Former Prairie View coach Northern starting fresh at TSU

HOUSTON, Texas  -- Heishma Northern has a challenge in his first game as TSU defensive coordinator. He has to help the Tigers defeat his former team, Prairie View A&M, in the Labor Day Classic at 8 p.m. Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Northern impressed early as a rookie coach for the Panthers in 2011, but the team struggled to win games after that season. Along with the losses, there were the Academic Performance Rate penalties last year. Prairie View A&M was one of four SWAC schools punished for a low four-year score. The Panthers' score fell two points short of the NCAA requirement of 910 in 2014.

APR penalties affect things like number of practice days allowed and maybe the biggest punishment, postseason bans. The Panthers were eligible for a SWAC title in 2014 because the conference opts out of the FCS playoffs.

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