JagHammer's prediction for the 2013 SWAC Football Season:
SWAC East:
1. Alabama State: Reggie Barlow and Alabama State has finally set the bar high with his recruiting practices, and coaching carousel. NCAA saved the institution from setting the bar low on institutional control. All the pieces come together for a trip to Houston. Projected record 9-3.
2. Jackson State: A heartbreaking loss based on a bad decision by the embattled, but battle ready Rick Comegy. Comegy, who is feeling the unforgiving Jacksonian heat for his miscalculated and daring plea to FAMU, could easily travel to Houston with the Blue Bengals. However, this rest on the play of the quarterback. Projected record 7-4.
3. Alcorn State: Jay Hopson led a promising, yet inconsistent campaign for Alcorn last season with uplifting wins against Southern and Alabama A&M, but have also suffered debilitating losses against Jackson St. and Alabama St. Hopson has recruited well, and this could be the year Alcorn finish with seven wins for the first time since 2004. Projected record: 6-5.
4. Alabama A&M: The heat is on Anthony Jones, although he is one of the winningest coaches at Alabama A&M. A&M could easily leapfrog to Houston if everything falls in place for the Bulldogs on the field. However, as the Alcorn loss last year proved, they could easily tailspin out of contention if not focused and catch bad breaks. Projected record: 4-7.
5. Mississippi Valley State: Coach Karl Morgan has done a commendable job coaching at one of the toughest and financially strapped FCS schools in the nation. Hope springs with the diamonds in rough found by Coach Graves (from Southern) in Robert Simpson and other great athletes in Itta Bena. The Devils will make it very tough for all schools in the SWAC this season, and vice versa, since no one will take Valley lightly. If plagued by inconsistent offense, it can spell doom on Valley's season. Projected record: 2-9.
SWAC West:
1. UAPB: Patience and great effort has turned Pine Bluff into a monster. A masterful decision by Monte Coleman to bring along Eric Dooley from Southern has paid instant dividends for the school, and ended with one of it's most successful football seasons in the SWAC. Look for the most consistent team beat up on the competition again. Projected record: 10-2.
2. Southern University: The Jaguars are hungry to return to dominance, and at times last season seemed to shake off the doldrums that losing can create. Coach Dawson Odums has done a masterful job of recruiting and bringing hope and determination to the Jaguars and the Jaguar Nation. Dray Joseph and his Arsenal are ready to send opponents scrambling and gnashing their teeth trying to slow them down. However, the defense and inopportune conservative play and play calling threatens to keep the Jags from Houston. However, if the defense does show up, look for the Jaguars to party in Houston. Projected record: 7-4.
3: Grambling State: Maybe 2012 was not so bad at all for Grambling. Charting unfamiliar territory in recent memory for Gramblingites, Doug Williams feels the heat, but has the history and the clout to turn it around for Grambling. Look for the Tigers to claw their way back to prominence this season. Stay tuned. Projected record: 6-5.
4. Prairie View: I really hate to place PV here, but the coaching of Heishma Northern threatens to dismantle the progress of the Panthers. Then again, Northern and Mark Orlando (also from Southern) may shock everyone in the SWAC with their prolific offense, and as in the case of Southern, if their defense decides to play, they could be at Reliant as well. Projected record: 3-8.
5. Texas Southern: Darryl Asberry has his work cut out for him in Houston, as the program tries to rise from the ashes of NCAA sanctions. They do have the tools, but could they put them all together for a trip down the road at Reliant Stadium. That much is to be seen, but I doubt it. Projected record: 1-10.
Projected champion: UAPB repeats as champion in 2013. UAPB 49 Alabama St. 21.
But we still have so much that needs improving (penalties, redzone scoring, TOP). And I hope Coach Coleman drills and grills any "diva" mentality out of my boys. If he weren't an ordained minister, I'd wish he'd tell them what Jimmy Johnson told the Cowboys after their first championship!:|
