1.GSU-last year was a rebuilding year and they hardly missed a beat.The G-men will be lethal offensively with my favorite for player of the year Bruce Eugene back to lead the offense.These guys seem to always find players and they are stacked with talent at just about every position.They should be better defensively now that the unit has had a season to gel.Doug is a proven winner and knows how to coach so the G-men should be raising the SCG trophy once again.
2.BCC-the Wyatt bone took BCF by storm last year as the cats ran off an impressive 11-2 record.The cats lose all everything db Rashean Mathis but they have had some solid recruiting classes.They excorcised their rattler demons last season but now they have a everyone in the MEAC gunning for them.Another plus for the cats was the ability to win on the road against SCSU and A&T.I expect the Wildcats to win the MEAC crown again with a combination of experience and talent.
3.JSU- once again the Tigers are loaded and Robert Kent will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.If they have improved their coaching at all it will bode well for JSU and the Tiger faithful.JSU has a solid def coordinator in Greg Johnson who has had a full season to groom his talented defensive unit so they should improve in that category.The key will be in the ability of the new coaching staff to groom Kent into a qb who uses more than raw talent to win games.Kent has to cut down on his mistakes if JSU is to get to Birmingham.He can win or lose a game with his arm which was demonstrated in the A&T game.Special teams will need to improve dramatically as well.
4.SU- The Jags can get back to their winning ways if they can find some consistency at the qb position.SU was an impressive 5-1 in their last 6 games with a big win over GSU at the Bayou Classic.The defense looked like the SU defense of the 90's during their championship years. Richardson has brought in some good local talent the last 3 years giving the Jags a nice combination of youth and experience.
5.SCSU-Buddy ball took the MEAC by storm last year as the dogs quickly asserted themselves as a contender for the MEAC crown but they slipped during the latter portion of the schedule.In spite of a late season collapse the dogs are primed for another champioship run.If a qb can emerge then the dogs will win 9-10 games next season otherwise it will be another 7 win season.
6.HIU- The Pirates have been a consistent 7-4 team the last 4 seasons so they are due for a big year.The question is can they do it with all of the coaching defections.Joe Taylor should have his team in the hunt for the MEAC crown but they will need to play better defensively.I think that the Pirates will have at least 2 big wins in the conference but they need to play better on the road and win the close ones ie Alcorn and SCSU.
7.FAMU- Billy Joe will be looking to get the GCO back on track in 2003 but the biggest concern should be the Dline.FAMU continues to struggle against good running teams and teams that can stop the pass.If FAMU can establish balance on offense and get the defense to bend and not break they will win 8 gamesnext year.
8.AAMU-The dogs will once again boast one of the best defensive units in all of BCF but they had better find an offense if they want to win the SCG.I expect the dogs to pound it out on the ground and use a short passing game.Iexpect them to challenge JSU in the east for a birth in the SCG.
9.MSU-No longer the bad news bears these cubs have grown up.The key to building on last year's success will be in their ability to score with their fast paced offense.They ahve speed at all of the skill positions but the question is will their defense get better?If they can play better defensively they will win 8 games or more but they are not gonna sneak up on anyone this upcoming season.
10.NCA&T- The aggies under new head coach George Small will make some noise this upcoming season.This is the same man took a mediocre DII KSU and made tham a respectable SIAC team.He has loads of young talent that saw plenty of action last year.If he can get these young men to play disciplined sound fundamental football then the Aggies could shock the MEAC.They will need to get off to a quick start with road trips to Jackson,DC,and Daytona Beach.
2.BCC-the Wyatt bone took BCF by storm last year as the cats ran off an impressive 11-2 record.The cats lose all everything db Rashean Mathis but they have had some solid recruiting classes.They excorcised their rattler demons last season but now they have a everyone in the MEAC gunning for them.Another plus for the cats was the ability to win on the road against SCSU and A&T.I expect the Wildcats to win the MEAC crown again with a combination of experience and talent.
3.JSU- once again the Tigers are loaded and Robert Kent will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.If they have improved their coaching at all it will bode well for JSU and the Tiger faithful.JSU has a solid def coordinator in Greg Johnson who has had a full season to groom his talented defensive unit so they should improve in that category.The key will be in the ability of the new coaching staff to groom Kent into a qb who uses more than raw talent to win games.Kent has to cut down on his mistakes if JSU is to get to Birmingham.He can win or lose a game with his arm which was demonstrated in the A&T game.Special teams will need to improve dramatically as well.
4.SU- The Jags can get back to their winning ways if they can find some consistency at the qb position.SU was an impressive 5-1 in their last 6 games with a big win over GSU at the Bayou Classic.The defense looked like the SU defense of the 90's during their championship years. Richardson has brought in some good local talent the last 3 years giving the Jags a nice combination of youth and experience.
5.SCSU-Buddy ball took the MEAC by storm last year as the dogs quickly asserted themselves as a contender for the MEAC crown but they slipped during the latter portion of the schedule.In spite of a late season collapse the dogs are primed for another champioship run.If a qb can emerge then the dogs will win 9-10 games next season otherwise it will be another 7 win season.
6.HIU- The Pirates have been a consistent 7-4 team the last 4 seasons so they are due for a big year.The question is can they do it with all of the coaching defections.Joe Taylor should have his team in the hunt for the MEAC crown but they will need to play better defensively.I think that the Pirates will have at least 2 big wins in the conference but they need to play better on the road and win the close ones ie Alcorn and SCSU.
7.FAMU- Billy Joe will be looking to get the GCO back on track in 2003 but the biggest concern should be the Dline.FAMU continues to struggle against good running teams and teams that can stop the pass.If FAMU can establish balance on offense and get the defense to bend and not break they will win 8 gamesnext year.
8.AAMU-The dogs will once again boast one of the best defensive units in all of BCF but they had better find an offense if they want to win the SCG.I expect the dogs to pound it out on the ground and use a short passing game.Iexpect them to challenge JSU in the east for a birth in the SCG.
9.MSU-No longer the bad news bears these cubs have grown up.The key to building on last year's success will be in their ability to score with their fast paced offense.They ahve speed at all of the skill positions but the question is will their defense get better?If they can play better defensively they will win 8 games or more but they are not gonna sneak up on anyone this upcoming season.
10.NCA&T- The aggies under new head coach George Small will make some noise this upcoming season.This is the same man took a mediocre DII KSU and made tham a respectable SIAC team.He has loads of young talent that saw plenty of action last year.If he can get these young men to play disciplined sound fundamental football then the Aggies could shock the MEAC.They will need to get off to a quick start with road trips to Jackson,DC,and Daytona Beach.
