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Big loss shouldn't slow Grambling
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
jschiefelbein@theadvocate.com
Advocate sportswriter
Grambling got clobbered Saturday in its first game of the season, a 29-0 loss at Division I-A San Jose State.
So what?
The I-AA Tigers had the same fate a year ago, by 32 points at McNeese State, and still went on to their third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference title in an 11-win season.
Grambling, ranked No. 1 in I-AA by Sports Illustrated and No. 7 by the Sports Network, is the class of the conference until proven otherwise. Especially with the Tigers rolling behind All-Americans Tramon Douglas, a former Glen Oaks High standout, at wide receiver and Bruce Eugene at quarterback.
Of the four years the conference has had a title game in Birmingham, Ala., Grambling has been there three times, winning all three.
"I hope those (trips) keep coming," Grambling coach Doug Williams said. "We've got a good nucleus of guys coming back, but they're young. Hopefully, we can duplicate what we've done the last few seasons."
As usual, the SWAC jumps right in, with a full slate of games Saturday, including two conference games (Alcorn at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View at Texas Southern).
Here is a quick breakdown of the teams, in predicted order of finish:
WESTERN DIVISION
1. GRAMBLING (11-2 in 2002): The Tigers have the best passing combo in the nation in Douglas and Eugene, but in order to hoist the trophy again, Grambling will need to rebuild its offensive line, find a tailback or two and fortify a defense, especially at LB.
The schedule has two top-notch foes, the loss to SJSU and a Sept. 20 home date with McNeese, but Grambling wisely has set open dates to recoup in the following week.
Williams said his LB corps could be more athletic and his offensive line both bigger and more athletic this season. Both groups will get better as the season progresses. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the conference.
2. SOUTHERN (6-6): The Jaguars should be fine on offense, barring the injury bug that's riddled that unit the last two seasons (RBs in 2001, QBs in 2002). The defense, however, has a lot of talented, athletic, quick players who will nonetheless have to elevate their games. The season could very well hinge on two transfer LBs, Tarus Morgan and Don Expose, as well as freshman S Jarmaul George.
The schedule is a big help, possibly giving that defense enough time to grow. The first five SWAC games are at home. Then, Southern goes to Texas Southern, with its limited fan base, and then has Grambling in the neutral Bayou Classic.
3. TEXAS SOUTHERN (4-7): The Tigers are positioned to be the shockers this season. TSU lost five games by seven points or less and was without emerging QB Jacob Chavan in the second half of the season.
The defense, always a strong suit under Bill Thomas, returns six starters and the offense, benefiting from a second year under Mark Orlando, has eight back, including TB Tim Boutte. Plus, TSU is in Houston for five of seven SWAC games.
4. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (3-8): Coach Lee Hardman landed 12 junior-college transfers and three new assistant coaches prior to preseason camp in an effort to bolster a program that's starting to look like its best days have passed. QB Antonio Lovelady had his moments last year, but UAPB finished last in rushing defense and offense last season.
5. PRAIRIE VIEW (1-10): C.L. Whittington, a former Prairie View alum, takes over his first program. The Panthers are moving toward a full scholarship allotment of 63, which will finally put the traditional doormat on a level field with the rest of the SWAC. Just not this season.
EASTERN DIVISION
1. ALCORN STATE (6-5): A 5-1 start had the Braves in position to challenge for a berth to Birmingham -- right on the program's timetable. Then injuries and a road schedule derailed the Braves in a 1-4 finish.
Though senior TB Sidney Dumas is All-SWAC preseason, he needs to do better than his 378 yards last season. And junior QB Donald Carrie needs a return to the form he flashed as a freshman in 2001.
Alcorn has enough experience and talent (eight preseason All-SWAC picks and a veteran defense) to get that Eastern title this year. Possible problem: The schedule has six of the first eight games on the road.
2. JACKSON STATE (7-4): Robert Hughes got fired after three straight 7-4 seasons, with the energetic James Bell taking over.
Fans aren't sure what to make of Bell, a 44-year-old who guided a 1-9 high school team last season but has been a defensive coordinator at Wake Forest and Indiana. Plus, he's talking of balancing an offense that led I-AA last season behind dynamic QB Robert Kent.
JSU has to replace its tailbacks and plug holes on the offensive line, while special teams has been a sore spot for years. The schedule doesn't help, with five of the first six games, including Northwestern State, Tennessee State and Florida A&M, on the road.
3. ALABAMA A&M (8-4): DE Robert Mathis seemed to will the Bulldogs, even with an almost total lack of offense, to the Eastern title. But Mathis is with the Indianapolis Colts now.
Second-year coach Anthony Jones has to make up for the loss of Mathis (20 sacks) and two top LBs. Plus, A&M has only one SWAC home game, against Jackson State on Nov. 8. By then, A&M may be out of the chase.
4. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (5-6): The Devils were 0-11 in the final season under the horrid Latraia Jones, but found a new life under Willie Totten. With a solid core of returnees, Valley will either make a move or, at least, have an impact in the conference.
5. ALABAMA STATE (6-6): The games will offer a distraction. An investigation has led to the dispatching of L.C. Cole, who is fighting in court for not just this job but his career. Ex-Memphis assistant Charles Coe is coaching, barring a late court injunction.
ASU, the 2002 Eastern champs, collapsed with a 1-4 finish in '03. Arkansas transfer Tarvaris Jackson is at QB and Tennessee Keldrick Williams is at TB.
Big loss shouldn't slow Grambling
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
jschiefelbein@theadvocate.com
Advocate sportswriter
Grambling got clobbered Saturday in its first game of the season, a 29-0 loss at Division I-A San Jose State.
So what?
The I-AA Tigers had the same fate a year ago, by 32 points at McNeese State, and still went on to their third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference title in an 11-win season.
Grambling, ranked No. 1 in I-AA by Sports Illustrated and No. 7 by the Sports Network, is the class of the conference until proven otherwise. Especially with the Tigers rolling behind All-Americans Tramon Douglas, a former Glen Oaks High standout, at wide receiver and Bruce Eugene at quarterback.
Of the four years the conference has had a title game in Birmingham, Ala., Grambling has been there three times, winning all three.
"I hope those (trips) keep coming," Grambling coach Doug Williams said. "We've got a good nucleus of guys coming back, but they're young. Hopefully, we can duplicate what we've done the last few seasons."
As usual, the SWAC jumps right in, with a full slate of games Saturday, including two conference games (Alcorn at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View at Texas Southern).
Here is a quick breakdown of the teams, in predicted order of finish:
WESTERN DIVISION
1. GRAMBLING (11-2 in 2002): The Tigers have the best passing combo in the nation in Douglas and Eugene, but in order to hoist the trophy again, Grambling will need to rebuild its offensive line, find a tailback or two and fortify a defense, especially at LB.
The schedule has two top-notch foes, the loss to SJSU and a Sept. 20 home date with McNeese, but Grambling wisely has set open dates to recoup in the following week.
Williams said his LB corps could be more athletic and his offensive line both bigger and more athletic this season. Both groups will get better as the season progresses. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the conference.
2. SOUTHERN (6-6): The Jaguars should be fine on offense, barring the injury bug that's riddled that unit the last two seasons (RBs in 2001, QBs in 2002). The defense, however, has a lot of talented, athletic, quick players who will nonetheless have to elevate their games. The season could very well hinge on two transfer LBs, Tarus Morgan and Don Expose, as well as freshman S Jarmaul George.
The schedule is a big help, possibly giving that defense enough time to grow. The first five SWAC games are at home. Then, Southern goes to Texas Southern, with its limited fan base, and then has Grambling in the neutral Bayou Classic.
3. TEXAS SOUTHERN (4-7): The Tigers are positioned to be the shockers this season. TSU lost five games by seven points or less and was without emerging QB Jacob Chavan in the second half of the season.
The defense, always a strong suit under Bill Thomas, returns six starters and the offense, benefiting from a second year under Mark Orlando, has eight back, including TB Tim Boutte. Plus, TSU is in Houston for five of seven SWAC games.
4. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF (3-8): Coach Lee Hardman landed 12 junior-college transfers and three new assistant coaches prior to preseason camp in an effort to bolster a program that's starting to look like its best days have passed. QB Antonio Lovelady had his moments last year, but UAPB finished last in rushing defense and offense last season.
5. PRAIRIE VIEW (1-10): C.L. Whittington, a former Prairie View alum, takes over his first program. The Panthers are moving toward a full scholarship allotment of 63, which will finally put the traditional doormat on a level field with the rest of the SWAC. Just not this season.
EASTERN DIVISION
1. ALCORN STATE (6-5): A 5-1 start had the Braves in position to challenge for a berth to Birmingham -- right on the program's timetable. Then injuries and a road schedule derailed the Braves in a 1-4 finish.
Though senior TB Sidney Dumas is All-SWAC preseason, he needs to do better than his 378 yards last season. And junior QB Donald Carrie needs a return to the form he flashed as a freshman in 2001.
Alcorn has enough experience and talent (eight preseason All-SWAC picks and a veteran defense) to get that Eastern title this year. Possible problem: The schedule has six of the first eight games on the road.
2. JACKSON STATE (7-4): Robert Hughes got fired after three straight 7-4 seasons, with the energetic James Bell taking over.
Fans aren't sure what to make of Bell, a 44-year-old who guided a 1-9 high school team last season but has been a defensive coordinator at Wake Forest and Indiana. Plus, he's talking of balancing an offense that led I-AA last season behind dynamic QB Robert Kent.
JSU has to replace its tailbacks and plug holes on the offensive line, while special teams has been a sore spot for years. The schedule doesn't help, with five of the first six games, including Northwestern State, Tennessee State and Florida A&M, on the road.
3. ALABAMA A&M (8-4): DE Robert Mathis seemed to will the Bulldogs, even with an almost total lack of offense, to the Eastern title. But Mathis is with the Indianapolis Colts now.
Second-year coach Anthony Jones has to make up for the loss of Mathis (20 sacks) and two top LBs. Plus, A&M has only one SWAC home game, against Jackson State on Nov. 8. By then, A&M may be out of the chase.
4. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (5-6): The Devils were 0-11 in the final season under the horrid Latraia Jones, but found a new life under Willie Totten. With a solid core of returnees, Valley will either make a move or, at least, have an impact in the conference.
5. ALABAMA STATE (6-6): The games will offer a distraction. An investigation has led to the dispatching of L.C. Cole, who is fighting in court for not just this job but his career. Ex-Memphis assistant Charles Coe is coaching, barring a late court injunction.
ASU, the 2002 Eastern champs, collapsed with a 1-4 finish in '03. Arkansas transfer Tarvaris Jackson is at QB and Tennessee Keldrick Williams is at TB.
