BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Prairie View A&M and Alabama A&M are projected to meet in a rematch of last year’s Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game.
League coaches, sports information and media members picked Prairie View A&M to repeat as West Division champion and Alabama A&M to win the East again ahead of Tuesday’s SWAC media day.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff was picked last in the five-team West.
“I think all our teams have a chance, all of them,”Alabama A&M Coach Anthony Jones said. “This gives y’all [reporters] something to write about and talk about. It gives our fans something to talk about. But when it’s all said and done, all 10 of us have got to show up and play.
“It’s flattering to be considered one of the elite teams in the conference, but we know we have a lot of work to do.”
Prairie View A&M won last year’s championship game 30-24 for its first title in 45 years.
“Before we started really establishing a winning streak, the fans and people were like, ‘Oh, it’s Prairie View,’ ” defensive end Quinton Spears said. “There wasn’t like the support of the program.
“When you start winning and start doing well, then everybody’s behind you, everybody supports you.”
The offensive and defensive players of the year from 2009 were also projected to repeat. Grambling State defensive end Christian Anthony and Prairie View A&M quarterback K.J. Black were the picks to win the individual honors again.
UAPB had one player named preseason All-SWAC with kick returner Mareo Howard earning second-team honors.
Sports, Pages 24 on 07/21/2010