Hampton, Grambling State Are 1-2 in BASN's
Inaugural Black College Football Top 10
August 21, 2006
by Tony McClean,
NEW HAVEN, Ct. -- Since the end of the 2005 Black College
Football season, two powerhouse schools have been on a collision
course. At season's end, they were both named co-Black National
Champions by the Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN).
 Add to the fact that these same two schools will meet in this
year's MEAC-SWAC Challenge in September, it just adds to the
excitement of the upcoming HBCU football campaign.
The Pirates of Hampton University and the Tigers of Grambling
State University open the 2006 season as the two best teams
in Black College Football. All that said, it should be to no
surprise that they respectively sit 1-2 atop BASN's Inaugural
Black College Football Preseason Top 10.
Hampton and Grambling State will face-off in the season opener
on Sept. 2 in the Ford MEAC-SWAC Challenge at Legion Field
in Birmingham, Ala. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The top-ranked Pirates, predicted to win their third consecutive
MEAC title by the league’s coaches and SID’s, are
also ranked No. 1 in SBN's preseason poll and 13th in the Sports
Network’s Preseason I-AA poll.
Coach Joe Taylor's squad (11-1, 8-0 MEAC last year) returns
a potent senior class along with a host of four-year starters
who are hoping to become the first team to win three straight
MEAC crowns since South Carolina State (under the legendary
Willie Jefferies) won four straight from 1980-83.
As for Grambling State, Melvin Spear's Tigers finished a perfect
9-0 against SWAC competition and 11-1 overall last season suffering
their only loss to Div. IA Washington State (48-7). However,
GSU did defeat Alabama A&M (45-6) in the SWAC title game
to win their fourth SWAC in the last six years.
The rest of the preseason top five includes the previously
mentioned Bulldogs of Alabama A&M (9-3, 7-2) ranked third,
South Carolina State (9-2, 7-1) of the MEAC fourth, and defending
SIAC champion Albany State (8-2, 8-0) at number five.
Both A&M and SCSU will open the 2006 season on the road
on Sept. 2nd. Anthony Jones' Bulldogs, who lost twice to Grambling
last year by a combined score of 89-6, will open their season
against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic at Nashville.
Buddy Pough's Bulldogs will visit Wofford in their season
opener. SCSU has posted back-to-back 9-2 seasons, but have
been left out of the NCAA I-AA playoffs both years.
SIAC contender Tuskegee (11-1, 8-1) sits at number six. Rounding
out the top ten are Bowie State of the CIAA (8-4, 6-3) at seven,
conference rival Fayetteville State (6-4, 4-3) is eighth, Florida
A&M of the MEAC (6-5, 5-3) is ninth, and Mississippi Valley
State of the SWAC (6-5, 5-4) is at number ten.
This weekend, Tuskegee and Fayetteville State will open their
season on the road. The Broncos will visit Wingate Saturday
while the Golden Tigers will open against conference opponent
Stillman at Tuscaloosa, Ala. The game will be broadcast on
ESPNU at 3 pm ET.
Other BASN ranked teams that will be in action this weekend
are Albany State, who will visit Durham, N.C. to battle the
defending CIAA champion Eagles of North Carolina Central.
BASN Preseason Black College Football Top 10
1. Hampton
2. Grambling State
3. Alabama A&M
4. South Carolina State
5. Albany State
6. Tuskegee
7. Bowie State
8. Fayetteville State
9. Florida A&M
10. Mississippi Valley State
|
