Alcorn State adjusts to contender status in SWAC

COACH JAY HOPSON

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- It may sound like coach speak, but Jay Hopson calls it real talk.

The third-year Alcorn State coach is pleased his team was selected to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division, two points shy from the first spot.

But that doesn’t mean much if his players don’t put in the work.

“A lot of times when you finish strong, a lot of people will think it will carry over to next season,” Hopson said. “But these guys (the players) know that they still have to go out and prepare for this year.”

After finishing 4-7 in 2012, the Braves jumped to 9-3 in Hopson’s second year. It was the most wins for the program since 1994, when Alcorn went 8-3-1 with the late NFL star Steve McNair at quarterback.

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Transfer Pickett looks to step in as safety at FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Since his arrival on FAMU's campus seven months ago, Antoine Pickett has been hearing about John Ojo and how he was considered one of the best safeties in the MEAC.

Picket, a safety who transferred from Contra Costa College, knows he's only hearing about Ojo because of his departure and the Rattlers need for an experienced replacement.

Getting an opportunity to fill the void only excites Pickett, who comes with proven talent and leadership skills.

"I'm really honored to be considered in the same breath as Ojo," said Pickett, who was the Comets' captain. "Right now I'm just working my butt off to just try to help the team. Coming from California, I'm trying my best to stay focused and keep my intelligence on the field."

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College football to return to Phenix City for first time in 25 years

PHENIX CITY, Alabama  -- A new Whitewater Classic college football match-up is coming to Phenix City, the city announced Friday.

The game, a meeting of Tuskegee and Albany State, will be an annual event starting this September 13, the city said. Officials hope the game will boost tourism and have an economic impact for the city.

Mayor Eddie Lowe announced the game will bring in about $400,000 for the city. He tells us it will cost the city $100,000 to host the game. Tuskegee officials say it was the recent $800,000 renovation of Garrett-Harrison Stadium that made them want to play the game in Phenix City.

The Whitewater Classic will be a return of college football to Phenix City and will be the first such game played at the newly renovated Garrett-Harrison stadium. In May, WRBL News 3 visited the stadium after new turf was installed.


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Alabama State well represented on SWAC preseason teams; linebacker Kourtney Berry selected as defensive player of year

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its preseason team selections at today's Media Day in Birmingham, with Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry headlining the list as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Former walk-on Berry was arguably the biggest surprise from last year's SWAC season. He finished his redshirt freshman season with seven sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception and a team-leading 105 tackles that was also second in the league.

The Merrillville, Ind. native was named last season's SWAC Newcomer of the Year and earned First-Team All-SWAC honors.

Named alongside Berry was Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. He finished the 2013 season second in the league in passing with 2,787 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.

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SWAC Media Day has plenty of style -- and one-liners

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- "You done coach?"

"As you can see from that list, we're not going to be very good."

"We're not defending it in 2013. We're chasing it in 2014."

"Close only counts in horseshoes."

"I'm looking to sneak up on some people. I'm hoping I get overlooked so I can sneak up on you. Watch out."

One of those four guys we have on campus is going to be our quarterback so there is no need to ask that question."

This was just the beginning of SWAC Media Days Friday morning at the Birmingham Marriott.

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What motivated SWAC to move its football title game to Houston? The commissioner explains

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner Duer Sharp said today Birmingham's inability to "control the controllable" was a key factor in the SWAC moving its football championship game to Houston.

The conference held its football Media Day at the Birmingham Marriott and representatives of the 10 member schools met with an eye toward the title game again being at NRG Stadium.

Asked what Birmingham could have done to keep title contest between the East and West division champs, Sharp said there was little else the city could have done.

"One thing I know was consistent was (league chancellors and presidents) wanted to take the weather out of the equation," he said. "It was always that, what happens when you wake up Saturday morning and it's raining? In Birmingham, there's no dome. There's nothing you could do."

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TSU Picked Second in First-Ever OVC Media Poll

 

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee State football team was pegged to finish second in the inaugural OVC Preseason Football Media Poll. The Tigers garnered 105 points and four first-place votes.

 

In total 13 voters around the league cast a ballot on who they thought would be the 2014 football favorites and preseason players of the year.

The OVC will release its official preseason poll and All-OVC voted, as voted on by league head coaches and sports information directors, on Monday during the league's annual Media Day which is being held in Nashville.

The media panel picked the Jacksonville State Gamecocks as the preseason favorite, picking up 9 of 13 first-place votes and 111 total points. Tennessee State picked up the other four first-place votes and 105 total points in being picked second. Two-time defending champion Eastern Illinois was picked third (89 points) and followed by Eastern Kentucky (73), UT Martin (72), Murray State (52), Tennessee Tech (42), Southeast Missouri State (26) and Austin Peay (15).

In addition the pollsters tabbed Jacksonville State senior running back DaMarcus James as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Tennessee State senior defensive end Anthony Bass as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The pollsters for the 2014 OVC Media Poll were: Bob Belvin, ESPN Clarksville; Catlin Bogard, OVC Ball; Mike Bradd, Eastern Illinois Radio; Neal Bradley, Murray State Radio; Chris Brinkley, UT Martin Radio; Craig Haley, The Sports Network; Brian Nielsen, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier; Mike Organ, The Tennessean; Mike Parris, Jacksonville State Radio; Erik Sean, Southeast Missouri Radio; Greg Stotelmyer, Eastern Kentucky Radio; Craig Thomas, Jackson Sun; Donal Ware, Boxtorow.com.



2014 Media OVC Preseason Football Predicted Order of Finish
1. Jacksonville State (9 first-place votes) - 111 points
2. Tennessee State (4) - 105
3. Eastern Illinois - 89
4. Eastern Kentucky - 73
5. UT Martin - 72
6. Murray State - 52
7. Tennessee Tech - 42
8. Southeast Missouri - 26
9. Austin Peay - 15

2014 Media OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: DaMarcus James (RB), Jacksonville State

2014 Media OVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Bass (DL), Tennessee State

 

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