2006 SWAC Preview
by C.B. 8/6/06

This year the SWAC will be going through some changes while some question marks will get answered.  Some fans wonder if Southern has seen it’s best years under head coach Pete Richardson.  Others wonder if Jackson State will ever return to being a power house. Will Grambling survive life without Bruce Eugene? Can Alcorn, UAPB and MVSU be competitive?  

The SWAC will have only a four team race to the championship all season with the winner being the one who didn’t lose to teams they are supposed to beat. They’re a lot of toss up games this year; AAMU vs. ASU, MVSU and their whole schedule, and anybody playing Alcorn and PV at the beginning of the year. Southern and Grambling have chance to run the table in the SWAC but I wouldn’t put any money on it.

The east division should be the most competitive this year. AAMU and MVSU have gotten the node from the powers that be at the SWAC media day to be the best in the east.  MVSU had good team like this a couple of years ago. They were predicted to have a dominate defense and an up and coming offense. This years prediction is the same, but with a twist. The pre-season players of the year are from MVSU.  Even with the media and information directors choosing teammates QB Aries Nelson and LB Tyler Knight, AAMU was predicted to win the East division.

Valley will be the most improved team but the lack of fan support concerns me. There home games will not really be home games due to poor attendance. This will cause Valley lose a couple of games at home that they shouldn’t.  QB Aries Nelson will be key factor in the Delta Devils winning games. Nelson has to hold down the turnovers and stay injury free in order for Valley to stay in contention for the championship.

AAMU in some people eyes is the team to beat this year. The defense is loaded as usual and the offense is supposed to be improved. Every year the Bulldogs have high hopes of their offense cracking the top three in the SWAC for offensive production. The Bulldogs just need the offense to be a little above average and balanced.  AAMU can not afford to have another year of lack luster performance form the quarterback position.  The Bulldogs have always been plagued with being one dimensional and having high turnover rates.

Alcorn could have another sleeper year. This year’s team is really unpredictable.  Their season could be any from 4- 7 to 6-5. This all depends on how well the team plays in close games.  If the Braves can hold down penalties and protect the quarterback then the chances for a winning season gets better.  The Braves will have a tough year and every game will be a dog fight. 

Traditional powerhouse Jackson State is still rebuilding their program. The Tigers have stepped in the right direction with hiring of a qualified head coach in Rick Comegy.  Running back Erik Faw is a transfer from Ohio State, and will be an immediate impact for the Tigers’ offense. Expect the tigers to run the ball and develop a balanced team. The future looks good for the Tigers.

ASU will open the season with last years collapse fresh on their mind. The schedule doesn’t give the Hornets any help. A possible lost to Texas Southern could be the low point of the season and possible the program.

The West division is a two team race with the hapless PV panthers improving. The improvement of the Panthers is critical to SWAC and west division.  Southern and Grambling need another team to be good enough beat the other during the season so the SCG will not come down to the Bayou Classic.  This year it seems that both teams will run the table and meet for another showdown at the end of the year. This year has a catch, the Tigers play UAPB last this year instead of the Southern.  Depending on how the season plays out will determine whether or not that game will mean anything.

Southern is returning most of their offense and should score a lot of points. I would expect a lot of the same plays (fullback or H back motion draw) from the offense. Short passes will make up for the lack of running game the Jags have. The biggest concern is the defense.  This is has been a sore spot for the Jas since ’99.  Coordinators have been hired and fired and still no improvement. Last year Southern was hit with a lot of players not bale to play for wide range of reasons. This year I would expect the team personnel situation to settle down gain chemistry during the season.

Grambling’s main goal this year will be to replace Bruce Eugene.  The offense looks to be powerful with the return of eight starters. The Tigers are the team to beat to this year and look for Southern to be the hardest game of the year. The Tigers seemed to have shaken off the Bayou Classic mojo the Jags had on it and the future looks bright for the Tigers.

My prediction for the winner of the East division is Alabama A&M. The offense will be improved and the defense will be solid. The West division is a toss up but I’m going to say that Southern losses the Bayou Classic, but wins the SWAC title due Grambling losing two games during the year. Southern will take the crown and with a one game loss season. The team will not be as good as other past SWAC Championship teams but its record will say so.