Hopson takes Alcorn to top of SWAC mountain

VICKSBURG, Mississippi -- The achievements of Jay Hopson range from being a four-time letterman and academic All-Southeastern Conference honor roll selection at Ole Miss, to being the first white head coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Hopson spoke to the Port City Kiwanis Club last week and reminisced on his time spent at Alcorn State. He inherited a meager football program when he took the position in 2012 and has turned it into the defending conference champion. The Braves were also picked to win the SWAC at this year’s league media day.

“I don’t know if you remember my first year at Alcorn, we were a really bad football team. Ain’t no way to put it,” Hopson said. “I know my dad came to practice and he left after 30 minutes. He said ‘God bless you son, it’s going to be a long haul.’”

The Vicksburg native coached at 10 universities including Tulane, LSU, Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Michigan before taking the Alcorn position. He’s been a part of several conference championship teams and had records ranging from 15 wins to one.

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