BCSP PRESEASON TOP 10
1. GRAMBLING STATE - Southern ended their three-year reign in the SWAC, but
just barely. With all-American
QB Bruce Eugene at the controls, the G-Men should be back
on top. Transitioning from Doug Williams to Melvin Spears
may take a while, but not that long. OPENS: Hosting
Alcorn State, Sept. 4.
2. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE - Don't sleep on the Bulldogs. They easily handled MEAC champion N. C. A&T to close out the regular season and return most of their key players. OPENS: Sept. 4 vs. Benedict in Columbia, SC.
3. ALABAMA STATE - Lost to SWAC and national champion Southern twice last year, including in the SWAC title game. Made plenty of strides in first year under Charles Coe. Look for more in '04. OPENS: Sept. 4 in Detroit vs. Howard.
4. N. C. A&T - Showed heart and grit to come from nowhere and capture MEAC title in George Small's first season. What will they do for an encore? OPENS: Sun., Sept. 5 vs. NC Central in Raleigh.
5. ALBANY STATE - SIAC champ Golden Rams ended 2003 on as high a note as any, pasting CIAA champ Fayetteville State in the Pioneer Bowl. Talent and weapons on offense and defense make them formidable. OPENS: This Sat., Aug. 28 at home vs. Miles.
6. ALCORN STATE - Handed Southern its only loss last year. Returns veteran Donald Carrie at QB. Should make run at SWAC title. OPENS: At Grambling on Sept. 4.
7. BETHUNE-COOKMAN - No Allen Suber but Alvin Wyatt's Wildcats' cupboard is not bare. Finding a trigger-man is key. OPENS: Sept. 4 vs. Savannah State in Jacksonville, FL.
8. HAMPTON - Never count Joe Taylor's Pirates out of the running for a black college Top Ten. Speedy WR Jerome Mathis and 1,000-yard rusher Alonzo Coleman lead the way. OPENS: Sept. 4 vs. Jackson State in Orlando.
9. SOUTHERN - Graduation and recent losses will have Pete Richardson's defending champion Jaguars looking for answers. OPENS: Hosting McNeese State, Sept. 4.
10. FLORIDA A&M - Probably as good as any in the Top Ten but with a killer Div. I schedule their record will not likely show it. OPENS: Sept. 4 at Illinois.
OTHERS: Tennessee State, Morgan State, Alabama A&M,
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.