Friday, July 26, 2013

UAPB aiming to ensure respect with SWAC repeat



BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Linebacker Jer-ryan Harris still isn't convinced Arkansas-Pine Bluff has made believers out of its Southwestern Athletic Conference rivals.
 
The Golden Lions won their first outright SWAC title last season and are the picks to repeat as West Division champions going into this season but now feel they must prove they're not one-year wonders.
 
"I believe last season got us an added respect level but at the same time, I also feel like teams are still kind of looking at it like that was luck," Harris said Monday at SWAC media day. "I believe that in order for us to actually get the respect we deserve, we will have to repeat. That's kind of the mind-set all the players have."
 
The results of balloting by league coaches and sports information directors and media members made it evident Pine Bluff's peers are starting to come around. The Golden Lions are led by preseason SWAC offensive player of the year Ben Anderson at quarterback and had nine players picked as first-team all-conference.
 

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