Therriault's running reopens JSU passing game

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault had enough of defenses dropping five and six defensive backs 30 yards or more down the field. They respect my arm, he said. But they don't respect my feet. Maybe now, they will.

Therriault showed his wheels in JSU's 44-14 victory over Prairie View A&M on Saturday at Independence Stadium, gaining 91 yards on 17 carries. "It kind of offended me when people try to drop that deep into coverage," Therriault said. "That was my plan, to go ahead and get them to start respecting me as a runner."

Defenses this season - especially two weeks ago in a 17-16 victory over Mississippi Valley - have dropped up to four defensive backs 15 to 30 yards downfield, stifling JSU's vertical passing game. So, the quarterback, not known much for running, ran.

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The case for No. 1

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — Jackson State football coach Rick Comegy hoisted the 3-foot high, gold-and-green trophy high above his head. Players gathered around, each wanting a touch of the inaugural Shreveport Classic prize.

Outside of the raucous gathering, Jackson State offensive lineman Rodrick Gladney knew an even better reward for the Tigers' 44-14 trouncing of Prairie View A&M on Saturday.

"We're No. 1!" he yelled. "We're No. 1!" Black college football, meet your new No. 1 team.

While JSU was rolling up 722 yards - while quarterback Casey Therriault was accounting for six touchdowns, while JSU defenders were hounding a pair of Prairie View quarterbacks - Alabama State, No. 1 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll, was losing.

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Tigers make State-ment in Classic

The way Jackson State played the first 30 minutes of Saturday's Shreveport Classic against Prairie View, the Tigers didn't seem to lack for motivation. Just for good measure, coach Rick Comegy gave them some at halftime when he told his team Alabama State, the Southwestern Athletic Conference East leader, was losing to Alabama A&M.

That was enough to make sure the Tigers didn't coast in what turned out to be an easy 44-14 victory over Prairie View at Independence Stadium.

"We didn't know about the loss until our game was over, but we heard they were losing," Jackson State quarterback Casey Therriault said. "A couple of us (knew), but we didn't talk about it. We tried to keep it on the down low and play our game. Coach told us at halftime just to re-motivate us."

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Not again, SU Jaguars: Late FG lifts Prairie View

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- Once again, the offense fell asleep in the second half. Once again, the opponent had claimed momentum.

Yet somehow, in the fourth quarter of a pivotal, tense, 23-20 loss to Prairie View inside A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Southern football team found itself right where it wanted to be — with the football in the fourth quarter, with a chance to drive for the game-winning score. Once again, just as quickly, it all fell apart.

With 5:23 remaining in this Southwestern Athletic Conference showdown, Prairie View forced a fumble, recovered a fumble by SU quarterback Dray Joseph, then drained the clock and got a 19-yard field goal from Christopher Barrick with 10 seconds remaining, allowing the Panthers to escape Baton Rouge with a suddenly firm grip on first place in the Western Division.

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Backup QB struggles

Mitchell: Douglas ‘was different’ Saturday
Southern football coach Stump Mitchell said he thought freshman quarterback J.P. Douglas “was different” Saturday after the Jaguars’ 23-20 loss against Prairie View at A.W. Mumford Stadium, noting that Douglas was ineffective in his usual role as part-time player.

“I think J.P., he was different tonight. He was different before the ballgame,” Mitchell said of Douglas, who completed only 2 of 8 passes for 20 yards after he entered the huddle in the third quarter.

“I watch all these guys, and I don’t know if he ... He was just different. He was dancing. He was doing several things in pregame, which I just didn’t think that was him. Now, maybe I don’t know him. But I know he’s a heck of a player. I don’t know if he was right there tonight.”

A week earlier, Douglas had come off the sideline and ...



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SU offense fizzles in 2nd half

There were signs the Southern University offense is beginning to find its comfort zone during Saturday night’s 23-20 loss to Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Prairie View. Unfortunately for Southern, most of those signs disappeared in the second half when it could put up only a lone defensive score.

“I guess we’re learning that it takes 60 minutes to win the game,” offensive tackle Chris Browne said. “You have to do your job the whole game. You can’t stop.”

Southern ran 41 plays and gained 158 yards in the first half, but managed only 99 in the second half. The overall effort came up just short and squandered a defensive effort that was good enough to impress Jaguars coach Stump Mitchell.

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Prairie View WR Nelson steps into spotlight

Dallas, Texas - Prairie View A&M junior Spencer Nelson entered summer camp with the most game experience among the wide receivers and was expected to glide into the No. 1 role.

But Nelson struggled to gain his footing as the Panthers experienced inconsistent play at quarterback from the outset. He had only four catches for 68 yards in the first two games. What a difference two weekends make.




Nelson rebounded with the first two 100-yard, one-touchdown performances of his career. He caught seven passes for 113 yards in a 36-29 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 17 and had nine catches for 117 yards in last Saturday's 43-34 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Nelson (5-8, 175) has quickly become ...

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Prairie View tops rival TSU 37-34 on late field goal

Houston, TX - Prairie View A&M kicker Chris Barrick could not have picked a better time to make his first career field goal.

The redshirt freshman connected on a 36-yarder from the left hash mark with four seconds remaining to carry the Panthers to a stunning 37-34 come-from-behind victory over rival Texas Southern in the 27th annual Labor Day Classic on Saturday night in front of 12,567 at Delmar Stadium.




Barrick's boot capped a furious rally from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit and helped the Panthers (1-1, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) beat the Tigers for the fifth consecutive season and seventh time in the last eight years.

"I knew it was going in," Barrick said. "I wasn't worried about missing."


 Box score

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MEAC/SWAC Challenge: Bethune-Cookman vs. Prairie View

Orlando, FL - Sunday's seventh installment of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge features an experienced team in Bethune-Cookman versus a relatively inexperienced team in Prairie View A&M.

The series pits annual contenders from the two FCS conferences for Historically Black Colleges and Universities against each other. While this game is very early in the season, it can set the tone for each team. The MEAC leads the series 4-2 with South Carolina State being the only team to have won twice.



Sunday's game will take place in Orlando, Fla., at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The game attracts nearly 20,000 fans each season. Bethune-Cookman comes into the season as one of the preseason favorites for a black college national championship.

A look at the two teams:

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Prairie View A&M hopes to regain championship form

Prairie View, Texas - Henry Frazier III was the face of the Prairie View A&M program for the last seven years before resigning as coach in December to become head coach at North Carolina Central. That left the task of carrying on the program's success to former defensive coordinator Heishma Northern.

Frazier led the Panthers to winning seasons in each of his final four years, winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2009. Northern played a huge role in that success, orchestrating a defense that was second in the Football Championship Subdivision in scoring defense in 2007 and third in 2008. The pressure will be on Northern to build on Frazier's numbers. Anything less than a strong season in 2011 would constitute a setback for the program.

The Panthers return only 10 starters and plan to go with a two-quarterback system in the ...



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Prairie View's Ellis could be in on more plays

Prairie View, Texas - Prairie View A&M cornerback Moses Ellis might have to get used to spending more time on the field this season.

Ellis, a senior, is one of the prime candidates to handle punt return duties for the Panthers and has an outside chance of seeing action at wide receiver. He could get his first stab at the punt return job when Prairie View opens its 2011 campaign against Bethune-Cookman during Sunday's MEAC/SWAC Challenge at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.



The 5-9, 175-pound Ellis excelled in his primary role last season, leading the Football Championship Subdivision in interceptions (eight) and passes defended (22) en route to being named an All-American. He also tied for the Southwestern Athletic Conference lead in passes broken up with 14.

Ellis, the preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year...

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Prairie View hires Mark Orlando as offensive coordinator

PVAMU O.C. Coach Mark Orlando

Bethune-Cookman offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mark Orlando has been hired to fill the same position at Prairie View A&M.

Orlando, a former offensive coordinator at Texas Southern, spent one season at Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats had one of the Football Championship Subdivision's best offenses under his watch, finishing second in scoring (38.17 points per game), 12th in total yards (425.6 per game) and 13th in rushing (212.8 yards per game) en route to a 10-2 finish and share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

Orlando, who played quarterback at ...

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NOTE: This is a major hire for first year Panthers head coach Heishma Northern and more importantly gives Prairie View a tremendous advantage over Bethune-Cookman for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida on September 4, 2011.

Sources say Coach Orlando will be paid $90,000 per year plus bonuses, a major increase over his B-CU salary.

Orlando also holds a "Rattler Card" earning his Master's Degree from Florida A&M University in 1984. He served as a a member of the Florida A&M coaching staff  under head coach Rudy Hubbard, that won the first Division I-AA National Championship in 1981, and served as the Rattlers' offensive coordinator for six seasons, then moved on to Tennessee State University as offensive coordinator for four seasons.

He collaborated with Pete Richardson at Winston-Salem State University in 1991 before moving to Southern University with Coach Richardson where he remained until Richardson was let go in 2009.

This puts Bethune-Cookman in a very precarious position.

Coach Orlando is the architect of the Wildcats "Speedway Offense" and quarterbacks coach of the offense that ranked 12th nationally in the FCS in 2010. His leaving for PV may impact the Wildcats signing of Mr. Florida Football 2011 -- quarterback Quentin Williams, Jefferson High School (Tampa) on February 2, 2011, the first day that high school players can sign binding "National Letters of Intent."

Williams has verbally committed to B-CU, but continues to take visits to other schools.

Losing Coach Orlando is devastating; losing quarterback Quentin Williams will be catastrophic for the Wildcats program that ranked 40th in average home game attendance (7,093 per seven home games) last season. Let's see if second year head coach Brian Jenkins respond like a true champion with a monster hire and the signing of blue chipper Williams.

If you are keeping score, PVAMU 10, B-CU 0 and we are more than seven months away from kickoff.

(beepbeep)

Turnaround trio leaves mark on PV

 Basketball Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke  

Like Robertson, Cooper-Dyke, Frazier departs after reviving dreadful program

Henry Frazier III’s decision to leave Prairie View A&M for North Carolina Central last week closed the book on one of the school’s most successful football coaches.

It also signaled the exit of the last remaining coach in Prairie View’s former “big three.” The three were Frazier, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (women’s basketball) and Michael Robertson (baseball). They stood out as Prairie View’s most significant coaches in recent years because of their roles in turning around programs that were doormats before their arrival.

When Robertson began in 2003 after leaving Forest Brook High, the baseball team had won only 17 games in...

Northern ready for the next step at Prairie View

Heishma Northern was placed on the fast track to become a Division I head coach when Prairie View A&M named him coach-in-waiting Oct. 13.

It turned out to be much faster than the sixth-year defensive coordinator or most others envisioned. Northern was elevated to head coach Monday after Henry Frazier III stepped down to pursue coaching opportunities at programs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A person familiar with the situation said Frazier, who went 43-30 in seven seasons at Prairie View, will fill the coaching vacancy at North Carolina Central.

Meanwhile, Northern is left with the keys to a program that went 32-9 over the last seasons and won the Southwestern Athletic...

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A&M holds off Tuskegee

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Alabama A&M beat Tuskegee 73-70 Saturday night at Elmore Gym, but the Bulldogs paid a heavy price for the victory. Starting point guard Jabari Deshields, backup point guard Jeremy Crutcher, backup power forward Jonathan Inman and reserve forward/center Chris Burks were ejected with 3.9 seconds left. All four players must sit out Saturday's game at Alabama.

LONG ROAD ENDS

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - Anthony Jones was almost in tears late Saturday afternoon. Nobody would have blamed Alabama A&M's head coach if he had broke down and cried after the kind of the year the Bulldogs had. A&M finished its worst season in Jones' nine years with a 35-14 loss to Prairie View before an announced crowd of 3,967 at Louis Crews Stadium.

"It's been a long, rough year," said Jones' whose team finished 3-8 and lost six of its last seven games after starting 2-2. "It's over and we've got to start all over. I'm going to take a look at a lot of things because I don't like this feeling and I don't want to repeat it."

Alabama A&M notebook

While his career didn't end like he wanted it to, Alabama A&M inside linebacker Afu Okosun was still proud. The Bulldogs' 35-14 loss to Prairie View was the final game for the 13 seniors, who began their careers with Southwestern Athletic Conference championships rings, but it ended it with the worst record since 1992.  "It was one of those years," Okosun said. "When it rains it pours and it definitely poured this year. We kept fighting and trying to make the best of it and I'm proud of that."

Grading the Bulldogs

OFFENSE: F. The Bulldogs managed just 271 total yards and committed four turnovers [- three interceptions and a fumble. Quarterback Justin Jones threw two interceptions in the end zone and also fumbled at the Prairie View 1 when the Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game midway through the second quarter.

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ATTENDANCE: 3969

Jackson State handles Prairie View A&M 30-13

Casey Therriault threw for 291 yards and a touchdown as Jackson State beat Prairie View A&M 30-13 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday night. Therriault, who leads Football Championship Subdivision passers with 335 yards per game, gave the Tigers (6-2, 4-2) a 7-0 lead with a 10-yard pass to Marcellos Wilder. He completed 27 of 39.

With Jackson State leading 14-3 at halftime, Kyle Mathews kicked his second field goal for the Panthers (5-4, 4-3), a 25-yarder, after Michael Benson returned the second-half kickoff 63 yards. A Tigers safety made it 16-6 when Milton Patterson stopped Donald Babers in the end zone.



JSU's much-criticized Darkside Defense returns to old form

Forget those plentiful passing yards, those tantalizing touchdown tosses and those crazy, sometimes comical catches. Jackson State's Air Raid offense might be well and good, but the program's once-vaunted defense has returned. The Darkside Defense - as they say - is back.

"It feels great," defensive end Donavan Robinson said. "Finally got our title back."
Behind its best defensive performance in 20 games, Jackson State denied Prairie View A&M an offensive touchdown and crushed the Panthers 30-13 on Saturday.

Attendance: 23,701

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Jackson State vs. Prairie View A&M

When: Today, 4 p.m.
Where: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Television: None
Radio: JSU Network (WHLA-95.5 FM, Jackson)
Records: Jackson State: 5-2, 3-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Prairie View A&M: 5-3, 4-2 SWAC
History: Last meeting: Prairie View 30, Jackson State 27, 2007
All-time series: Jackson State leads 34-14-2

What a way to begin a critical season-ending four-game stretch than welcoming the defending SWAC champions into Memorial Stadium for homecoming. Already strapped with two SWAC losses, the Panthers likely won't catch Grambling in the SWAC West. Their motivation? A possible at-large bid into the Football Championship Subdivision's expanded playoffs, and, maybe more importantly, ruining JSU's homecoming and hampering the Tigers' path to the SWAC Championship Game.

Injuries exact toll on Tigers' defense

These days, a simple glance around the Jackson State practice field reveals plenty about the team's crippled defense. Linebacker Milton Patterson's left forearm is covered in a dark cast, protecting the broken bones in his wrist.

Cornerback Jeremy Keys wears a different shoe than everyone else because he's playing with a fractured foot. Defensive end Sam Washington spends some of his time watching from the sideline because of a sore lower back.



Boom warned about violations

JSU's marching band, the Sonic Boom of the South, was publicly reprimanded this week by the Southwestern Athletic Conference for playing during game action. The Boom could be suspended or fined for more offenses. Conference rules state that "once the offensive team breaks the huddle and approaches the line of scrimmage, the band shall cease playing."

This particular offense, the league said in a statement, occurred during JSU's game against Alabama A&M on Oct. 9, but the Boom has been told by the head referee to stop playing during several other games this season.

Panthers loaded with motivation for clash with Tigers

When Eric "Shorty" Greene thinks of Prairie View A&M, he can't help but remember his playing days at Jackson State. Back then, in the early 1990s, Prairie View was on what would be an 80-game losing streak. The program gave few or no football scholarships. And, frankly, didn't give programs like JSU much trouble.

"When they got off the bus," Greene said, "we knew we were going to whip them."

Nowadays, Prairie View is anything but the Southwestern Athletic Conference's dog. In fact, the school won the conference last season. It was the first SWAC championship for the program in 45 years.

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Southern Jaguars let one slip away

SHREVEPORT, LA — Henry Frazier III wasn’t worried. Saturday night at Independence Stadium, even when his Prairie View football team came up empty on a handful of great chances to score against Southern in the second half, Frazier felt good. His team had momentum. His team was in good shape.

Ultimately, by the end of the Panthers’ 30-16 victory, he was right. “I told (the players), ‘We’ll be OK,’ because our defense was playing so good,” Frazier said. “When your defense is playing that well ... I mean, we stayed on their side of the field the whole second half. So I was OK with it. Normally, I’m conservative, but I took a couple of gambles tonight.”

Panthers defense stiffens

SHREVEPORT — In the first half, the Prairie View A&M defense allowed 218 yards to Southern. The second half was a different story. The Panthers limited the Jaguars to 41 yards in the second half en route to a 30-16 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory in Saturday’s Shreveport Classic at Independence Stadium.

Prairie View defensive coordinator Heishma Northern said the Panthers made a few adjustments at halftime, but it was mostly about playing better. “We just talked to the guys about doing their job,” said Northern, a Baton Rouge native who played football at Southern and played and coached at Glen Oaks High School.

Prairie View breaks through in 4th quarter

SHREVEPORT — Through much of the second half of Saturday’s game at Independence Stadium, when Southern’s offense failed to move the ball and Prairie View kept threatening to take control, the Jaguars’ defense did everything it could to hold the fort. Or, in the words of defensive tackle Jordan Miller, the defense did almost everything.

Eventually, the Panthers broke through. “Our offense delivered. Sixteen points should be enough to win,” Miller said. “We can’t keep giving up so many touchdowns.” Really?

Panthers continue recent dominance over SU

SHREVEPORT — Another year. Another win. Another round of notable achievements for the Prairie View football program. The Panthers defeated Southern 30-14 on Saturday at Independence Stadium, their third consecutive victory over the Jaguars. It had been a while since Prairie View could claim that kind of dominance over Southern.

The Panthers hadn’t won three straight games in this series since 1962-64, when legendary William “Billy” Nicks still coached at Prairie View. Saturday’s game also marked the first time this season that Panthers quarterback K.J. Black — the reigning offensive player of the year in the Southwestern Athletic Conference — threw for more than 300 yards this season.

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ATTENDANCE: 19,979


Final: Prairie View, 30; Southern, 16

HOW THEY SCORED
First quarter
Prairie View – Donald Babers 3 run (Kyle Mathews kick) at 8:11. DRIVE: 10 plays, 83 yards, 4:25. KEY PLAYS: Prairie View converts on a third-and-10 with a throw from quarterback K.J. Black to tailback Devin Brown. Black throws to wideout Shaun Stephens for a 32-yard gain. SU safety Demetric Rogers is flagged for holding on an overthrown pass. Babers runs on the final five plays of the drive. Prairie View 7, Southern 0.

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Prairie View, Southern set for Classic week

Prairie View head football coach Henry Frazier sees his team's "home" game with Southern at Independence Stadium on Saturday as a good thing.

"That (playing at a neutral site) is pretty much how it is with us," Frazier said. "We only play three games at our stadium. We'll play at Reliant Stadium, at the Cotton Bowl, at the Independence Bowl, and all of those are our home games.

 "It's a good thing and a good problem to have. We have definitely outgrown our little high school stadium that we have. So that's a good thing. We're kind of used to it."

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Shreveport Classic: Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Southern University Jaguars - Oct. 23rd.

Prairie View A&M University Department of Athletics has entered into a two-year agreement with the City of Shreveport and State Fair of Louisiana to bring to the city one football game each during the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Independence Stadium.

Prairie View's first contest in Shreveport will take place on October 23rd, 2010 versus Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge). The gridiron matchup will be a reunion of sorts as both teams met in Independence Stadium during the 2003 campaign.

For more information and tickets, visit: http://www.shreveportclassic.com/

Babers, Black lead Prairie View past Ark.-Pine Bluff

Linebacker Brenan Gordon recorded his first career interception return for a touchdown when his 79-yard runback sealed a 21-6 victory for Prairie View A&M over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday in Pine Bluff, Ark.

UAPB took advantage of an early Prairie View fumble and claimed a 3-0 lead as kicker Chris Ewald nailed a 45-yard field goal for the only score of the half.

SWAC: UAPB offense struggles in loss

Arkansas-Pine Bluff was handed a pair of second-half gifts Thursday night, but the Golden Lions couldn’t do anything with them. Trailing by one point, Prairie View A&M fumbled first on the Golden Lions’ 2 and later at its own 43.

But both of UAPB’s breaks ended with punts and what had been a dynamic UAPB offense was largely silent in a 21-6 loss to the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions at Golden Lion Stadium.

“They were basically giving us the football game,” UAPB quarterback Josh Boudreaux said. “Whenever teams turn the ball over like that, we’ve got to take advantage of it as an offense.”

Video Replay:

Prairie View A&M vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

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Prairie View A&M Panthers and Southern University Jaguars Fight it Out in the 2010 Shreveport Classic

Shreveport, LA -- The Prairie View A&M Panthers and Southern University Jaguars return to the Port City for the first time since 2003 in the inaugural Shreveport Classic on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Independence Stadium.

Kickoff between these two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division powers is set for 4 p.m.

This year’s matchup promises to be an exciting one as the Prairie View A&M Panthers are fresh off a SWAC Football Championship while Southern features a new head coach in Stump Mitchell. This will mark the second-ever meeting in the city between both teams as they played in Shreveport during the 2003 campaign.

From 1989 to 2005, Southern dominated the series with 16 consecutive wins. However, the tide has turned in Prairie View’s favor as head coach Henry Frazier III has a two-game winning streak over the Jaguars and wins in three of the past four meetings.

The Classic will take place on the site of the annual State Fair of Louisiana and will provide tons of entertainment on and off the field. This also marks the first of two games in Shreveport for the Panthers as they’re slated to take on Jackson State in the 2011 edition of the Shreveport Classic.

Tickets can be purchased at the following venues:
Southern University-Shreveport
3050 MLK Jr. Drive
318-670-6305
Prairie View Ticket Office
936-261-9100
Online
www.shreveportclassic.com
Southern University • Baton Rouge Ticket Office
225-359-9328
Independence Bowl Office
401 Market Street, Suite 120
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-221-0712
Ticket Prices:
Club Level: $52
General Admission: $25
Game ticket entitles you to enjoy the game, State Fair of Louisiana, and a FREE concert after the game.

Game day info is available at www.ShreveportClassic.com. Hotel and tourist information is available from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, www.shreveport-bossier.org or by calling 888-45-VISIT.

ASU puts Undefeated Record on Line at Prairie View

MONTGOMERY, AL — After opening the season with consecutive home games, the Alabama State University Hornets will hit the road for the first time in 2010 with a 4 p.m. kickoff at reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference champions, Prairie View A&M University.

The game will feature the top offense in the SWAC as the Hornets have scored 72 points over their first two games. The game also features the only two teams in the league that have picked up conference wins as Prairie View defeated Texas Southern in its first game of the year. ASU has picked up two conference victories with wins over Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

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PVU Marching Storm - Labor Day Classic 2010 from Sed Brass on Vimeo.

Northern's return good for Prairie View A&M Panthers

Prairie View A&M University coach Henry Frazier III said he wanted to see his defensive coordinator, Heishma Northern, have a shot to become the Southern University head coach after the school fired Pete Richardson in December.

Northern, a Baton Rouge native and former SU safety, indeed had a chance — he interviewed for the job and was one of the three lead candidates identified by athletic director Greg LaFleur — but SU settled on Stump Mitchell instead. Which, Frazier said, was good for him.

“I would like to go on record and publicly thank Southern University for not hiring him. It was good news for us,” Frazier said with a laugh Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala., site of the Southwestern Athletic Conference media day. “Really, he wanted to be there, and I want the best for coach. But he’s definitely a very good football coach. Extremely smart, intelligent and well-prepared.” Frazier said he believes Northern, now in his sixth year at PV, is prepared to take over his own program.



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All-SWAC team not much changed

With Prairie View quarterback K.J. Black and Grambling defensive end Christian Anthony, 2009 SWAC offensive and defensive players of the year returning, it's no surprise the preseason 2010 All-SWAC preseason team looked similar — especially since PV and Alabama A&M were selected to repeat as respective division champions.

Anthony was a dominant defensive force who finished 10th in the league with 76 tackles and third overall in both sacks (8.0) and tackles-for-loss (15.0) in 2009. From the defensive lineman position he recorded five interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns. He led the league in fumbles forced with five, and he recovered three loose balls.

Black was last years' premier offensive threat in the SWAC, leading the Panthers to their first conference title in nearly half a century. Black threw for 225.9 yards per game and led the league in pass efficiency by nearly 30 points at 172.8. He tossed 22 TDs with just four interceptions.

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