REBUILDING THE BRAVES: EARNEST COLLINS TRANSFORMS ALCORN STATE FOOTBALL
SWAC.org
Oct. 22, 2009
By Roscoe Nance
Special to SWAC.org
Alcorn State, the beasts of the SWAC East?
Not exactly.
But the Braves, surprisingly, are atop the East Division with a 2-1 conference record, and they go into their game Saturday at Alabama State in control of their destiny after upsetting Alabama A&M last weekend. Win the rest of their contests, and they are in the SWAC Championship Game for the first time since its inception in 1999.
This comes after a 0-3 start that saw Alcorn State go scoreless in its first two games while being outscored 100-0 by Football Bowl Subdivision members Southern Mississippi and Central Michigan.
"We were telling the kids to keep their heads up and keep sawing wood,'' says first-year coach Earnest Collins Jr., reflecting on the Braves poor start. "The kids kept playing hard. We had a rough start, but look at who we had to start with.'
After the thrashings by Southern Mississippi and Central Michigan the Braves played at Southern University, one of the top teams in the SWAC Western Division, and lost 48-42. Next they traveled to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where they played a game that was declared no contest when it was cancelled after a scoreless first half due to lightning.
In the wake of such an ugly start, no right thinking person would have thought the Braves would be contending for anything other laughing stock of the year, particularly given the fact that their roster included 54 freshmen and sophomores. Yet the Braves lead the East with Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State tied for second with 1-2 records and 0-3 Alabama State bringing up the rear.
"It was one of those deals where it takes time to progress,'' Collins says. "We have a young club. Many of the kids hadn't played college ball before. But they didn't get down on themselves.''
The Braves turned things around with an emotional home victory against in state and division rival Mississippi Valley State in their first game at Jack Spinks Stadium this season. The University honored All-American and NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair, who was killed over the summer, during pre-game and halftime ceremonies.
The contest also marked the 25th anniversary of Alcorn State's 1984 42-28 victory against the Delta Devils - and their high-flying Satellite Express Offense which was led by the Willie Totten-Jerry Rice pass-catch combination.
After defeating Mississippi Valley, the Braves were highly motivated when they hosted Alabama A&M for homecoming. The seniors on the squad had never won against the Bulldogs, who had beaten them five straight times.
"After we had success against Valley, we had confidence (against Alabama A&M),'' Collins says. "We played our hearts out.''
The Braves made a believer of Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones - if he already wasn't - with dominant defensive performance. They forced six turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 198 total yards. That performance came on the heels of a Football Championship Subdivision record-setting 14-sack effort in a 32-10 victory against Mississippi Valley State the week before.
"Alcorn is a very good football team,'' Jones says. "They have some playmakers. Coach Collins did a great job of getting his guys inspired and ready to play. If you give them opportunities and a short field, they're going to make you pay.''
Jones says Collins deserves kudos for rejuvenating the Alcorn State program, which has been knee deep in turmoil the past several seasons. He is their third coach in three seasons. The Braves were 2-10 in 2008 under Ernest T. Jones and 2-8 in 2007 with Johnny Thomas as their coach.
Collins became the Braves' head coach in the spring after spending last season as their defensive coordinator following a bizarre turn of events. Darren Hamilton, who has since resigned as athletic director, fired all seven of the assistants on Ernest T. Jones' staff - including Collins - last December. . Jones hired two lawyers and fought the move. Days later, Hamilton fired Jones and reinstated his assistants. Alcorn State named Collins coach March 21, signing him to a one-year contract.
"He is a very fine, young and upcoming coach,'' Anthony Jones says of Collins. "He's doing an exceptional job. Anybody in their right mind would go ahead wrap this guy up. His team is leading the East. Would anyone have expected that? I'm not sure. Everyone probably had him scheduled to finish around the bottom. He didn't worry about that. He went about his business. He needs to be commended.''
American Urban Radio Network Sports Director Ty Miller says Alcorn State's difficult early schedule has helped the young Braves grow up in a hurry and is a key reason they are in the East Division championship conversation.
"It speaks to what they have done with their team,'' Miller says. "Collins has been enthusiastic and positive about the team from the start. They're the best 2-3 team in the country. I think they can do it but it's highly unlikely. He has made people take notice.''
Collins deflects credit for the Braves success to his coaching staff and players especially quarterback Tim Buckley. The senior from Madison, Miss., has passed for 931 yards, nine touchdowns. He averages 220.6 yards total offense. Buckley conjured up memories of McNair with a masterful performance in the Braves' loss to Southern. He passed for 408 yards and five touchdowns. Three of his touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter as the Braves rallied from a 35-14 deficit.
"As Buckley goes, we go,'' Collins says. "He's the heart of soul of the team. He never gives up. He is tenacious. Tim Buckley is one of those kids who don't say a lot. He just performs. I love his attitude, his heart.''
With games against Texas Southern, Prairie View and arch-rival Jackson State, Alcorn State must "keep sawing wood'' as Jones puts it in order to win the East. For that reason, Jones, a very spiritual person who is given to quoting scripture to make his point, isn't allowing himself or the Braves to become giddy over their success
"We still have a losing record,'' he says. "Day by day we're changing the mindset of the young men. Come the end of the season we hope to have fulfilled some of our goals. . From day one I said God has His hands all over this thing. If it's God's will, we will come out on top.''
Roscoe Nance is a sports journalist with 34 years experience who most recently wrote for USA TODAY.