFFENSE: The Braves finally appear to have the quarterback they have lacked since the Steve McNair era, as Donald Carrie (185-360, 2743 yards, 23 TD, 14 INT) emerged as a redshirt freshman and was pivotal in the team?s success. Joining Carrie in the backfield will be returnees in tailback Cletis Walker (479 rushing yards, 5 TD) and fullback Albert Jones (135 rushing yards, 1 TD), and Delta State transfer Sidney Dumas should also get a chance to carry the football. Carrie?s top target will be All-America candidate Kris Peters (56 receptions, 1002 yards, 12 TD), with ?01 injury casualty Clifford Perry flanking the other side. ASU is solid on the line, as tackles Jason Lewis and Terence Johnson, guards LeDarien Strauss and William Smith, and center Zephaniah Smalley were all starters a year ago.
DEFENSE: The defensive unit figures to be a work in progress, with a host of new starters in both the defensive line and at linebacker. Tackle Bryan Williams and end Edwin Norwood (17 tackles, 4 sacks) will lead a line that should also include nose tackle Alvin Gilmore (9 tackles) and end Eric Bradford (20 tackles, 1 INT). Linebackers Jermaine Johnson and Dwan Wilson (27 tackles) are new to the starting lineup, but Omega Logan (49 tackles, 2 sacks) has vast experience. The secondary should be one of the club?s most tested features, with cornerbacks Tyrone Parsons (33 tackles, 4 INT) and Willie Blair (41 tackles, 1 INT) combining with safeties Chris Lee (20 tackles, 3 INT) and Tim Batts (23 tackles, 2 INT).
SPECIAL TEAMS: The kicking game will be young, as punter Shane Phillips and kicker David McConnell are both newcomers. Lonny Teagle, who has handled most of the team?s punt (11.7 avg.) and kickoff (17.7 avg.) returns, is back.
SCHEDULE: An early three-game stretch with Grambling (9/7), Hampton (9/21 at the Meadowlands), and Alabama State (9/28) will properly gauge the team?s progress. Alcorn won?t have a home game after Oct. 5, traveling to play the likes of Southern (11/2) and Jackson State (11/23) during a six-game season-ending road swing.
PROGNOSIS: Alcorn State was one of the nation?s most improved clubs a year ago, but it is probably a bit of a stretch to think the Braves can parlay that success into a division or conference title. Carrie is a solid player, but lacks a standout tailback to take the pressure off of him. Newcomers at defensive line, linebacker, and on special teams also raise a few doubts about Alcorn?s postseason ability, as does a treacherous schedule. ASU should be able to field a winning team in 2002, but anything in the way of a championship would be an upset.
3. ALABAMA STATE (8-4, 6-1). LAST YEAR: In just his second season at Alabama State, head coach L.C. Cole delivered his Hornets to the SWAC title game, where they lost to Grambling State (38-31). The season also yielded an eight-game win streak, one that included inspired wins over Jackson State (61-58), and Grambling State (45-38). A Thanksgiving Day loss to Tuskegee (31-27) took some sting out of the Hornets immediately prior to the loss in the SWAC Championship.
OFFENSE: Gone is record-setting quarterback Darnell Kennedy (201-346, 3151 yards, 33 TD, 11 INT, 467 rushing yards, 5 TD), a Payton Award finalist in 2001 and one of the top players in school history. Former Georgia Tech transfer Jermaine Crenshaw (9-20, 80 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 85 rushing yards) appears to have the edge on the starting job, though Arkansas transfer Gary Brashears will push him. Whoever plays quarterback will throw to a host of new receivers, including Troy State transfers Chad Lucas and Thomie Venisee, JC additions Greg Jones and Steve Vickers, and returnee Machion Sanders (24 receptions, 431 yards, 2 TD). Tight end Chris Coleman (42 receptions, 620 yards, 9 TD) could be the team?s most capable target. At tailback, veteran Addarell Howard (126 yards, 2 TD) is atop the list of replacements for Larry Bias (1165 rushing yards, 9 TD). Andreas Brown will lead the offensive line, and JC transfer Darnell Brumfield will be one of many new faces in the trenches.
DEFENSE: Sackmaster Earl Cochran (62 tackles, 8.5 sacks) is back to lead a defensive line that should also feature Kansas transfer Demond Benford and brothers Eric and Derrick Haston. Al Walker (51 tackles) and Richard Stein were among the linebackers in preseason camp, though Stein could be sidelined indefinitely with a spinal injury. Jamaal Fletcher (22 tackles, 2 sacks) and Rico Jackson (16 tackles) should be in the rotation at LB as well after seeing significant time as freshmen. Safety Roderick Cade (72 tackles) returns after leading the club in tackles a year ago, and Marquis Hubbard (13 tackles) and Ronald Dillon (38 tackles, 1 INT) are among the other vets in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS: David Beckford (45.9 avg.) returns as one of the nation?s best punters, but the team will have to replace kicker Thomas Elmes (7-10 FG, 47-52 XP). Sanders (7 returns, 1.6 avg.) has some experience as a punt returner, but Cole will also have to find someone to bring back kickoffs.
SCHEDULE: ASU has a tough non-conference game with Chattanooga (9/7), but also plays non-stalwarts Miles (8/31), Morris Brown (10/5), Savannah State (11/23), and Tuskegee (11/30) outside of league play. The Hornets ? road schedule includes probable league powers Grambling State (11/9), Jackson State (10/12), and Alcorn State (9/28).
PROGNOSIS: Alabama State is always something of a wild card, picking up late transfers and unknown new faces to fill holes. Cole always seems to find good players, however, and that should be enough to keep the rest of the SWAC on edge. That said, losing offensive standouts like Kennedy, Bias, and wideout B.J. Tiger will force the club to look elsewhere for its all-important offensive production, and both lines figure to suffer from a learning curve as well. ASU won?t slip into the pre-L.C. doldrums in 2002, but have a few too many question marks to appear as a realistic contender to repeat as division champs.
4. ALABAMA A&M (4-7, 3-4). LAST YEAR: One season after playing in the SWAC Championship, a mixture of youth, injuries, and off-the-field strife led to a disappointing season for the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M lost six of its first seven games, with blowouts at the hands of Grambling (30-7) and Alabama State (35-0) an indication of the team?s offensive woes. A&M rallied to win three of its last four, but it wasn?t enough to save head coach Ron Cooper?s job. Cooper resigned under pressure to take an assistant?s position at Wisconsin, and Morehouse head coach Anthony Jones was brought in to take the program?s reigns.
OFFENSE: Chris Gunn (84-169, 1069 yards, 4 TD, 7 INT, 163 rushing yards, 4 TD), last year?s starting quarterback, will be at the top of the depth chart entering ?02 but could be unseated by sophomore Tim Robinson. Miniature tailback Melvin Gideon (114 rushing yards, 1 TD) is vying to be the starter in his senior year, but Memphis transfer Jeremiah Bonds and JC transfer Rory Palmer will also get a shot. Jonathan Rowland (140 rushing yards, 2 TD) should settle in again at fullback. At wideout, top ?01 receiver Nick Wells (22 receptions, 315 yards, 3 TD) is back, and should be flanked by all-purpose back Neal Lindsey (13 receptions, 202 yards, 227 rushing yards, 5 TD). Tackles Robert Louis and Robert Wilson will anchor a line that should also feature guards Corey Nolan and Jonathan Woodward along with center Granville LeCroix.
DEFENSE: Robert Mathis (37 tackles, 9 sacks) is one of the league?s best defensive ends, and should be joined by converted linebacker Desmond Hardy and Southern Miss transfer Brian Evans at the position. Mac Hampton (10 tackles, 1 sack) and Curry Calloway (3 tackles, 1 sack) should appear on the interior for defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns. Lionel Macklin (81 tackles, 6 sacks) and Travoris Nunn (37 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) were starters at LB last year, and Jamaal Ware comes back from an ?01 injury to help their cause. A secondary that had its struggles a year ago wasn?t helped when projected starting free safety Levernonte Turner (26 tackles, 1 INT) was lost for the first month of the season with a knee injury. Henry Freeman (39 tackles, 4 INT) will likely move over from his cornerback position to fill the gap, and Southern Miss transfer Thad Cribbs will get the starting nod in place of Freeman. Cornerback Reggie Johnson (42 tackles, 1 INT) and strong safety Wesley Bynum (13 tackles) should also be fixtures in the unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Rashad Cylar (1-5 FG, 23-24 XP) is being pegged for full-time punting and place-kicking duties, and Lindsey will get a chance as a punt (9.7 avg.) and kickoff (20.3 avg.) returner.
SCHEDULE: The Bulldogs? young players will get a test in the opening stretch against Jacksonville State (8/31) and Grambling State (9/14), but a non-conference tilt with Prairie View (9/21) at home should get A&M in the win column. A neutral-site contest with Southern (10/5 in Indianapolis) will be difficult, as will the homecoming affair with Tennessee State (10/12).
PROGNOSIS: Jones? kinder, gentler approach to his football team should be a welcomed change for A&M?s players, who struggled last season under the abrasive and unpredictable Cooper. The Bulldogs are not that far removed from the club that won the eastern division in 2000, and should be able to improve on their struggles of a year ago. But Jones will still have to figure out the team?s offensive deficiencies of 2001, while implementing a defensive system that differs from the one deployed last season. Alabama A&M is definitely a dark horse in the eastern division race, but is probably a year away from being a major player on the SWAC scene.
5. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (0-11, 0-7). LAST YEAR: It was a long season for Valley, which came within single digits of an opponent only once, a 35-28 loss to Alcorn State on Nov. 3. Losses to Division II Delta State (25-3) and Prairie View (34-17) were suitably ugly, and Jackson State (66-36), Sam Houston State (68-13), Tennessee State (41-3), Southern (49-0), and Alabama State (57-24) simply humiliated the Delta Devils. Following the season, head coach LaTraia Jones was fired and former MVSU standout QB and offensive coordinator Willie "Satellite" Totten was pegged to resuscitate his alma mater.
OFFENSE: Totten vowed to bring back the "Satellite Express," which will be a pass-happy, multiple-receiver set. The man to run that show will either be ?01 backup Carey Weaver (28-57, 369 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) or JC transfer Ian Richardson. JC transfer Kendrick Wade will be added to a group of wideouts that includes returnees William Smith (26 receptions, 339 yards, 2 TD), Jimmy Davenport (24 receptions, 275 yards, 2 TD), O.J. Moore (11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD), and P.J. Washington (4 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD). John Hervey (5 receptions, 40 yards) should rank as the full-time tight end, and former backup Tony Taylor (37 rushing yards) is listed as the top tailback. The offensive line was probably MVSU?s worst element last year, so tackle Mario Branch, guard Coy Miler, and center Travis Martin will be among the players Totten needs to improve.
DEFENSE: Valley?s defense was pathetic last season, so Totten brought in a wealth of transfers to stop the bleeding. In the secondary, safeties Jermaine Grandberry (39 tackles, 3 INT) and Chris Robinson (27 tackles) are back, but Mississippi State castoff Bernard Bell and four JC transfers will also play a role in the defensive backfield. Cedric McDonald (105 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Daimeon Collins (64 tackles, 2.5 sacks) rank as the most experienced linebackers, and Isiah Ross (35 tackles) should also be featured. Up front, end Raymond Griffin (32 tackles, 1.5 sacks) should anchor a thin defensive line, and Derrick Lee has been moved from tight end to help the pass rush. Tackles Joseph Crear (19 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Damion Williams (19 tackles, 1 sack) should round out the unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Joseph Blanco and Fred Akon are newcomers to the program and will vie for kicking chores. Joseph Whitehead is listed among the candidates to take over for Tommy Adams (9.9 punt return avg., 26.6 kickoff return avg.) as a return specialist.
SCHEDULE: Valley will try to snap its 12-game overall losing streak against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9/7), but the game is not designated as a SWAC contest. Other tilts that MVSU might have pegged as potential wins are Delta State (9/14), and Paul Quinn (10/5), the latter coached by Archie Cooley, Totten and Jerry Rice?s head coach while at Valley in the mid-80s. A home affair with Prairie View (11/2) is probably the team?s best shot at a league win.
PROGNOSIS: It still doesn?t look all that pretty at MVSU, but an influx of transfers and a new attitude have already helped the Delta Devils many times over. Totten needs to recruit players that will add to the depth of the program, and with an exciting offensive scheme shouldn?t have too many problems doing that. Still, this team can?t hope to make too much noise this year without all-important depth, size, and experience on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition, there aren?t a ton of skill players of a proven quantity from which Totten can choose. Mississippi Valley State should win a couple of games this year, and opponents will no longer be able to take the Delta Devils lightly, but this still bears the look of a last place team in the SWAC eastern.
1. GRAMBLING STATE (10-1, 6-1). LAST YEAR: Doug Williams? team won its second consecutive SWAC title, with a 45-38 setback against Alabama State on Nov. 3 ranking as the club?s lone blemish. GSU would avenge that loss, 38-31, in the league title game, and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the country.
OFFENSE: Talented quarterback Randy Hymes (126-260, 1938 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT, 302 rushing yards, 7 TD) is gone, leaving signal-caller duties in the hands of ?01 backup Bruce Eugene (51-101, 693 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT). Eugene will work with a new fleet of starting receivers, with Thyron Anderson (13 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD) and Tramon Douglas (19 receptions, 231 yards, 1 TD) appearing at the top of the list along with tight end Gershone Jessie (1 reception, 23 yards, 1 TD). The running back situation is also unsettled, and Karrell Charles (43 yards) and Lindsey Sanders are at the top of the depth chart there. Williams has the most certainty on his line, with tackle Brandon James and guard Terry Riley returning as starters and Ken Ogletree, Lance Wright, and Darryl Rodgers each providing experience.
DEFENSE: GSU will be led on the interior line by tackles Willie Gray (26 tackles) and Antwan Lawrence (25 tackles, 3 sacks), two players that have All-Conference potential. Transfers Kenneth Pettway (Southern Arkansas) and Travares Comegys (Southern Miss) should be contributors at end. Ron Johnson (23 tackles, 2 sacks) has moved from his former end position to help the linebackers, and ?01 backups Corey Baker (6 tackles) and Fred Wicker (12 tackles) will have to help compensate for the loss of Robert Taylor (81 tackles). The secondary is stable behind cornerback Chris Brown (36 tackles, 8 INT) and safety Denmark Reed (65 tackles, 6 INT), and Travis Massey (14 tackles) should be able to step in for departed Calvin Spears (51 tackles, 2 INT) at the other corner. Kentucky transfer Octavious Bond has also been moved from receiver to the defensive backfield.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Tigers are set here, as kicker Brian Morgan (18-25 FG, 39-51 XP) and punter Marcus Yanez (41.1 avg.) are among the best specialists in the country. D.J. Clay returned a punt for an 82-yard touchdown last year, and also brought back a pair of kickoffs (13.0 avg.).
SCHEDULE: A challenging first month includes non-league games at McNeese State (8/31) and against Tennessee State (9/21) in Las Vegas. In conference play, the Tigers get Jackson State (10/26) and Alabama State (11/9) at home, prior to the annual war with Southern (11/30) in the Bayou Classic.
PROGNOSIS: With only two starters back on offense, most would discern that Grambling State?s preseason Top 10 ranking is a little on the high side. But the Tigers boast more depth than any other team in the SWAC, and that will show this season. Eugene is a capable quarterback, and his fellow starting skill players have been waiting for their turns to shine. Defensively, stalwarts like Gray, Brown, and Reed will ensure that GSU remains among the elite defensive clubs in the league. The kicking game is solid too, something that can?t be said of most teams in the conference. Even with a few question marks, Grambling State should continue to outcoach, outplay, and outclass most of its SWAC brethren, and the Bayou Classic will once again take on a "championship game before the championship game" feel.
2. SOUTHERN (7-4, 5-2). LAST YEAR: Southern was staggered in their quest for a SWAC western title when Jackson State got the better of the Jaguars, 24-21, on Oct. 13. But a 17-14 overtime win against Florida A&M three weeks later helped the team restore its confidence, and Southern went into the Nov. 24 Bayou Classic with a chance to upend Grambling and get back to the title game. Pete Richardson?s team spotted GSU a 27-0 lead and eventually fell, 30-20, ending their season.
OFFENSE: Quarterback Terrence Levy (131-249, 1666 yards, 10 TD, 17 INT, 97 rushing yards, 4 TD) has graduated, leaving former backup Quincy Richard (27-72, 471 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 54 rushing yards, 2 TD) as the most likely candidate to take over. Richard will work in the backfield with Texas transfer Victor Ike, and will also welcome back top receiver Michael Hayes. Hayes, a Payton Award candidate, went down with a knee injury in the Jags? first game a year ago. Al?Trevion Joubert (29 receptions, 291 yards, 2 TD) and Kentrell Plain (26 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TD) will also lend assistance at receiver, and Louisville transfer Keshan Fudge should also be a factor. Adam Nelson will be the new starting tight end. Guards Gary Jenkins and Daniel Leon will anchor the offensive line, along with center Jermaine Jackson. Tackles Nick Price and Mynia Smith will be the newcomers in the trenches.
DEFENSE: The line will feature some new faces, including Tennessee transfer Kevin Young and Rayland Johnson, who are battling Greg Coleman at end. Perry Davis (21 tackles, 2 sacks) and Arthur Smith (14 tackles, 2 sacks) are among the tackle candidates. Linebackers Chris Cooper (67 tackles, 6 sacks) and Jabari Greene (34 tackles, 2 sacks) are each returning, with Lendrick Francois (11 tackles) and Eddie Green (11 tackles, 1 sack) expected to add support. Corners Terrence Arnold (7 INT), Lenny Williams (48 tackles, 4 INT), and strong safety Herman Hartman (61 tackles, 1 sack) will occupy 75 percent of the secondary, and veteran Codie Smith (24 tackles, 4 INT) will likely be the opening-day starter at free safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Justin Mattingly should take over his formerly held punting chores, and newcomer Colby Miller is likely to battle Mattingly for place-kicking duties. Ezra Landry is a solid punt (11.8 avg.) and kickoff (21.4 avg.) return man.
SCHEDULE: Southern opens with a rough 1-2 of Tulane (8/31) and Northwestern State (9/7), then plays an important game with Jackson State two weeks later. Nicholls State (9/28) should be a challenge for the Jaguars, but Alcorn State (11/2) and Grambling (11/30) are the only teams thereafter that come off a winning season.
PROGNOSIS: There is no realistic possibility of Southern finishing lower than second in the western division this year, but the Jaguars? prospects for upending Grambling appear a little shaky. Richard has not been an effective passer in limited duty with Richardson?s club, and wasn?t sharp as the team opened August camp. It remains to be seen whether Hayes can recover from a serious knee injury, and whether Ike will truly be the answer at running back. Defensively, Southern looks to be in very good shape, and should be able to dominate most of the teams in the SWAC from that standpoint. But can the Jags? beat the Tigers? We?ll have to guess not, due to the aforementioned offensive questions. Southern is no worse than a very close second from an overall depth and talent standpoint.
3. TEXAS SOUTHERN (3-7, 2-5). LAST YEAR: Texas Southern failed to match its 8-3 mark of 2000, falling victim to injuries and finishing in a tie with Prairie View for third in the division. Bill Thomas? team was blown out by I-A UTEP (52-6) and Grambling State (43-3), and suffered close defeats to Alabama State (27-24) and Southern (7-6).
OFFENSE: Longtime Southern offensive coordinator Mark Orlando was hired away from the Jags in the offseason, though he won?t have too much to work with in the way of returning talent. Returnee Carlos Pierson will battle with UTEP transfer Gerred Lunnon for quarterback duties, and Herbert Winston has been moved from linebacker to fullback to help assist with the running game. Former wideout Timoty Boutee is at the top of the tailback depth chart. Wideout Cortez Hankton (61 receptions, 941 yards, 9 TD) is the Tigers? best returning offensive player, and Lynn Rivers (12 receptions, 94 yards) and Tyrone Reed (16 receptions, 168 yards, 2 TD) will also be counted on in Orlando?s pass-happy system. Tackle Kris Allen leads the line after missing all of 2001, and center Omar Ornelas and guards Ricky Wesley and Arry Moody should also see time.
DEFENSE: The defense will also have a new coordinator in former Houston assistant Danny Palmer. The leader of this unit is linebacker Lernard Mack (3 tackles, 1 sack), who missed most of 2001 after suffering a broken arm in the team?s opener. Demondrick Goins (28 tackles) and Billy Starling will also serve at linebacker. The secondary has experience, with cornerback Santino Hall (42 tackles, 6 INT) and safety Oliver Celestin (65 tackles, 3 INT) possessing all-conference potential. The defensive line will be thin and young - defensive ends Robert Watson and Wrendic Baity will combine with tackles Donald Mayo and Sydney Gordon (28 tackles, 3 sacks) in the pass rush.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Vince Patrick (12-19 FG, 21-22 XP) will resume his place-kicking duties, and Glen Wilson is listed as the new punter. Jeremiah Williams (19.3 avg.) returned kickoffs a year ago, and Hall (13.5 avg.) is dangerous punt returner.
SCHEDULE: TSU should get off to a winning start against Prairie View (8/31), but will then have to navigate a difficult three-game road swing with Howard (9/7), Alabama State (9/14), and Southwest Texas (9/21). Thomas? club gets Grambling State (11/2) in Houston, but must play Southern (11/16) in unfriendly Baton Rouge.
PROGNOSIS: Hiring talented new coordinators in Orlando and Palmer was a step in the right direction for Texas Southern, but neither of them can suit up and play. Without any proven backfield players to boast of, Orlando will have an uphill battle in getting his system the run the way he wants this season. Defensively, TSU is in better shape, especially with Mack and Hall both back and healthy. But across the board, the Tigers are not as deep and skilled as they need to be to compete for a division or league title. Thomas?s team will be middle-of-the-pack and probably somewhere near .500 in 2002, with an eye toward bigger and better things next season.
4. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (4-7, 1-6). LAST YEAR: A promising 3-1 start ended abruptly with a 60-7 loss at Grambling State, and Lee Hardman?s charges would never be the same thereafter. The Golden Lions would fall in six of their final seven contests, including humiliating defeats against Prairie View (35-16) and Alabama A&M (35-0).
OFFENSE: LaKendrick Powell (30-74, 405 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT, 84 rushing yards, 3 TD) will get the full-time snaps at quarterback this season, after serving in a part-time capacity a year ago. Calvin Thomas (49 rushing yards) and JC transfer Willie Collins will vie for tailback duties, and converted tight end and NFL prospect Phillip Doolin (20 receptions, 210 yards, 1 TD) will play in the slot. Divorice Pilcher (11 receptions, 133 yards) is the most experienced wideout, and Korea McKay is slated to see some action as well. The offensive line will likely consist of just two players with experience in tackle Courtney Van Buren and center Quintarius McCray. Guards Sedarrin Freeman, Norvell Golden, and tackle Brian Eaton will be the green starters.
DEFENSE: The defensive line will consist of a number of new starters, with end Ezekiel Davis (36 tackles) and tackles Rodney Washington (7 tackles, 1 sack) and Jan Yates (22 tackles) among the names that have surfaced there. Maurice Troutman (22 tackles, 3.5 sacks) will play one end if he recovers from injuries. The Golden Lions have veteran linebackers in Michael Shack (47 tackles), Zelman Sanders (27 tackles, 1 INT), and Haywood Small (44 tackles, 2 sacks). The secondary will be the defense?s top feature, as safeties Terrell Hammonds (54 tackles, 3 INT) and Jamal Joyner (50 tackles, 2 sacks) are back along with highly touted corner Chris Henry and Tyrone Walker (21 tackles).
SPECIAL TEAMS: Aaron Wall (6-7 FG, 16-20 XP, 43.6 punting avg.) is one of the country?s most underrated specialists. Calvin Thomas (12.5 avg.) has seen some action as a kickoff returner, and 4.3 40-yard dash man Tyrone Walker could see regular time at punt returner.
SCHEDULE: Arkansas-Pine Bluff has just one home game before the month of November, and that is Southern on Sept. 14. The Golden Lions travel to play Alcorn State (8/31), Alabama State (9/21), and Grambling State (10/19) in their first two months, but get Jackson State (11/2) and Alabama A&M (11/23) in Golden Lion Stadium thereafter.
PROGNOSIS: It could get ugly in Pine Bluff this year. A senior-laden team that couldn?t get anything done has given way to an untested band of youngsters that has largely yet to see the field. The lines, which are usually the top indicator of a team?s chances, are undersized, inexperienced, and undermanned. Doolin is a solid player in the slot, but won?t flourish with very few capable players around him, including a quarterback. Meanwhile, the SWAC portion of the schedule is hardly a cakewalk, leaving UAPB with very little chance to improve on last year?s 4-7. If they can beat Prairie View, the Golden Lions will finish fourth in the SWAC Western. Unfortunately for Hardman and his team, that looks like a pretty big "if."
5. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (3-7, 2-5). LAST YEAR: A three-win season is cause for celebration at Prairie View, and the school with at least half as many scholarships as all of its SWAC counterparts also scored two league victories - against Mississippi Valley State (34-17) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (35-16). The three-triumph campaign was the school?s best since 1988.
OFFENSE: Head coach Larry "Hardhat" Dorsey is high on quarterback DeShun Baker (81-211, 1080 yrads, 6 TD, 17 INT, 64 rushing yards, 3 TD), who has unimpressive stats but led the Panthers to all three of their wins a year ago. Tailback Jimmie Maxey (317 rushing yards, 5 TD) is another backfield player with experience. Baker?s best wideout will be Charles Washington (10 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD). Damon Wilson (3 receptions), Bentrum Wilson, and tight ends Jarrett Lowery and Jason Ford will provide other pass-catching options. Four starters are back on a typically thin and undersized line, but center Antwan McKinney, tackles Christopher Thomas and Frederick Hill, and guard Aaron Thompson do boast reps in the offense.
DEFENSE: Strong line play will be a key for the Panthers, and nose guard Sammie August (25 tackles), tackle Joe McQueen (28 tackles, 6 sacks), and end Ronnie Nunn (39 tackles, 7 sacks) will be the major players there. Daniel Blanson (37 tackles) and Charles Land (40 tackles, 1 INT) will man two of the linebacker slots, and Corey Stewart (27 tackles, 3 sacks) should be another impact player. Strong safety Sidney Taylor (58 tackles, 2 INT), corners Derrick McCullar (42 tackles, 1 INT) and Charles Thomas (28 tackles, 2 INT), and free safeties Thurman Roy (14 tackles, 1 INT) and Terrence White (8 tackles) will be in charge of improving the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Baker (34.2 avg.) adds punting duties to his QB chores, and Charles McCall (0-6 FG, 11-19 XP) is the incumbent place-kicker. Defensive back Thurman Roy is slated as a kick returner, and will likely (and amazingly) double as the team?s long snapper.
SCHEDULE: Prairie View has just one game at home Blackshear Field, that the homecoming contest against Alcorn State (10/12). In fact, Dorsey?s team will never suit up in the same locker room twice, although they play twice in Dallas and twice in Houston. The most winnable game on the schedule is probably against sub-Division I Paul Quinn (10/19).
PROGNOSIS: You have to give credit to Dorsey, who gets the most out of far fewer resources than any other coach in the SWAC possesses. That the Panthers are competitive as often as they are is amazing, and that they are now winning games is a minor miracle. With a number of returning players this year, there is certainly reason for optimism within the program. On the other hand, Prairie View can?t possibly expect to attain any measure of real success without a home field at which to play, and Dorsey?s team will likely be worn down by the team?s unique travel demands if nothing else. Don?t be surprised to see the Panthers win a few more games this year, but don?t expect them to get any closer to the .500 mark.
08/22 10:19:19 ET
By Tony Moss, The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - And so it was that a bizarre set of circumstances led national I-AA observers to look upon last year?s Bayou Classic with a little more attention than usual.
The traditional Thanksgiving weekend affair between Grambling and Southern would help determine who would play for the SWAC Championship, as it has before and often will, but that wasn?t what was on the I-AA nation?s mind. Due to the scheduling irregularities that came with the Sept. 11 tragedy, the Tigers/Jaguars contest was being played on the last week of the regular season, and not the same day as the opening playoff round, as is the norm. The victor in the nationally broadcast GSU/Southern game would go on to the SWAC Championship the following week, conflicting with the opening playoff round, but the loser would be free to enter in the round of 16 if invited as an at-large entry. At 8-2 and in the national rankings for the entire season, there was talk that Grambling could factor into the postseason mix. But GSU won, as predicted, and the I-AA nation was saved the debate that would have come with the SWAC?s first participant since 1997.
There is no longer a debate, except for those of us who wonder why the league doesn?t send its champion to the playoffs, and kind of wish it did. The SWAC is perennially I-AA?s attendance leader, and with the new regional playoff format in place, the conference would be very likely to earn its share of home games. The SWAC complained for years that the deck was stacked against its teams in the early rounds, due in large part to a low strength of schedule that sent programs like Alcorn State and Jackson State to what the league viewed as undesirable first-round venues.
That wouldn?t happen as often with the altered system, but it shouldn?t make much of a difference where the SWAC is concerned. The league will have a December championship game for the fourth straight year in 2002, and the conference is close to extending their contract with the City of Birmingham to host the game for an additional two. Until that time, the I-AA nation will continue to look at the SWAC and its nationally ranked programs and wonder "what if?"
Below is a team-by-team look at the 2002 SWAC race, with teams ranked by The Sports Network?s predicted order of finish:
SWAC Eastern: 1. Jackson State; 2. Alcorn State; 3. Alabama State; 4. Alabama A&M; 5. Mississippi Valley State.
SWAC Western: 1. Grambling State; 2. Southern; 3. Texas Southern; 4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff; 5. Prairie View A&M.
1. JACKSON STATE (7-4, 5-2). LAST YEAR: Robert Hughes? club scored its first loss in a wild, 61-58 affair against Alabama State on Oct. 6, yielding the SWAC Eastern driver?s seat to the Hornets in the process. A 30-16 defeat at the hands of eventual league champion Grambling State two weeks later effectively eliminated JSU, though the Tigers affected the race by spanking rival Alcorn State (52-28) on Nov. 17.
OFFENSE: The offensive attack will start with quarterback and Payton Award candidate Robert Kent (245-453, 3640 yards, 31 TD, 21 INT, 184 rushing yards, 9 TD), who will look to match all of his totals last year other than the interception tally. Tailback Tarnaka Counslor (677 rushing yards, 8 TD) could see more work due in large part to the graduation of top receivers T.C. Taylor (84 receptions, 1234 yards, 11 TD) and Lawrence Story (55 receptions, 831 yards, 5 TD). Tim Manning (28 receptions, 581 yards, 6 TD) is the best returning wideout, and Chris Jones (12 receptions, 178 yards), Robert Jacobs (19 receptions, 292 yards, 2 TD), and Cletis Gordon should be among the new names in the mix at that slot. Protecting Kent will be tackles Michael Matthews, Johnny Maddox and center Chris Bates, among others.
DEFENSE: The Tigers were assaulted in the passing game a year ago, giving up 2,586 passing yards and finishing next to last in the league with 31.1 points yielded per game. The pass rush will have to be better, so Bobby Bell (17 tackles, 1 sack) has been moved from linebacker to end and will combine with returnee Bobby Mays (49 tackles, 6 sacks). Deon DeBoise (43 tackles, 6 sacks) and Llvee Archie (25 tackles) will be the tackles. Linebacker Elgin Andrews (112 tackles) is the team?s top defender, and will team with former backups Brandon Jones (8 tackles) and James McGowan (7 tackles) in that corps. New defensive coordinator Greg Johnson has done a lot of shuffling to his secondary, but free safety Lamont Woulard (10 tackles) and strong safety Corey Bonner (11 tackles) should be present there. Michael Cooley (9 tackles, 1 INT) and Al Moore (4 tackles) were listed as the starting corners coming out of the spring.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Johnnie Neal (3-7 FG, 25-30 XP) did the place-kicking a year ago, and will also likely add punting to his repertoire. Manning has seen time as a punt (11.8 avg., 1 TD) and kickoff (29.5 avg.) returner.
SCHEDULE: The Tigers will likely have their tails handed to them by I-A Southern Miss (8/31), and must follow that contest up with road games against North Carolina A&T (9/7), Tennessee State (9/14), and Southern (9/21). JSU also has Alabama State (10/12) and Grambling State (10/26) among its seven road contests.
PROGNOSIS: Jackson State certainly has some areas of concern, such as receiver, linebacker, and the secondary, and the Tigers will also play arguably the toughest schedule in the SWAC. Still, JSU has plenty of talent with Kent and Counslor on offense and Andrews on defense, and should ultimately have fewer question marks than the other teams in the eastern division. Hughes hired a proven defensive coach in Johnson, and the Tigers should be markedly improved on that side of the ball this season, despite the new faces. Look for Jackson State to claim the division championship, but don?t expect Hughes and company to be favored over Grambling or Southern in the SWAC title game.
2. ALCORN STATE (6-5, 5-2). LAST YEAR: After an 0-11 2000 season, head coach Johnny Thomas likely saved his job by rallying his troops for a winning campaign. A 20-17 win over Alabama State in week two helped the Braves gain confidence, and a home victory over Samford (17-7) was also something of which to be proud. Thomas and company were eliminated from SWAC Championship contention with a 52-28 loss to Jackson State on Nov. 17.
OFFENSE: The Braves finally appear to have the quarterback they have lacked since the Steve McNair era, as Donald Carrie (185-360, 2743 yards, 23 TD, 14 INT) emerged as a redshirt freshman and was pivotal in the team?s success. Joining Carrie in the backfield will be returnees in tailback Cletis Walker (479 rushing yards, 5 TD) and fullback Albert Jones (135 rushing yards, 1 TD), and Delta State transfer Sidney Dumas should also get a chance to carry the football. Carrie?s top target will be All-America candidate Kris Peters (56 receptions, 1002 yards, 12 TD), with ?01 injury casualty Clifford Perry flanking the other side. ASU is solid on the line, as tackles Jason Lewis and Terence Johnson, guards LeDarien Strauss and William Smith, and center Zephaniah Smalley were all starters a year ago.
DEFENSE: The defensive unit figures to be a work in progress, with a host of new starters in both the defensive line and at linebacker. Tackle Bryan Williams and end Edwin Norwood (17 tackles, 4 sacks) will lead a line that should also include nose tackle Alvin Gilmore (9 tackles) and end Eric Bradford (20 tackles, 1 INT). Linebackers Jermaine Johnson and Dwan Wilson (27 tackles) are new to the starting lineup, but Omega Logan (49 tackles, 2 sacks) has vast experience. The secondary should be one of the club?s most tested features, with cornerbacks Tyrone Parsons (33 tackles, 4 INT) and Willie Blair (41 tackles, 1 INT) combining with safeties Chris Lee (20 tackles, 3 INT) and Tim Batts (23 tackles, 2 INT).
SPECIAL TEAMS: The kicking game will be young, as punter Shane Phillips and kicker David McConnell are both newcomers. Lonny Teagle, who has handled most of the team?s punt (11.7 avg.) and kickoff (17.7 avg.) returns, is back.
SCHEDULE: An early three-game stretch with Grambling (9/7), Hampton (9/21 at the Meadowlands), and Alabama State (9/28) will properly gauge the team?s progress. Alcorn won?t have a home game after Oct. 5, traveling to play the likes of Southern (11/2) and Jackson State (11/23) during a six-game season-ending road swing.
PROGNOSIS: Alcorn State was one of the nation?s most improved clubs a year ago, but it is probably a bit of a stretch to think the Braves can parlay that success into a division or conference title. Carrie is a solid player, but lacks a standout tailback to take the pressure off of him. Newcomers at defensive line, linebacker, and on special teams also raise a few doubts about Alcorn?s postseason ability, as does a treacherous schedule. ASU should be able to field a winning team in 2002, but anything in the way of a championship would be an upset.
3. ALABAMA STATE (8-4, 6-1). LAST YEAR: In just his second season at Alabama State, head coach L.C. Cole delivered his Hornets to the SWAC title game, where they lost to Grambling State (38-31). The season also yielded an eight-game win streak, one that included inspired wins over Jackson State (61-58), and Grambling State (45-38). A Thanksgiving Day loss to Tuskegee (31-27) took some sting out of the Hornets immediately prior to the loss in the SWAC Championship.
OFFENSE: Gone is record-setting quarterback Darnell Kennedy (201-346, 3151 yards, 33 TD, 11 INT, 467 rushing yards, 5 TD), a Payton Award finalist in 2001 and one of the top players in school history. Former Georgia Tech transfer Jermaine Crenshaw (9-20, 80 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 85 rushing yards) appears to have the edge on the starting job, though Arkansas transfer Gary Brashears will push him. Whoever plays quarterback will throw to a host of new receivers, including Troy State transfers Chad Lucas and Thomie Venisee, JC additions Greg Jones and Steve Vickers, and returnee Machion Sanders (24 receptions, 431 yards, 2 TD). Tight end Chris Coleman (42 receptions, 620 yards, 9 TD) could be the team?s most capable target. At tailback, veteran Addarell Howard (126 yards, 2 TD) is atop the list of replacements for Larry Bias (1165 rushing yards, 9 TD). Andreas Brown will lead the offensive line, and JC transfer Darnell Brumfield will be one of many new faces in the trenches.
DEFENSE: Sackmaster Earl Cochran (62 tackles, 8.5 sacks) is back to lead a defensive line that should also feature Kansas transfer Demond Benford and brothers Eric and Derrick Haston. Al Walker (51 tackles) and Richard Stein were among the linebackers in preseason camp, though Stein could be sidelined indefinitely with a spinal injury. Jamaal Fletcher (22 tackles, 2 sacks) and Rico Jackson (16 tackles) should be in the rotation at LB as well after seeing significant time as freshmen. Safety Roderick Cade (72 tackles) returns after leading the club in tackles a year ago, and Marquis Hubbard (13 tackles) and Ronald Dillon (38 tackles, 1 INT) are among the other vets in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS: David Beckford (45.9 avg.) returns as one of the nation?s best punters, but the team will have to replace kicker Thomas Elmes (7-10 FG, 47-52 XP). Sanders (7 returns, 1.6 avg.) has some experience as a punt returner, but Cole will also have to find someone to bring back kickoffs.
SCHEDULE: ASU has a tough non-conference game with Chattanooga (9/7), but also plays non-stalwarts Miles (8/31), Morris Brown (10/5), Savannah State (11/23), and Tuskegee (11/30) outside of league play. The Hornets ? road schedule includes probable league powers Grambling State (11/9), Jackson State (10/12), and Alcorn State (9/28).
PROGNOSIS: Alabama State is always something of a wild card, picking up late transfers and unknown new faces to fill holes. Cole always seems to find good players, however, and that should be enough to keep the rest of the SWAC on edge. That said, losing offensive standouts like Kennedy, Bias, and wideout B.J. Tiger will force the club to look elsewhere for its all-important offensive production, and both lines figure to suffer from a learning curve as well. ASU won?t slip into the pre-L.C. doldrums in 2002, but have a few too many question marks to appear as a realistic contender to repeat as division champs.
4. ALABAMA A&M (4-7, 3-4). LAST YEAR: One season after playing in the SWAC Championship, a mixture of youth, injuries, and off-the-field strife led to a disappointing season for the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M lost six of its first seven games, with blowouts at the hands of Grambling (30-7) and Alabama State (35-0) an indication of the team?s offensive woes. A&M rallied to win three of its last four, but it wasn?t enough to save head coach Ron Cooper?s job. Cooper resigned under pressure to take an assistant?s position at Wisconsin, and Morehouse head coach Anthony Jones was brought in to take the program?s reigns.
OFFENSE: Chris Gunn (84-169, 1069 yards, 4 TD, 7 INT, 163 rushing yards, 4 TD), last year?s starting quarterback, will be at the top of the depth chart entering ?02 but could be unseated by sophomore Tim Robinson. Miniature tailback Melvin Gideon (114 rushing yards, 1 TD) is vying to be the starter in his senior year, but Memphis transfer Jeremiah Bonds and JC transfer Rory Palmer will also get a shot. Jonathan Rowland (140 rushing yards, 2 TD) should settle in again at fullback. At wideout, top ?01 receiver Nick Wells (22 receptions, 315 yards, 3 TD) is back, and should be flanked by all-purpose back Neal Lindsey (13 receptions, 202 yards, 227 rushing yards, 5 TD). Tackles Robert Louis and Robert Wilson will anchor a line that should also feature guards Corey Nolan and Jonathan Woodward along with center Granville LeCroix.
DEFENSE: Robert Mathis (37 tackles, 9 sacks) is one of the league?s best defensive ends, and should be joined by converted linebacker Desmond Hardy and Southern Miss transfer Brian Evans at the position. Mac Hampton (10 tackles, 1 sack) and Curry Calloway (3 tackles, 1 sack) should appear on the interior for defensive coordinator Brawnski Towns. Lionel Macklin (81 tackles, 6 sacks) and Travoris Nunn (37 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) were starters at LB last year, and Jamaal Ware comes back from an ?01 injury to help their cause. A secondary that had its struggles a year ago wasn?t helped when projected starting free safety Levernonte Turner (26 tackles, 1 INT) was lost for the first month of the season with a knee injury. Henry Freeman (39 tackles, 4 INT) will likely move over from his cornerback position to fill the gap, and Southern Miss transfer Thad Cribbs will get the starting nod in place of Freeman. Cornerback Reggie Johnson (42 tackles, 1 INT) and strong safety Wesley Bynum (13 tackles) should also be fixtures in the unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Rashad Cylar (1-5 FG, 23-24 XP) is being pegged for full-time punting and place-kicking duties, and Lindsey will get a chance as a punt (9.7 avg.) and kickoff (20.3 avg.) returner.
SCHEDULE: The Bulldogs? young players will get a test in the opening stretch against Jacksonville State (8/31) and Grambling State (9/14), but a non-conference tilt with Prairie View (9/21) at home should get A&M in the win column. A neutral-site contest with Southern (10/5 in Indianapolis) will be difficult, as will the homecoming affair with Tennessee State (10/12).
PROGNOSIS: Jones? kinder, gentler approach to his football team should be a welcomed change for A&M?s players, who struggled last season under the abrasive and unpredictable Cooper. The Bulldogs are not that far removed from the club that won the eastern division in 2000, and should be able to improve on their struggles of a year ago. But Jones will still have to figure out the team?s offensive deficiencies of 2001, while implementing a defensive system that differs from the one deployed last season. Alabama A&M is definitely a dark horse in the eastern division race, but is probably a year away from being a major player on the SWAC scene.
5. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (0-11, 0-7). LAST YEAR: It was a long season for Valley, which came within single digits of an opponent only once, a 35-28 loss to Alcorn State on Nov. 3. Losses to Division II Delta State (25-3) and Prairie View (34-17) were suitably ugly, and Jackson State (66-36), Sam Houston State (68-13), Tennessee State (41-3), Southern (49-0), and Alabama State (57-24) simply humiliated the Delta Devils. Following the season, head coach LaTraia Jones was fired and former MVSU standout QB and offensive coordinator Willie "Satellite" Totten was pegged to resuscitate his alma mater.
OFFENSE: Totten vowed to bring back the "Satellite Express," which will be a pass-happy, multiple-receiver set. The man to run that show will either be ?01 backup Carey Weaver (28-57, 369 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) or JC transfer Ian Richardson. JC transfer Kendrick Wade will be added to a group of wideouts that includes returnees William Smith (26 receptions, 339 yards, 2 TD), Jimmy Davenport (24 receptions, 275 yards, 2 TD), O.J. Moore (11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD), and P.J. Washington (4 receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD). John Hervey (5 receptions, 40 yards) should rank as the full-time tight end, and former backup Tony Taylor (37 rushing yards) is listed as the top tailback. The offensive line was probably MVSU?s worst element last year, so tackle Mario Branch, guard Coy Miler, and center Travis Martin will be among the players Totten needs to improve.
DEFENSE: Valley?s defense was pathetic last season, so Totten brought in a wealth of transfers to stop the bleeding. In the secondary, safeties Jermaine Grandberry (39 tackles, 3 INT) and Chris Robinson (27 tackles) are back, but Mississippi State castoff Bernard Bell and four JC transfers will also play a role in the defensive backfield. Cedric McDonald (105 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Daimeon Collins (64 tackles, 2.5 sacks) rank as the most experienced linebackers, and Isiah Ross (35 tackles) should also be featured. Up front, end Raymond Griffin (32 tackles, 1.5 sacks) should anchor a thin defensive line, and Derrick Lee has been moved from tight end to help the pass rush. Tackles Joseph Crear (19 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Damion Williams (19 tackles, 1 sack) should round out the unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Joseph Blanco and Fred Akon are newcomers to the program and will vie for kicking chores. Joseph Whitehead is listed among the candidates to take over for Tommy Adams (9.9 punt return avg., 26.6 kickoff return avg.) as a return specialist.
SCHEDULE: Valley will try to snap its 12-game overall losing streak against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9/7), but the game is not designated as a SWAC contest. Other tilts that MVSU might have pegged as potential wins are Delta State (9/14), and Paul Quinn (10/5), the latter coached by Archie Cooley, Totten and Jerry Rice?s head coach while at Valley in the mid-80s. A home affair with Prairie View (11/2) is probably the team?s best shot at a league win.
PROGNOSIS: It still doesn?t look all that pretty at MVSU, but an influx of transfers and a new attitude have already helped the Delta Devils many times over. Totten needs to recruit players that will add to the depth of the program, and with an exciting offensive scheme shouldn?t have too many problems doing that. Still, this team can?t hope to make too much noise this year without all-important depth, size, and experience on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition, there aren?t a ton of skill players of a proven quantity from which Totten can choose. Mississippi Valley State should win a couple of games this year, and opponents will no longer be able to take the Delta Devils lightly, but this still bears the look of a last place team in the SWAC eastern.
1. GRAMBLING STATE (10-1, 6-1). LAST YEAR: Doug Williams? team won its second consecutive SWAC title, with a 45-38 setback against Alabama State on Nov. 3 ranking as the club?s lone blemish. GSU would avenge that loss, 38-31, in the league title game, and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the country.
OFFENSE: Talented quarterback Randy Hymes (126-260, 1938 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT, 302 rushing yards, 7 TD) is gone, leaving signal-caller duties in the hands of ?01 backup Bruce Eugene (51-101, 693 yards, 7 TD, 2 INT). Eugene will work with a new fleet of starting receivers, with Thyron Anderson (13 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD) and Tramon Douglas (19 receptions, 231 yards, 1 TD) appearing at the top of the list along with tight end Gershone Jessie (1 reception, 23 yards, 1 TD). The running back situation is also unsettled, and Karrell Charles (43 yards) and Lindsey Sanders are at the top of the depth chart there. Williams has the most certainty on his line, with tackle Brandon James and guard Terry Riley returning as starters and Ken Ogletree, Lance Wright, and Darryl Rodgers each providing experience.
DEFENSE: GSU will be led on the interior line by tackles Willie Gray (26 tackles) and Antwan Lawrence (25 tackles, 3 sacks), two players that have All-Conference potential. Transfers Kenneth Pettway (Southern Arkansas) and Travares Comegys (Southern Miss) should be contributors at end. Ron Johnson (23 tackles, 2 sacks) has moved from his former end position to help the linebackers, and ?01 backups Corey Baker (6 tackles) and Fred Wicker (12 tackles) will have to help compensate for the loss of Robert Taylor (81 tackles). The secondary is stable behind cornerback Chris Brown (36 tackles, 8 INT) and safety Denmark Reed (65 tackles, 6 INT), and Travis Massey (14 tackles) should be able to step in for departed Calvin Spears (51 tackles, 2 INT) at the other corner. Kentucky transfer Octavious Bond has also been moved from receiver to the defensive backfield.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Tigers are set here, as kicker Brian Morgan (18-25 FG, 39-51 XP) and punter Marcus Yanez (41.1 avg.) are among the best specialists in the country. D.J. Clay returned a punt for an 82-yard touchdown last year, and also brought back a pair of kickoffs (13.0 avg.).
SCHEDULE: A challenging first month includes non-league games at McNeese State (8/31) and against Tennessee State (9/21) in Las Vegas. In conference play, the Tigers get Jackson State (10/26) and Alabama State (11/9) at home, prior to the annual war with Southern (11/30) in the Bayou Classic.
PROGNOSIS: With only two starters back on offense, most would discern that Grambling State?s preseason Top 10 ranking is a little on the high side. But the Tigers boast more depth than any other team in the SWAC, and that will show this season. Eugene is a capable quarterback, and his fellow starting skill players have been waiting for their turns to shine. Defensively, stalwarts like Gray, Brown, and Reed will ensure that GSU remains among the elite defensive clubs in the league. The kicking game is solid too, something that can?t be said of most teams in the conference. Even with a few question marks, Grambling State should continue to outcoach, outplay, and outclass most of its SWAC brethren, and the Bayou Classic will once again take on a "championship game before the championship game" feel.
2. SOUTHERN (7-4, 5-2). LAST YEAR: Southern was staggered in their quest for a SWAC western title when Jackson State got the better of the Jaguars, 24-21, on Oct. 13. But a 17-14 overtime win against Florida A&M three weeks later helped the team restore its confidence, and Southern went into the Nov. 24 Bayou Classic with a chance to upend Grambling and get back to the title game. Pete Richardson?s team spotted GSU a 27-0 lead and eventually fell, 30-20, ending their season.
OFFENSE: Quarterback Terrence Levy (131-249, 1666 yards, 10 TD, 17 INT, 97 rushing yards, 4 TD) has graduated, leaving former backup Quincy Richard (27-72, 471 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 54 rushing yards, 2 TD) as the most likely candidate to take over. Richard will work in the backfield with Texas transfer Victor Ike, and will also welcome back top receiver Michael Hayes. Hayes, a Payton Award candidate, went down with a knee injury in the Jags? first game a year ago. Al?Trevion Joubert (29 receptions, 291 yards, 2 TD) and Kentrell Plain (26 receptions, 309 yards, 3 TD) will also lend assistance at receiver, and Louisville transfer Keshan Fudge should also be a factor. Adam Nelson will be the new starting tight end. Guards Gary Jenkins and Daniel Leon will anchor the offensive line, along with center Jermaine Jackson. Tackles Nick Price and Mynia Smith will be the newcomers in the trenches.
DEFENSE: The line will feature some new faces, including Tennessee transfer Kevin Young and Rayland Johnson, who are battling Greg Coleman at end. Perry Davis (21 tackles, 2 sacks) and Arthur Smith (14 tackles, 2 sacks) are among the tackle candidates. Linebackers Chris Cooper (67 tackles, 6 sacks) and Jabari Greene (34 tackles, 2 sacks) are each returning, with Lendrick Francois (11 tackles) and Eddie Green (11 tackles, 1 sack) expected to add support. Corners Terrence Arnold (7 INT), Lenny Williams (48 tackles, 4 INT), and strong safety Herman Hartman (61 tackles, 1 sack) will occupy 75 percent of the secondary, and veteran Codie Smith (24 tackles, 4 INT) will likely be the opening-day starter at free safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Justin Mattingly should take over his formerly held punting chores, and newcomer Colby Miller is likely to battle Mattingly for place-kicking duties. Ezra Landry is a solid punt (11.8 avg.) and kickoff (21.4 avg.) return man.
SCHEDULE: Southern opens with a rough 1-2 of Tulane (8/31) and Northwestern State (9/7), then plays an important game with Jackson State two weeks later. Nicholls State (9/28) should be a challenge for the Jaguars, but Alcorn State (11/2) and Grambling (11/30) are the only teams thereafter that come off a winning season.
PROGNOSIS: There is no realistic possibility of Southern finishing lower than second in the western division this year, but the Jaguars? prospects for upending Grambling appear a little shaky. Richard has not been an effective passer in limited duty with Richardson?s club, and wasn?t sharp as the team opened August camp. It remains to be seen whether Hayes can recover from a serious knee injury, and whether Ike will truly be the answer at running back. Defensively, Southern looks to be in very good shape, and should be able to dominate most of the teams in the SWAC from that standpoint. But can the Jags? beat the Tigers? We?ll have to guess not, due to the aforementioned offensive questions. Southern is no worse than a very close second from an overall depth and talent standpoint.
3. TEXAS SOUTHERN (3-7, 2-5). LAST YEAR: Texas Southern failed to match its 8-3 mark of 2000, falling victim to injuries and finishing in a tie with Prairie View for third in the division. Bill Thomas? team was blown out by I-A UTEP (52-6) and Grambling State (43-3), and suffered close defeats to Alabama State (27-24) and Southern (7-6).
OFFENSE: Longtime Southern offensive coordinator Mark Orlando was hired away from the Jags in the offseason, though he won?t have too much to work with in the way of returning talent. Returnee Carlos Pierson will battle with UTEP transfer Gerred Lunnon for quarterback duties, and Herbert Winston has been moved from linebacker to fullback to help assist with the running game. Former wideout Timoty Boutee is at the top of the tailback depth chart. Wideout Cortez Hankton (61 receptions, 941 yards, 9 TD) is the Tigers? best returning offensive player, and Lynn Rivers (12 receptions, 94 yards) and Tyrone Reed (16 receptions, 168 yards, 2 TD) will also be counted on in Orlando?s pass-happy system. Tackle Kris Allen leads the line after missing all of 2001, and center Omar Ornelas and guards Ricky Wesley and Arry Moody should also see time.
DEFENSE: The defense will also have a new coordinator in former Houston assistant Danny Palmer. The leader of this unit is linebacker Lernard Mack (3 tackles, 1 sack), who missed most of 2001 after suffering a broken arm in the team?s opener. Demondrick Goins (28 tackles) and Billy Starling will also serve at linebacker. The secondary has experience, with cornerback Santino Hall (42 tackles, 6 INT) and safety Oliver Celestin (65 tackles, 3 INT) possessing all-conference potential. The defensive line will be thin and young - defensive ends Robert Watson and Wrendic Baity will combine with tackles Donald Mayo and Sydney Gordon (28 tackles, 3 sacks) in the pass rush.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Vince Patrick (12-19 FG, 21-22 XP) will resume his place-kicking duties, and Glen Wilson is listed as the new punter. Jeremiah Williams (19.3 avg.) returned kickoffs a year ago, and Hall (13.5 avg.) is dangerous punt returner.
SCHEDULE: TSU should get off to a winning start against Prairie View (8/31), but will then have to navigate a difficult three-game road swing with Howard (9/7), Alabama State (9/14), and Southwest Texas (9/21). Thomas? club gets Grambling State (11/2) in Houston, but must play Southern (11/16) in unfriendly Baton Rouge.
PROGNOSIS: Hiring talented new coordinators in Orlando and Palmer was a step in the right direction for Texas Southern, but neither of them can suit up and play. Without any proven backfield players to boast of, Orlando will have an uphill battle in getting his system the run the way he wants this season. Defensively, TSU is in better shape, especially with Mack and Hall both back and healthy. But across the board, the Tigers are not as deep and skilled as they need to be to compete for a division or league title. Thomas?s team will be middle-of-the-pack and probably somewhere near .500 in 2002, with an eye toward bigger and better things next season.
4. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (4-7, 1-6). LAST YEAR: A promising 3-1 start ended abruptly with a 60-7 loss at Grambling State, and Lee Hardman?s charges would never be the same thereafter. The Golden Lions would fall in six of their final seven contests, including humiliating defeats against Prairie View (35-16) and Alabama A&M (35-0).
OFFENSE: LaKendrick Powell (30-74, 405 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT, 84 rushing yards, 3 TD) will get the full-time snaps at quarterback this season, after serving in a part-time capacity a year ago. Calvin Thomas (49 rushing yards) and JC transfer Willie Collins will vie for tailback duties, and converted tight end and NFL prospect Phillip Doolin (20 receptions, 210 yards, 1 TD) will play in the slot. Divorice Pilcher (11 receptions, 133 yards) is the most experienced wideout, and Korea McKay is slated to see some action as well. The offensive line will likely consist of just two players with experience in tackle Courtney Van Buren and center Quintarius McCray. Guards Sedarrin Freeman, Norvell Golden, and tackle Brian Eaton will be the green starters.
DEFENSE: The defensive line will consist of a number of new starters, with end Ezekiel Davis (36 tackles) and tackles Rodney Washington (7 tackles, 1 sack) and Jan Yates (22 tackles) among the names that have surfaced there. Maurice Troutman (22 tackles, 3.5 sacks) will play one end if he recovers from injuries. The Golden Lions have veteran linebackers in Michael Shack (47 tackles), Zelman Sanders (27 tackles, 1 INT), and Haywood Small (44 tackles, 2 sacks). The secondary will be the defense?s top feature, as safeties Terrell Hammonds (54 tackles, 3 INT) and Jamal Joyner (50 tackles, 2 sacks) are back along with highly touted corner Chris Henry and Tyrone Walker (21 tackles).
SPECIAL TEAMS: Aaron Wall (6-7 FG, 16-20 XP, 43.6 punting avg.) is one of the country?s most underrated specialists. Calvin Thomas (12.5 avg.) has seen some action as a kickoff returner, and 4.3 40-yard dash man Tyrone Walker could see regular time at punt returner.
SCHEDULE: Arkansas-Pine Bluff has just one home game before the month of November, and that is Southern on Sept. 14. The Golden Lions travel to play Alcorn State (8/31), Alabama State (9/21), and Grambling State (10/19) in their first two months, but get Jackson State (11/2) and Alabama A&M (11/23) in Golden Lion Stadium thereafter.
PROGNOSIS: It could get ugly in Pine Bluff this year. A senior-laden team that couldn?t get anything done has given way to an untested band of youngsters that has largely yet to see the field. The lines, which are usually the top indicator of a team?s chances, are undersized, inexperienced, and undermanned. Doolin is a solid player in the slot, but won?t flourish with very few capable players around him, including a quarterback. Meanwhile, the SWAC portion of the schedule is hardly a cakewalk, leaving UAPB with very little chance to improve on last year?s 4-7. If they can beat Prairie View, the Golden Lions will finish fourth in the SWAC Western. Unfortunately for Hardman and his team, that looks like a pretty big "if."
5. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (3-7, 2-5). LAST YEAR: A three-win season is cause for celebration at Prairie View, and the school with at least half as many scholarships as all of its SWAC counterparts also scored two league victories - against Mississippi Valley State (34-17) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (35-16). The three-triumph campaign was the school?s best since 1988.
OFFENSE: Head coach Larry "Hardhat" Dorsey is high on quarterback DeShun Baker (81-211, 1080 yrads, 6 TD, 17 INT, 64 rushing yards, 3 TD), who has unimpressive stats but led the Panthers to all three of their wins a year ago. Tailback Jimmie Maxey (317 rushing yards, 5 TD) is another backfield player with experience. Baker?s best wideout will be Charles Washington (10 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD). Damon Wilson (3 receptions), Bentrum Wilson, and tight ends Jarrett Lowery and Jason Ford will provide other pass-catching options. Four starters are back on a typically thin and undersized line, but center Antwan McKinney, tackles Christopher Thomas and Frederick Hill, and guard Aaron Thompson do boast reps in the offense.
DEFENSE: Strong line play will be a key for the Panthers, and nose guard Sammie August (25 tackles), tackle Joe McQueen (28 tackles, 6 sacks), and end Ronnie Nunn (39 tackles, 7 sacks) will be the major players there. Daniel Blanson (37 tackles) and Charles Land (40 tackles, 1 INT) will man two of the linebacker slots, and Corey Stewart (27 tackles, 3 sacks) should be another impact player. Strong safety Sidney Taylor (58 tackles, 2 INT), corners Derrick McCullar (42 tackles, 1 INT) and Charles Thomas (28 tackles, 2 INT), and free safeties Thurman Roy (14 tackles, 1 INT) and Terrence White (8 tackles) will be in charge of improving the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Baker (34.2 avg.) adds punting duties to his QB chores, and Charles McCall (0-6 FG, 11-19 XP) is the incumbent place-kicker. Defensive back Thurman Roy is slated as a kick returner, and will likely (and amazingly) double as the team?s long snapper.
SCHEDULE: Prairie View has just one game at home Blackshear Field, that the homecoming contest against Alcorn State (10/12). In fact, Dorsey?s team will never suit up in the same locker room twice, although they play twice in Dallas and twice in Houston. The most winnable game on the schedule is probably against sub-Division I Paul Quinn (10/19).
PROGNOSIS: You have to give credit to Dorsey, who gets the most out of far fewer resources than any other coach in the SWAC possesses. That the Panthers are competitive as often as they are is amazing, and that they are now winning games is a minor miracle. With a number of returning players this year, there is certainly reason for optimism within the program. On the other hand, Prairie View can?t possibly expect to attain any measure of real success without a home field at which to play, and Dorsey?s team will likely be worn down by the team?s unique travel demands if nothing else. Don?t be surprised to see the Panthers win a few more games this year, but don?t expect them to get any closer to the .500 mark.
08/22 10:19:19 ET
