Peck, Alabama State University have plenty to prove

By CASSANDRA M. TAYLOR, Press-Register

Jay Peck isn't surprised at the perfect record the Alabama State football team is sporting.

Peck and the Hornets sit atop the SWAC Eastern Division at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the league. On Saturday at 2:30 p.m., they'll face the other unbeaten SWAC team, Southern (4-0, 2-0), in the 34th annual Gulf Coast Classic at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPNU.

Peck leads the SWAC in rushing with 492 yards on 98 carries and two touchdowns.

Peck said the Hornets were in perfect position in the preseason, when they were picked to finish last in the division.

"It was motivation for us, but it really didn't matter as much as you might think," Peck said. "We knew what we had and what we could do if things fell right. Right now, we hope they keep picking us to lose every weekend."

ASU coach Reggie Barlow said Peck is the kind of player every coach wants to have on his team.

"Jay is a big part of our offense and he's played a big part in all our wins," Barlow said. "He's exactly what you would want when talking about being a true student-athlete. He has already graduated, he's a great football player and even better young man."

After struggling in the team's opener against Jacksonville State (79 yards on 16 carries), Peck has had three consecutive games over 100 yards.

"I don't know what's happened since the Jacksonville State game. I guess things are just clicking better now," he said. "Also, I guess we're supposed to get better with each game. You also have first-game jitters and stupid penalties. But as the season progresses, your execution is supposed to get better, or it should get better, and that's been the case for us."