LITTLE ROCK — Brandon Thurmond spent his fall Saturdays four seasons ago in the stands at Golden Lion Stadium as a redshirt, watching Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s football team trudge through Monte Coleman’s first season as head coach.
“It wasn’t a great sight to see,” said Thurmond, a three-year starter at defensive end.
Jamel Maxwell watched that team lose its first seven games on the way to a 3-9 record, suited up on the sideline but not playing while also redshirting.
“I just couldn’t wait for it to be over and get started on another year,” said Maxwell, now a three-year starter at cornerback.
It ended up taking four more years for Maxwell, Thurmond and the seven other fifth-year seniors who were around for the 2008 season. But they’ll finish their careers Dec. 8 where they’ve always wanted: At the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game in Birmingham, Ala.
UAPB’s 49-3 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday gave the Golden Lions (7-2, 6-1) the most victories in any season under Coleman and, coupled with Prairie View A&M’s loss to Alabama State on the same day, clinched the SWAC Western Division for the Golden Lions.
UAPB has two regularseason games remaining before playing in the championship game against the winner of the Eastern Division — either Alabama A&M, Alabama State or Jackson State — for the first time since 2006.
Coleman, who was defensive coordinator when UAPB lost to Alabama A&M the last time it played for a conference title, said he hasn’t allowed himself to enjoy his biggest accomplishment as a head coach yet.
There will be time for that later.
The only adjustment he’s made to signify the division title is at the top of the team’s travel itinerary for this weekend’s trip to Grambling State. Listed above departure times and hotel arrangements are the words “SWAC Western Division Champions.”
“There have been a lot of magical things that have taken place,” Coleman said.
Preseason practice began three months ago with an unsettled coaching staff and a new administration that had yet to officially address the status of Coleman’s expiring contract.
But Henry Miller took over as defensive backs coach for Marty Biagi, who left for Southern University of Baton Rouge in July, and Damon Nivens took over as offensive line coach for Bruce Johnson, who left for a noncoaching position at Mississippi less than a week before practice started.
Miller’s defensive backs, a group that includes senior starters Maxwell and safety Jarvis Webb, have held opponents to 146.6 passing yards per game, tops in the SWAC. The six passing touchdowns allowed are also lowest in the league, as is the opponents’ 47.6 completion rate.
Nivens’ offensive line has helped the Golden Lions average 178.9 rushing yards per game, third in the conference, and quarterback Ben Anderson has been sacked only 13 times, second-lowest in the league.
“I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Coleman said.
His contract could be worked out soon, too.
Coleman has maintained his desire to remain as coach after the original contract expires Dec. 31, but also that it didn’t bother him that it hadn’t been addressed.
UAPB Athletic Director Lonza Hardy said Tuesday he plans to talk with Coleman after the SWAC Championship Game with intentions on working out an extension. Hardy said before the season he planned to talk with Coleman about his future but never indicated a time.
“Whether we were having a good season or a bad season, the discussions were going to be held at the end of the season,” Hardy said. “We’re pleased with the efforts, pleased with the way the season is going with the program.”
Sports, Pages 27 on 11/07/2012