Alabama State switches to spread offense

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama State won't be able to Peck away at opposing defenses this season. The Hornets have relied heavily on tailback Jay Peck the past two years, but now have made the switch to a more pass-oriented spread offense. Just having a good running game isn't enough for coach Reggie Barlow any more.

"Last year we finished pretty high in total offense but when you look at it we rushed the ball better than everybody else," Barlow, a former NFL receiver, said. "Our passing game was really bad. With this system we'll throw the ball around more. Passing-wise, we should be up in the top-tier. That hopefully will open up running lanes.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

ASU offense has 'D' back on its heels

'Bama State head football coach Reggie Barlow

Alabama State's first scrimmage of the fall was summed up in just one word by head coach Reggie Barlow -- "pleasing." It was pleasing to the coaches, pleasing to the players and especially pleasing to the approximately 250 fans at Hornet Stadium. ASU's new spread offense moved the ball efficiently, the quarterback play was solid, the kicking game was sound and the defense got its shots in when it mattered.

"It's hard to judge being out here on the field just how good it was, but it felt good," Barlow said. "The offense did some good things. Some of that might have been because (defensive coordinator Tony) Pierce didn't have a couple of his horses in. But it was still a nice effort all around."

The focus was on the quarterback position, where transfers Reid Herchenbach and Anthony Speight are battling for the starting role. Both played well Saturday, as the coaches moved them through a variety of starting positions on the field.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Alabama State Hornets begin fall practice

With all of their paperwork in order and their belongings in dorm rooms, the Alabama State football players got down to real business Friday.

After a brief walk-thru session in the morning, the Hornets went through their first real practice later that day. "It was your typical first day," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. "We were basically just looking to see who was in shape and watching some of the freshmen and junior college guys to see how they look. I was happy, overall."

Of course, critiquing is a bit tough for the coaches at this stage, with the players going through drills in only helmets and shorts. NCAA rules limit the amount of contact allowed and prevent teams from practicing in full pads until the fifth practice day. Until then, the Hornets, like all college teams, will work on conditioning and fundamental drills.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

ASU's Barlow welcomes the largest Hornets' squad in four years

ASU Coach Reggie Barlow incoming class has 30 freshmen, transfers and walk-ons signed in.

As university workers methodically marked the practice field and got the necessary equipment in place, a steady stream of players marched in and out of the Alabama State football offices Thursday. The players, some of them accompanied by their parents or other family members, filed in one by one, filled out the required paperwork, gathered their boxes of supplies and set off to find their assigned dorm rooms.

It was reporting day for the Hornets. Head coach Reggie Barlow welcomed in 89 players -- the largest number in at least four years at ASU -- and, to his delight, had no surprise no-shows. "It's in the air," said junior wide receiver Ronald Davis. "As more guys come in and we all start getting ready, the excitement just sort of builds. You can feel it around here right now. Everybody knows it's about time to go."

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Q&A: Alabama State OC Noonan brings spread to Hornets

When Reggie Barlow hired Ben Noonan last January, most Alabama State fans had the same response: Who?

It was a reasonable reaction. After all, Noonan, 25, is a young guy who has coached only at West Texas A&M, a Division II school, and Baylor, where he was serving as grad assistant when Barlow came calling. He's called plays just once in his life and has absolutely no connections to ASU or any other historically black college football program.

He was as much of a mystery to fans as he could possibly be. And for the most part, he's remained one. The majority of ASU fans still have no idea who Noonan is, why he was hired and what his plans are.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Q&A: ASU football coach Barlow tries to move forward

The last few months have been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Alabama State's Reggie Barlow. Unfortunately, there have been far more deep plunges than nice, slow uphill rides for the Hornets' second-year head coach.

The trip started just after last football season, when he fired a friend -- offensive coordinator Maurice Harris. That was followed by the hiring of current OC Ben Noonan to completely revamp ASU's offense. That was followed by the release of an NCAA notice of infractions that detailed 668 violations committed by the Hornets from 1999 to 2003. Then came the debacle that was Barlow's interview on Paul Finebaum's radio program.

All in all, he would probably just as soon forget the last half-year. But first, he has to talk about it.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

ALABAMA STATE FOOTBALL: New offense has effect on defense

When Reggie Barlow began entertaining the idea of bringing in a coordinator to run the spread offense at Alabama State, he had a couple of concerns.

The first was the ASU running game. The Hornets had a talented group of ball carriers that saved the team more than a few times last season and Barlow didn't want to cut any of them out of playing time. He was pleased to discover that the pass-happy spread wasn't so pass-happy and that the running back was only slightly less important than the quarterback.

CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE, CLICK ON BLOG TITLE.

Alabama State University begins spring drills

Alabama State's spring football practices were likely to be a bit hectic no matter what. The first steps in installing a new offense tend to have that effect. The offense is a version of the one being used at Texas Tech now. That system saw quarterback Graham Harrell average more than 43 pass attempts per game in his career.

One of the key players not on campus is junior college transfer quarterback Reid Herchenbach, who is expected to challenge for the starting role next season. Barlow said Saturday that Herchenbach was brought in by new offensive coordinator Ben Noonan, who had been tracking Herchenbach for a while.

CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE.

Alabama State's Coach Barlow says NFL can wait

Photo: Coach Reggie Barlow interviewed for Denver Broncos receivers coaching postion on Monday in Denver.

Reggie Barlow said Tuesday that he expects to return as Alabama State's head coach next season and will not accept a possible job offer from the Denver Broncos. Barlow spent Monday in Denver interviewing with head coach Mike Shanahan for a job as the Broncos' receivers coach, but said Tuesday that he didn't think now was the best time to make the jump to the NFL.

"Do I ultimately want to coach in the NFL? Yes," Barlow said. "But I just don't think right now is the time for that. I've brought in some good coaches here, and I sat in a lot of living rooms and made promises to kids. It's a very, very tough decision. But I think I'm content here at Bama State. That's what I told my wife. That's what I've told (ASU officials)."

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE.