Alcorn State adjusts to contender status in SWAC

COACH JAY HOPSON

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- It may sound like coach speak, but Jay Hopson calls it real talk.

The third-year Alcorn State coach is pleased his team was selected to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division, two points shy from the first spot.

But that doesn’t mean much if his players don’t put in the work.

“A lot of times when you finish strong, a lot of people will think it will carry over to next season,” Hopson said. “But these guys (the players) know that they still have to go out and prepare for this year.”

After finishing 4-7 in 2012, the Braves jumped to 9-3 in Hopson’s second year. It was the most wins for the program since 1994, when Alcorn went 8-3-1 with the late NFL star Steve McNair at quarterback.

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