Fast finish has Prairie View hopeful for this fall

Prairie View aims to build on 7-3 mark with senior quarterback Mark Spivey, who is getting a sixth season of eligibility for a medical hardship. Spivey went 5-1 as a starter in the Panthers’ last six games in 2007.

In past seasons, three or four wins would have counted as a sign of progress for Prairie View A&M, a program that had been starving for positive attention. This year, the bar is raised much higher for a Panthers team that comes off a 7-3 season, returns 18 starters and has become the trendy pick to overtake Southwestern Athletic Conference stalwarts Grambling State and Southern for the West division title. Optimism is overflowing for coach Henry Frazier’s squad, which last year delivered the school’s first winning campaign in 31 seasons.

“It’s (the expectations) bigger than last year. It’s very exciting,” said running back Donald Babers. “Everybody’s anticipating the season.” Prairie View finished 5-1 to close out 2007, due in part to an offense that jelled behind quarterback Mark Spivey. Spivey fired seven of his nine touchdown passes in the last two games, giving the offense — which had become run-oriented — some much needed balance.

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