Alcorn State Braves hope experience pays off

LORMAN, Mississippi -- In last year’s SWAC title game, Southern was the team with title game experience while Alcorn State was participating in the contest for the first time.

Familiarity proved to be overrated last season as the Braves beat the Jaguars, 38-24, to earn their first conference title in 20 years.

Now it’s Alcorn State’s turn to fill the role of experienced champion when it faces Grambling in the SWAC title game on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPNU) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

This is the Tigers’ first appearance in the conference championship game since 2011.

“You hope it helps a little bit,” Braves coach Jay Hopson said. “Guys that have played in the game kind of understand the situation, and they understand the environment they’re in. I always think it’s a little bit of an advantage, but at the end of the day, you have to go play football and that is what it comes down to.”

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