Grambling's Anthony isn't buying the early hype

In what is almost certain to be the least surprising announcement of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's 2010 football season, Grambling's Christian Anthony was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.

In addition to Anthony's honor, a poll of conference coaches, media, and selected sports information directors predicted Grambling to finish the 2010 season in the same spot as the Tigers finished in 2009 — second in the Western Division and left out of the SWAC Championship. Prairie View A&M, the defending SWAC Champion, was picked to finish ahead of Grambling in the West. "Prairie View is No. 1, and right now Prairie View is the team to beat," Anthony said.

"They came out last year and defeated us, and right now we're chasing glory, and that's a situation you love to be in."

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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."

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Battle for backup QB is on at FAMU

Jonathan Pillow, RS 6'-0"/200 lbs., freshman transfer from University of Maryland; signed as defensive back by Terps from Jacksonville, FL Mandarin High School. Pillow completed 130 of 236 passes in 2008/09 for 1538 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interception as the starter for the 7-3 Mustangs.

They both have the same goal as the preseason approaches for the Florida A&M football team — Austin Trainor and Jonathan Pillow want to win the backup role at quarterback. Their attitude is a little different, though. Trainer, who is in his second season with the program, is a little more assertive and full of confidence. Pillow, who was on the University of Maryland's football team last season but didn't play a down, is taking a wait-and-see approach. That was enough for coach Joe Taylor to offer this assessment:

"It's going to be interesting now when camp starts as to who gets the backup. It's all about getting reps." With Martin Ukpai having locked down the starting quarterback spot, both of the freshmen are poised to go after the second spot that is still up for grabs. Senior Eddie Battle came out of spring camp as the favorite backup, but has missed most of the offseason 7-on-7 drills.

Trainor would definitely have the edge because of his experience in FAMU's offense. But he realizes Pillow and potentially one or more of the incoming freshmen could make the competition tough. "Nobody is going to give me (anything) unless I take it for myself," said Trainor, who spent the past few months putting on muscle and working on his speed. "I feel a little more confident these months we have had off."

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SWAC coaches pick A&M, Prairie View

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — How often does history repeat itself? It depends on the piece of history in question. In the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason poll, released Tuesday at the league’s annual media day, voters predicted that Prairie View and Alabama A&M — last year’s division champions — will meet again at Legion Field in the championship game.

As for Southern ... well, voters apparently aren’t sold on a quick turnaround from first-year coach Stump Mitchell. The Jaguars will finish fourth, according to the poll. “That’s fine,” Mitchell said. “We know that others’ expectations for us aren’t the same as our expectations for us. We’re just going to focus on playing each game and trying to win them all.” Of course, SWAC preseason polls are not often clairvoyant.

In 2006, voters selected Alabama A&M and Southern as favorites to win their respective divisions. They were half-correct: Alabama A&M won the Eastern Division and reached the championship game, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff won the West. The following summer, Alabama A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were preseason favorites. Voters went 0-for-2, as Jackson State and Grambling reached the SWAC title game.

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Devil of a job: Deck stacked against MVSU coach Morgan

Karl Morgan won't say it, but I will. Morgan, the first-year head football coach at Mississippi Valley State, has the most difficult job in football. Believe this: If anybody has a tougher job, you don't want anywhere near it. Neither does Knute Rockne or Bear Bryant. Why is Morgan's job so hard? Let us count the ways:

•He replaces the legendary Willie Totten, whose name is on the Valley stadium, but who won only 31 games in eight seasons at the Valley.

•Oh, that stadium? Morgan's first team can't play in it. It's condemned and will have to be repaired. Valley will play its "home" games 45 miles away at Greenville High School.

•Totten's last team finished 3-8 overall and won just one SWAC game. Obviously, better talent is needed, but Morgan got the job two weeks before signing day. In other words, pickings were slim.

•Division I-AA teams are allowed 63 football scholarships, and most of Valley's opponents award that many. Valley is limited to just above 50.

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Granted a rare 6th year, JSU DE hopes to be healthy difference-maker 1 last chance

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Sam Washington would prefer not to relive the moment anymore - the one where he collapsed last August on the Jackson State practice field, experiencing what he calls the "worst pain ever." "I just dropped," he said. "I didn't flip over or do any of that Cartoon Network stuff. I just fell." He lay on the field, writhing in pain as teammates and trainers swarmed over him. In his mind he was thinking one thing: Oh no, not again.

For the second time in four years - this time less than a month before the 2009 season opener - Washington's spinal vertebra jabbed into a nerve, sending pain and numbness through the left side of his body. For the defensive end from Holmes County, it meant another back surgery and another football season missed - and perhaps the end of his career. That was nearly one year ago.



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Coach Joe Taylor's Pre-Season Update