New coach Jenkins, Alabama State undeterred by SWAC poll

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Considering all of Brian Jenkins' success coaching Bethune-Cookman football the last five seasons, the Southwestern Athletic Conference's preseason poll might have seemed odd.

Alabama State was picked to finish only fourth of five teams in the East Division, even with Jenkins coming on board as the team's new coach. Jenkins compiled a 46-14 mark in five seasons at Bethune-Cookman, winning four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and reaching the FCS playoffs three times.

Nobody at Alabama State is believing the SWAC poll. With a solid roster, some of the conference's better facilities and an overall hunger after a disappointing 2014 campaign, the Hornets are expecting to have success similar to what Jenkins enjoyed in the MEAC, which, like the SWAC, is a conference of historically black schools.

"I'm OK with those expectations," Jenkins said. "I've never been a guy that says, 'next year,' or that it's going to take us two years or it's going to take us three years. I believe in right now because next year I may not be here, so I may not get the opportunity. Next year, these young men may not be here. So they understand the here and now."

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