Jackson State new #1 in HBCU Football
By Donal Ware
With previous #1 Alabama State’s loss to Alabama A&M Saturday, Jackson State takes the top spot in the Boxtorow National HBCU Football media and coaches polls.
The Tigers received 14 of the 18 first places votes in the media poll and 10 of 13 in the coaches poll.
In the media poll, the Winston-Salem State Rams continue to climb the poll and are #2 this week, edging out both Norfolk State and Alabama A&M who are tied for third. The Rams received two first place votes, and two weeks ago clinched the CIAA’s Northern Division. Norfolk State defeated North Carolina A&T 14-10 in Norfolk on Saturday and retains a share of first place in the MEAC with Morgan State. Alabama A&M moves up three spots after defeating Alabama State 20-19 in the Magic City Classic. The Hornets drop from the top spot to #5.
Despite its 37-13 victory over Benedict, the Albany State Golden Rams slipped one spot to #6. The South Carolina State Bulldogs and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats retained their #7 and #8 spots, respectively from a week ago. The Morehouse Maroon Tigers and the Hampton Pirates switched places from last week and are #9 and #10, respectively this week.
There was as much shake up a the top in the coaches poll with AAMU’s victory over Alabama State as the Bulldogs received two first place votes and jumped one spot to #2 this week. Norfolk State received the other first place vote and is #3, followed by Alabama State at #4 and like it did in the media poll, Bethune-Cookman retained its spot from a week ago and is #5.
The idle Florida A&M Rattlers and Morgan State Bears moved up one spot each from last week to #6 and #7, respectively. Hampton dropped two spots to #8. South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T remained #9 and #10 this week.
Albany State and Fort Valley State meet in the Fountain City Classic in Columbus, GA this Saturday. If Albany State wins, they will represent the Eastern Division in the first SIAC Championship Game against Miles on November 12 in Atlanta. If Albany State loses and Morehouse defeats Kentucky State, then the Maroon Tigers will represent the Eastern Division in the championship game.
FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW (Boxtorow) is the nationally syndicated sports talk radio show which places major emphasis on HBCU Sports.
The voters in the media poll are comprised of some of the top media members in the country who cover HBCU football. The coaches poll is voted on by the FCS HBCU coaches. The media poll is in its fifth year and the coaches poll is in its third.
Donal Ware is known as the “Voice of Black College Sports” and is the host of the nationally syndicated sports talk show FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW which airs on radio stations around the country and can als be heard Saturday from 1-2 p.m. at www.boxtorow.com He has covered HBCU Sports and pro sports for years. You can follow him on Twitter @dware1 or @boxtorow
