BCSP PRESEASON TOP TEN
1. BETHUNE-COOKMAN (0-0) - Defending MEAC champ Wildcats
(11-2) return seven all-league players at key positions (OL Sapp, RB Lee, DL
Baggs, LB Muhammad, DB El-Robinson). QB Allen Suber is the leader.
OPENS: Saturday vs. Savannah State in
Jacksonville, FL.
2. GRAMBLING STATE (0-1) - Behind QB Bruce Eugene and WR Tramon Douglas, three-time defending SWAC champion Tigers (11-2) rated No. 1 in I-AA by Sports Illustrated. Shut out by Div. IA San Jose State, 29-0, in MLK Literacy Classic. NEXT: Idle this week.
3. ALCORN STATE (0-0) - Three losses on road to close last season spoiled great start by Braves (6-5). Great players (QB Carrie, RB Dumas, DB Parsons, LBs Logan & Wilson) have them poised to challenge for SWAC supremacy. OPENS: Saturday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
4. HAMPTON (0-0) - Joe Taylor's Pirates (7-5) can be counted on to be in thick of MEAC race. DE Isaac Hilton, RB Rian Thompson, QB Tim Frazier and WR speedster Jerome Mathis are the stars. OPENS: Thursday at I-AA 12th-ranked Villanova.
5. MORGAN STATE (0-0) - First-year coach Donald Hill-Eley posted Bears' first winning season in 23 years (7-5) and now says former black college power is back. QBs Washington and Littlejohn, LB Albert Gamble and 15 Div. IA transfers could get them over the hump. OPENS: Saturday vs. Towson State.
6. JACKSON STATE (0-0) - Tigers (7-4) have proven commodity in QB Robert Kent and unknown one in new coach Robert Bell. OPENS: Saturday at I-AA No. 22, Northwestern State.
7. TUSKEGEE (0-0) - Three-time SIAC champs (10-1) return QB Terrence Jones and RB Courtland Florence. Four-peat will be tough. OPENS: Sunday (8/31) in Birmingham vs Miles on MBC (8 pm).
8. ALBANY STATE (0-0) - Only team to knock off Tuskegee in 2002 out to prove that was no fluke. Golden Rams (7-4) put ten on preseason all-SIAC squads. OPENS: Saturday at Div. II No. 2 Valdosta State.
9. ALABAMA A&M (0-0) - Defense paved the way for Anthony Jones' Bulldogs (8-4) to win SWAC East in his first year. Bevy of seniors left the fold. OPENS: Hosting Jacksonville State Saturday.
10. FLORIDA A&M (0-0) - Rattlers (7-5) not stacked as they leave MEAC for Div. IA. Loss of two transfer QBs only complicates their swan song. OPENS: Saturday at Detroit Classic vs. Alabama State.
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