JSU Tigers cap off season with win over Alcorn State despite injury to star QB

Most of the records never fell. That convincing margin of victory never happened. But in the end, with its star quarterback watching from the sideline, his throwing arm in a sling, Jackson State won the Capital City Classic. And that, as they say, is all that matters. "I'll be straight with you," JSU coach Rick Comegy said, "it was about winning."

Comegy's Tigers beat Alcorn State 27-14 on Saturday afternoon, thanks to four early touchdowns, a stiff defensive effort and an inept opponent.

The Tigers (8-3, 6-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) hit the eight-win mark for the third time in Comegy's five years, and they did it in front of more than 43,000 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, the largest Classic crowd in four years.

Notebook: Therriault falls short of most school records

This wasn't how the season was supposed to end for Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault. He was supposed to be the new holder of a bevy of school records. Not sulking in the locker room with a broken collarbone. The latter, though, was the truth Saturday afternoon in Jackson State's 27-14 win over Alcorn State. Therriault failed to break most of the half-dozen school passing marks he was on the cusp of breaking entering the game.

Therriault did break Robert Kent's record for completions in a season. He needed just seven of those and had 16 in his 25 minutes played Saturday. He also broke the school record for completion percentage in a season. With his 16-of-22 performance against Alcorn, Therriault has a 58.3 completion rate, surpassing Jimmy Oliver's 58.0 mark.

Jackson St. - Alcorn State



Injuries force Tigers to play QB shuffle

Of all the weeks, of all the games, of all the unfortunate breaks. Jackson State backup quarterback Dedric McDonald suffered a foot injury at practice earlier this week.

That wasn't too big of a deal - until starting quarterback Casey Therriault suffered a broken collarbone in the second quarter of JSU's 27-14 win over Alcorn State. With McDonald in crutches on the sideline, Mark Thigpen, a true freshman and graduate of Callaway High School, was thrown into the mix.

But the Tigers weren't about to burn Thigpen's redshirt without trying someone else. Tight end Renty Rollins was moved to quarterback - a disastrous move that likely cost JSU points.

Braves' attack fizzles in 2010 finale

Alcorn State's offensive production in the Braves' 27-14 loss to Jackson State could be exemplified by one play. With Alcorn trailing 21-7 early in the second quarter, the Braves lined up at the Tigers' 1-yard line. Alcorn freshman quarterback Brandon Bridge ran up the middle, but fumbled the ball into the end zone.

Jackson State recovered and returned the ball 94 yards. The Tigers scored two plays later on a run from junior quarterback Casey Therriault to take a 20-point lead. Alcorn coach Earnest Collins said the 14-point swing was incredibly detrimental.

ATTENDANCE: 42,800

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.


Videographer: jaybmuszic

Alcorn vs. JSU is battle for pride

The Capital City Classic no longer has SWAC championship implications. When Jackson State (7-3, 5-3) and Alcorn State (5-5, 4-4) clash on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Jackson’s Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, only bragging rights are at stake.

Alabama State (7-3, 6-3) has clinched the Eastern Division title and berth in the SWAC championship game. Jackson State can tie for the crown with a victory, but the Hornets beat the Tigers 32-30 two weeks ago.

Therriault, a transfer from Grand Rapids Community College, has thrown for a SWAC-leading 3,272 yards and 29 touchdowns. Bridge, a freshman from Canada, is considered the Braves’ top quarterback since Steve McNair. Bridge has thrown for 2,016 yards, while rushing for 570 yards and accounting for 26 TDs.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Prairie View Panthers dash Alcorn Braves' SWAC title dreams

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Alcorn State was within 4 seconds of continuing to control its destiny for the SWAC East division championship. But two Prairie View touchdowns in the final seconds handed Alcorn a 35-27 defeat and ended any hopes the Braves had of reaching it’s first ever SWAC championship game.

K.J. Black threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Stephens with 4 seconds remaining to give the Panthers a 29-27 lead. Alcorn (5-5, 4-4 SWAC) then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Prairie View ran it back for a touchdown on the final play of the game for the final scoring margin.

Prairie View rallies late for wild victory over Alcorn State

PRAIRIE VIEW — A perfect nightmare unfolded for Prairie View A&M in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Alcorn State.

The Panthers had blown a 23-point, third-quarter lead after allowing the Braves to score 27 unanswered points and trailed by four with only 25 seconds remaining. They were left with possession at their 22-yard line and no timeouts, and all energy had seemingly been zapped from what remained of a bewildered crowd at Blackshear Stadium.

And then suddenly, a dream ending became reality for Prairie View.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

ATTENDANCE: 3212




Videographer: mickdog7

Bridge leads Alcorn State over Alabama A&M 41-24

NORMAL, Ala. -- Brandon Bridge passed for four touchdowns and ran for another as Alcorn State scored 28 first-half points and defeated Alabama A&M 42-24 on Saturday. Three of Bridge's touchdown passes came in the first half, when the Braves (5-4, 4-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) built a 28-10 lead. He also scored on a 15-yard run in the second quarter.

Alabama A&M defense struggles

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M's defense, which has struggled over the last month or so, did so again Saturday against Alcorn State. The Braves, who entered the game averaging 30.5 points and almost 370 yards per game, scored on their first three possessions and four of their first five and compiled 302 yards in total offense in a 41-24 victory.

"We didn't execute on defense," defensive tackle Frank Kearse said. "We didn't come ready to play." Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge, the leading candidate for Southwestern Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors, was 9-of-14 for 175 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries, including a 15-yard touchdown jaunt.

MORE MISERY

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M, enduring its worst season in almost two decades, had seemingly come to life. The Bulldogs, who trailed Alcorn State by as many as 21 points at one time, had pulled to within 34-17 late in the third quarter and was driving toward yet another touchdown that could have made it a 10-point game. Unfortunately, like it has so many times this season, A&M self-destructed.

Grading the Bulldogs

OFFENSE: C: Alabama A&M running back Tony Green had a career-day with 156 yards and a couple of touchdowns, but the Bulldogs committed three turnovers, including two interceptions by quarterback Justin Jones, one of which was returned 65 yards for a touchdown that gave Alcorn State a commanding 41-17 lead late in the third quarter.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

ATTENDANCE: 4,181





Videographer: AAMUBAND

Comeback falls short as Alcorn State drops fourth straight

UAPB Golden Lions  Head Coach Monte Coleman

LORMAN, MS — It was do or die for Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge Thursday night. With his team down 39-35 and time running out, Bridge had successfully driven the ball 70 yards all the way to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-yard line. A false start knocked them back five yards, but the Braves had gotten back to the 5-yard line with 44 seconds remaining.

It was fourth and goal, and Bridge had one shot to put his team up with less than a minute to play. The ball was snapped, and Bridge scanned the field for a few seconds before attempting to hit tight end Ryan Singleton with the winning play.

SWAC: Golden Lions rally to win

Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored the final 12 points to take a 39-35 come from-behind victory over Alcorn State at Jack Spinks Stadium on Thursday. The Golden Lions (4-3, 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) jumped out to a 27-7 lead, only to see Alcorn State (3-4, 2-3) come back and take a 35-27 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Stephen Jones scored on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left to give UAPB a 36-35 lead. The Golden Lions added a 42-yard field goal by Chris Ewald and then held on for the victory.  Alcorn State’s final drive ended inside Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 5-yard-line with less than a minute to play after Brandon Bridge’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down.

Attendance: 2000

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

6:30 p.m. CT- TONIGHT on ESPNU: Alcorn State hungry for a win vs.University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff

LORMAN, MS — After three consecutive losses, the Alcorn State Braves are hungry to get a win. And getting that win on national television would be even sweeter.

The Braves will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. This will be the second year in a row Alcorn State’s game against Pine Bluff will be televised on a Thursday night.

Alcorn seeks to bottle up Pine Bluff's dynamic WR Webber‎

In the national spotlight, the last thing Earnest Collins wants is for his Alcorn State team to be embarrassed. Then the Braves better stop Raymond Webber, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff receiver who leads the conference and the nation in most receiving categories. "That type of kid," Collins said, "you never know when he can explode on you."

When Alcorn (3-3, 2-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) hosts Pine Bluff (3-3, 2-2) at 6:30 tonight in a nationally televised conference clash on ESPNU, the Braves have to stop one of the most prolific receivers in the Football Championship Subdivision.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Alcorn State heads for more prime time vs. UAPB Golden Lions

Alcorn State gets its second opportunity to play on television this season.

The Braves (3-3, 2-2) plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday night in a crucial SWAC contest that will be televised by ESPNU at 6:30. Mississippi State defeated the Braves 49-16 last month in a contest televised by Fox Sports South.

The Braves still control their destiny of reaching the SWAC title game on Dec. 11 in Birmingham. If Alcorn win its remaining games, it will capture the East Division championship.

Jackson State at Texas Southern, noon: The Tigers (5-1, 3-1) must improve their special teams play to stay ahead of Alcorn in the East. Jackson State ranks next to last in the SWAC in extra-point attempts. The Tigers also have given up big yards on punt and kickoff returns.

Game Time: Thursday: 6:30 p.m. EDT.
TV: ESPNU


UAPB's Webber lights up league

Last season, when Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State played on national television, viewers never got to see the end of the game. Nobody did. A three-hour-long lightning storm near Pine Bluff, Ark., forced officials to delay and ultimately cancel the game.

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Lorman, Miss., the teams meet again on ESPNU. And this time, if Raymond Webber does what he’s done for much of this season, something else — the scoreboard — might be lighting up instead.

The Golden Lions’ 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior wide receiver has taken over as the league’s best receiver, now that Juamorris Stewart’s stellar career at Southern has ended. Webber leads the SWAC in...



READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Warren's 5 TDs fuel Grambling State Tigers

GRAMBLING, LA — Running back Frank Warren continued his stellar senior season with a career-high five touchdowns Saturday against Alcorn State. Grambling needed every one of them, despite building a 35-14 lead in the third quarter, as the Braves (3-3, 2-2) fought back with two fourth-quarter touchdowns before falling 38-28 to the Tigers (5-1, 5-0).

"They're never easy, never easy," Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "We had an opportunity to put 'em away, but we just weren't good enough to do it, and we let 'em hang in there." Four of Warren's touchdowns came by the rush, another on a 9-yard reception at a critical moment in the second quarter.

Warren Outdoes Bridge as Grambling Stops Alcorn State

Frank Warren scored five touchdowns to edge out Brandon Bridge's four scores as Grambling State outlasted Alcorn State, 38-28, in a SWAC conference game Saturday.

Warren, the no. 2 rusher in the Football Championship Subdivision, ran for 202 yards on 29 carries and four touchdowns. He scored the other TD on a 10-yard pass from GSU backup quarterback Danny Reyes just before the half.

Bridges threw for touchdowns of 44, 25, 19 and 30 yards for the Braves (3-3, 2-2). He completed 33 of 47 passes for 404 yards.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

Attendance: 6980

Alcorn State ready for Grambling‎

LORMAN, MS — After dropping their first conference game of the year last week against Texas Southern, the Alcorn State Braves are looking to get back on the winning track.

But it sure isn’t going to be easy as the Braves will head to Grambling, La., to face the only undefeated team in SWAC play, the Grambling State Tigers.

After losing their first game of the season to Football Bowl Subdivision team Louisiana Tech, the Tigers (4-1, 4-0 SWAC) have reeled off four victories in a row, including a 22-7 victory over Alabama State last week.

GSU key: Play smart

GRAMBLING, LA — The Grambling State football team aims to make some improvements in discipline and alignment when it hosts Alcorn State for a 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Robinson Stadium.

The Tigers are 4-1 overall and a perfect 4-0 in conference play, but they are also one of the most penalized teams in the conference. GSU ranks ninth out of 10 SWAC teams in yards penalized, averaging 85 penalty yards per game.

Mirror image: Frosh QBs on display in Alcorn State-Grambling matchup

Rod Broadway knows how Earnest Collins and Alcorn State feel right about now - that is, life with a true freshman quarterback. Collins and the Braves (3-2, 2-1 SWAC) travel to the conference's lone undefeated team Saturday, Broadway's Grambling Tigers (4-1, 4-0). They do so with QB Brandon Bridge, who graduated from high school about six months ago.

Broadway knows all about that. True freshman Anthony Carrothers leads the Tigers' offense. "We know a little bit about what they're going through," Grambling's fourth-year coach said.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

Alcorn visits Grambling in East-West showdown

A preview of the SWAC championship game could take place this weekend at Eddie Robinson Stadium. Alcorn (3-2, 2-1 travels to Grambling (4-1, 3-0) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a battle of East and West Division leaders. Both have a shot at reaching the league title game on Dec. 11 at Birmingham’s Legion Field. Alcorn is tied atop the Eastern Division with Jackson State.

The Tigers must stop Alcorn quarterback Brandon Bridge, who’s given the Braves stability at the position.

Young QBs guide Grambling, Alcorn

Halfway through an entertaining season in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Alcorn State is tied for first place in the Eastern Division. Grambling sits atop the West. The two teams meet at 2 p.m. Saturday in what could be a doozy of a cross-divisional game.

It could also serve as a showcase for two young-but-dynamic quarterbacks: Grambling’s Anthony Carrothers and Alcorn’s Brandon Bridge. Of the SWAC’s 10 regular starting quarterbacks, Carrothers and Bridge are the only true freshmen.

This Week in the SWAC for Oct. 13

THE RATING GAME

1. GRAMBLING
Tigers are looking more and more like the class of the West.
2. TEXAS SOUTHERN
Besides Grambling, TSU is only team in control of its own fate.
3. JACKSON STATE
QB Therriault ranks 3rd in nation in passing with 1,772 yards.
4. ALCORN STATE
Braves can vault to top with win at Grambling this week.

Midseason progress report

Grambling State (4-1, 4-0 SWAC)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The running game. Grambling ranks 13th in the country in rushing, with more than 232 yards per game. Senior Frank Warren has been a workhorse. He ranks second among FCS running backs with more than 146 yards per game — less than 6 yards behind nation's leader Preston Brown (Tennessee State). Defensively, the Tigers are very impressive considering the unexpected loss of Christian Anthony, the reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. The team's only loss came to FBS member Louisiana Tech.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Texas Southern Tigers defense flusters Bridge in Alcorn State loss

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge has shown such great promise since becoming the starter three games ago that the ASU sports information department is trying to think of nicknames for him. But he is still a true freshman. And against Texas Southern’s relentless pressure, you could tell.

The Tigers’ pressure flustered Bridge all game long, forcing him to throw two interceptions, cough up a fumble and take a crucial sack in the final minute of the Braves’ 30-20 loss. Alcorn coach Earnest Collins knew his team was going up against the best defense in the SWAC, and knew they would bring the pressure against Bridge.

Texas Southern defeats Alcorn State 30-20

LORMAN, Miss. — Marquis Jackson had his second sack of the game, forcing a fumble to prevent a potential game-winning touchdown late in Texas Southern's 30-20 win over Alcorn State on Saturday. The Tigers (3-3, 3-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) led 23-20 when the Braves (3-2, 2-1) were driving in Texas Southern territory.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLES.

Attendance: 10,000

Alcorn State 41, Alabama State 21: Alcorn takes battle of SWAC unbeatens

LORMAN, MS. -- Gabriel Nash had 29 carries for 135 yards and two touchdown, and Alcorn State took advantage of five Alabama State turnovers to take a 41-21 victory and emerge as the Southwestern Athletic Conference's only undefeated team Saturday.

Alabama State (3-1, 3-1 SWAC) began the game positively with a five-play, 62-yard drive capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run from quarterback Devin Dominguez, giving the Hornets a 7-0 lead following a PAT. "We came out of the gate and the first drive of the game was outstanding," Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. "After that drive, we did nothing positive on offense."

Alcorn (3-0, 2-0) quickly responded with Brandon Bridge's 57-yard TD run, and Gabriel Nash's 12-yard run to take the lead.

Alcorn offense leads way in win over Alabama State

LORMAN, MS —Alcorn State was averaging 38 1/2 points after two games coming into its matchup with Alabama State Saturday. And the Braves continued to thrive offensively, churning out another high-scoring game and defeating the Hornets 41-21 to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The win marked Alcorn’s first victory over Alabama State since 2002, something Braves head coach Earnest Collins was very happy about. “I wouldn’t have cared if it was 41-40, as long as we came out with the victory,” Collins said. “The kids played hard. We made some mistakes in the game that we have to get corrected, but the kids played together, and I’m proud of them.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Attendance: 2584
Next Games: Alcorn State at Mississippi State 
                       Texas Southern at Alabama State    

Alcorn ready to challenge in SWAC East

LORMAN, MS — It may only be the fourth week of the season, but when Alabama State heads into Jack Spinks Stadium to take on the Alcorn State Braves, SWAC East division title implications could be on the line.

Alabama State has a 3-0 record in the SWAC, including an 18-15 upset victory over Prairie View last week, while the Braves have a 1-0 conference mark following a 27-9 win over Mississippi Valley State. And if the Braves want to play in their first SWAC Championship Game, the Hornets might be the team that stands in their way.

“Regardless of what our records are early in the year, this is a big game,” Alcorn State head coach Earnest Collins said.

Bridge gives Alcorn dual threat at quarterback‎ 

 Don't berate Alcorn State coach Earnest Collins if he's coy about his quarterback plans for Saturday's key conference game against streaking Alabama State. It's a coaching thing. They all do it. Collins replaced starting quarterback Terrence Barnes with true freshman Brandon Bridge during Alcorn's win over Mississippi Valley State last week, sparking the Braves to the 27-9 victory.

That raises the question: Who will start Saturday? "We'll work that out in practice," Collins said earlier this week.

Bridge, a 6-foot-5, 195-pounder from Canada, ran and threw for a combined 250 yards. He threw a touchdown and ran for another after replacing Barnes in the second quarter. Bridge, who Collins says runs the 40-yard dash in less than 4.6 seconds, accounted for 150 yards more in three quarters than Barnes had in the first two games.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Valley, Alcorn taking rivalry to Windy City

Soldier Field in Chicago is the unlikely site of this year’s matchup between Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State. The rivals clash on at 5 p.m. in the Windy City because the Delta Devils’ home, Rice-Totten Stadium, is under renovation and will be unavailable this season. Valley (0-2) has struggled through two games.

“Things have jolted me, but I’m not knocked off track,” Delta Devils coach Karl Morgan said. “I knew the limitations when I took the job.” Alcorn coach Ernest Collins doesn’t have a problem with playing in Chicago because the Braves (1-0) can attract recruits. “It will be great experience for the players to go out in an NFL stadium and play,” Collins said. “We’ve got a big alumni base in Chicago; it will be great for Chicago alums to see us play on their home turf.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Alcorn's defense scores three TD's in 50-27 win

LORMAN, MS — The Alcorn State defense prides itself on being an aggressive bunch with a nose for the football and a reputation on wreaking havoc. And that was never more the case than in the Braves’ 50-27 victory over Langston Saturday. The Alcorn defense scored three defensive touchdowns, recorded a safety, and set the offense up inside the 5-yard line after turnovers on two other occasions.

“Defensive coordinator Zach Shay does an awesome job with instilling that attitude,” Alcorn head coach Earnest Collins said. “We call it BIA, Best in America, at hustle. It’s not about athletic ability, but 100 percent about hustle. He preaches that every day.” And Alcorn State needed every one of those defensive scores, as the Braves offense sputtered for a majority of the game.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:

Langston turnovers help Alcorn St. to 50-27 win

Alcorn's QB still unknown as Braves prep for opener

Collins: It's time for Alcorn State to win

NATCHEZ, MS — Alcorn State head football coach Earnest Collins had one message for Braves fans Thursday night. It’s time to win. Collins and Alcorn offensive coordinator Michael Armour and defensive coordinator Zach Shay addressed Braves fans at the annual Alcorn State Powwow on the ASU Natchez campus. “We’re not going to be satisfied just beating Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State every year,” Collins said. “We want to win SWAC championships. You didn’t hear me say that last year. But what I’m saying now is that we expect to win.”

















Collins said his team has built off last season’s 14-7 victory over Jackson State in the season-ending Capital City Classic, and has ridden that momentum into this season. “The phenomenal thing about that game was we played as a team on both sides of the ball,” Collins said. “The offense scored two quick touchdowns and that was all we needed. We held Jackson State to minus-12 yards rushing, and anytime you can do that, you’re going to win the football game. “I told the guys after the game that we were on our way if they just continued to do what they were doing.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Alcorn State football players conditioning for 2010 season

LORMAN, MS — Because of NCAA rules, Alcorn State head football coach Earnest Collins is only allowed to have limited contact with his players until Aug. 4. Because of this, Collins defers to the Braves’ strength and conditioning coach, Lavell Williams, in keeping his team busy during July. And Williams is taking his experience as a former coach with Kansas, Texas Tech and the Dallas Cowboys, and using it to get the Braves in peak physical condition for the upcoming season.

“At this point in the summer, conditioning is the main thing. We’re doing strength and conditioning together, but focusing on conditioning,” Williams said. “The reason for that is that these guys have to be out in the heat. We want to make sure they can go at 100 percent without their muscles being bogged down.” That way, by the time the fall rolls around, muscle endurance won’t be an issue, Williams added. “That’s the main reason why we’re concentrating on conditioning, after we concentrated more on strength (closer to) the beginning of the summer,” he said.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:

Young scholarly athletes

Four ASU players earn preseason all-SWAC honors

Remembering Steve McNair; One Year After His Death

From The Sports Network

Alcorn State enters season overflowing with optimism

Earnest Collins' Alcorn State Braves won only three games in 2009, his first as head coach, but two of the three were especially huge.


Alcorn defeated both in-state SWAC rivals Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State en route to a 3-6 finish that was the Braves' best since 2006. It's almost as if the Braves are starting 2010 at 1-0, because Collins openly called last year's Capital City Classic, the season-ender against Jackson State, "our first game of the 2010 season."

Alcorn beat the JSU Tigers 14-7, a victory that made winter workouts and spring training much more fun and productive, Braves players say. "We got a taste in our mouth that we enjoyed," Isaac Williams of Clinton, a three-year starter at center, said. "It made everything go better in the off-season. It was big for us, especially beating Jackson State. Everybody knows how big that is."

Big? Yes. The supreme goal? "No," answered Collins. "I want to win them all. You play the game to win championships. I expect us to be much, much better this year."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Football season is only six weeks away

Excerpt:

Lorman, MS - On the college circuit, the feeling at Alcorn State is completely different than it was this time last year. While last year, the Braves were coming off a messy coaching change and 2-10 season, this year there is hope as coach Earnest Collins led his team to a surprising second place finish in the SWAC East division and a 14-7 victory over archrival Jackson State in the Capital City Classic.

Alcorn has some good things going for it this season, most notably a more favorable schedule. Instead of opening their season on the road against Bowl Subdivision teams Southern Miss and Central Michigan, the Braves open their 2010 season at home against NAIA school Langston. They then take a week off before beginning SWAC play against Mississippi Valley State at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The Braves do have to replace all-everything quarterback Tim Buckley, but do return their top receivers Edward Johnson and Terrance Lewis and their entire stable of running backs, as well as several key defensive starters.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Alcorn State releases 2010 football schedule

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State University released the Braves’ tentative 2010 football schedule on Tuesday, and head coach Earnest Collins can breath a little easier not only when he sees the teams the Braves are playing, but who they aren’t. Unlike last season, when Alcorn opened its season on the road against Bowl Subdivision teams Southern Miss and Central Michigan — and lost those two games by a combined 100-0 — the Braves will open up the 2010 season at Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 18.

That could change, however, as Collins said the school is trying to find an opponent to come to Lorman and play Alcorn on Sept. 4. Alcorn currently has four games scheduled at Jack Spinks Stadium. If the Braves are able to find an opponent to play them on Sept. 4, that would give them five home games only one year after they played just three games in Lorman. “We’re excited we have more home games this year,” Collins said. “We’d prefer to get a team to come in here on Sept. 4 and then leave the 11th open.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Alcorn State Braves 2010 Football Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time

9/18 Mississippi Valley* Itta Bena, MS TBA

9/25 Alabama State* Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

10/2 Mississippi State Starkville, MS TBA

10/9 Texas Southern* (Homecoming) Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

10/16 Grambling State* Grambling, LA TBA

10/ 21Arkansas Pine Bluff* Alcorn State, MS TBA

10/30 Southern University* Alcorn State, MS 2:00PM

11/6 Alabama A&M* Huntsville, AL TBA

11/13 Prairie View A&M* Prairie View, TX TBA

11/20 Jackson State* (Capital City Classic) Jackson, MS 1:00PM

12/11 SWAC Championship Birmingham, AL 1:00PM CT