East lead on line for JSU Saturday

Predicting a champion for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division is no easy task these days. The scenarios seem endless. The ifs are everywhere. And the tiebreakers are a headache.

For Jackson State, it's simple enough: If the Tigers beat Alabama State on Saturday, they'll have a great chance to win the East and go to Birmingham for the SWAC Championship. They know it, too.

Tigers make most of transfer talent

Filling a team with transfers was never W.C. Gorden's style. Gorden, the winningest coach in Jackson State football history, isn't saying it's wrong. He just never did it. Not many, he said, did back then.

"In the Southwestern Athletic Conference at that time, that wasn't a popular way that coaches built a championship team," Gorden said. "It just wasn't popular." Two decades later, things have drastically changed.

Tigers to face rugged pass D

When Jackson State travels to Alabama State on Saturday, the pass-happy Tigers will meet another highly touted pass defense. The Hornets are tied for first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with 14 interceptions and rank No. 2 in the conference allowing just 159 passing yards a game.

It's the third time in three weeks that JSU has met a pass defense that's ranked at No. 2 or better in the SWAC. Jackson State coach Rick Comegy hints at his team's plans.



D-lineman Billups finds less is more

There's something different about Johnathan Billups these days. He moves quicker. He looks lighter. He seems faster. Lost some weight? "I've lost a little bit," the Jackson State defensive tackle says, a thanks-for-noticing grin sweeping across his face.

Known as "Big Bill" in the locker room, Billups is in the middle of the weight loss battle - the same one many Americans face. Since fall camp, he's trimmed his 325-pound frame by some 10 pounds, and it's noticeable.

Comegy hasn't lost faith in RB Moreland

Coach Rick Comegy is standing behind Alfred Moreland. Moreland, Jackson State's second-string running back and former kick returner, had his fourth fumble of the season Saturday in the win over Prairie View A&M.

That's not to say Comegy won't stick with him in a rotating role with starter B.J. Lee during Saturday's 7 p.m. game at Alabama State. "You just can't take him out because he's a good runner," Comegy said. "By no means am I planning on sitting him."

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