January 8, 1997
New Orleans, La. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference won its nineteenth consecutive 1-AA home attendance title, per figures released by the NCAA, Monday January 6.
SWAC averaged 15,405 fans per game with a total home attendance figure of 600,798. Among all 1-A and 1-AA conferences. and independent groups, SWAC ranked twelfth.
For the first time since 1978, Alcorn State led 1-AA in attendance with an average of 21,536.
“This is something to take great pride in," said ASU athletics director Lloyd Hill. "It is also very rewarding to see Alcorn State or another member of the SWAC always leading 1-AA. We want to thank all of our loyal fans who support Alcorn State athletics."
Other SWAC universities ranked in the top ten include Jackson State (20,977, second), Southern University (20,164, seventh) and Prairie View A&M (17,650, ninth).
The ASU Braves posted an overall record of 4-7 and a 3-4 conference mark in 1996, finishing fifth in the SWAC standings. Head coach Cardell Jones believes the 1-AA home attendance crown is a true reflection of the belief the Braves’ fans have in the team.
"We are very proud of this, especially when you consider that we had an off season as far as our record is concerned,” said Jones. "Our fans are extremely important to us because the players need their support, and we think we have an exciting product for the public to watch.”
| School | G | Attend. | Average | Change |
| 1. Alcorn State | 6 | 129,216 | 21,536 | Up 11,110 |
| 2. Jackson State | 5 | 104,887 | 20,977 | Down 13,872 |
| 3. N. Carolina A&T | 6 | 125,325 | 20,888 | Up 8,565 |
| 4. Yale | 5 | 103,965 | 20,793 | Up 450 |
| 5. Florida A&M | 4 | 82,387 | 20,597 | Up 3,436 |
| 6. Marshall | 7 | 141,804 | 20,258 | Down 782 |
| 7.Southern U. | 5 | 100,819 | 20,164 | Down 238 |
| 8. Montana | 6 | 106,902 | 17,817 | Up 3,702 |
| 9. Prairie View | 6 | 105,900 | 17,650 | Up 22,637 |
| 10. Delaware | 6 | 98,502 | 16,417 | Down 1,586 |
OTHER SWAC SCHOOLS
| School | G | Attend. | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25. Texas Southern | 5 | 54,832 | 10,966 | Down 1,943 |
| 32. Grambling State | 4 | 40,727 | 10,182 | Down 10,427 |
| 37. Alabama State | 3 | 28,674 | 9,558 | Down 2,862 |
Source: NCAA Public Information Office (January 6, 1997)
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