4
SWAC CONTINUED
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both offense and defense. Talented
first-stringers are there, but after that,
there are more questions than answers.
ALCORN STATE
The Braves proved in 1983 that you
can't keep a good program down long.
After drifting out of championship
contention for three seasons, Alcorn
turned what was expected to be
another off-vear into a miraculous
one, posting a surprising 7-3 record.
Now, a year later, the Braves are contenders
for the SWAC crown.
Alcorn State's line-up in 1984 will be
its most experienced in years, with only
five lettermen lost from last year's
fifth-place finishers in the SWAC.
Some 39 lettermen return, including
eight starters on offense and nine
starters on defense.
On offense, a returning array of running
backs and receivers rank among
the Braves' major strengths. In fact, all
but one of Alcorn's ballcarriers from a
year ago will return, with tailbacks
uarry Kooinson (404 yaras) ana ferry
Quails (322 yards) leading the way.
As for the receiving corps, seven of
the team's nine pass receivers also
return, with Charles Coleman, Donald
Walker and Robinson figuring to be
the best of the lot.
The ounrterharlr slrtt ic cnliH tor*
with senior Richard Myles ranking
among the best in the SWAC. He completed
75 of 152 attempts in 1983 for
1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The line, though, may cause worries
for Coach Marino Casern and his staff.
Guard Terry Taylor and tackle Clyde
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making those positions the most
suspect on the team.
Defensively, the entire unit, particularly
the front line, lacks any glaring
weaknesses. Arnold Campbell (60
tackles), Lorenzo King (38 tackles) and
Michael Simpson (46 tackles) will again
be called upon to anchor the line, while
the team's No. 1-rated player, Issiac
Holt (six interceptions, 19 deflections),
and "Erick Moon (20.6 yards per
kickoff return), will pace the defensive
backfield's "Soul Patrol."
After last year's success, the Braves'
ehanres lnnlr hrioht for thi? cMcnn
But Casern warns, "It's a new year and
we must concentrate on letting that
success carry over into this season."
JACKSON STATE
Jackson State's Tigers, like the
Tigers of Grambling State, seem to
have become accustomed to
"reloading" each year rather than
"rebuilding." Despite the loss of 12
starters (six on offense and six on
defense) from last year's 8-3 team,
things are still looking up for the Tigers
in 1984.
The return of record-setting John
McKcnzie at quart erDacic, cant-miss
pro prospect Chris Burkett at wide
receiver, all-American candidate Frank
Sutton at guard and bone-crushing
Ladell Wills and Jackie Walker at the
linebacker slots, coukl very well propel
JSU to its ninth SWAC championship
and fourth title in five years. Unquestionably,
the fate of the Tigers rests
most heavily upon the shoulders of
ACT COLLEGE S
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McKcnzie and Burkett.
A 6-1, 170-pound senior pre-med
major, McKenzie set new JSU singleseason
records in completions (142),
attempts (284), yards (2,067) and total
offense (2,127), marks which, in the
SWAC, ranked second only to
Mississippi Valley's Willie Totten.
McKenzie*s chief target last year was
Burkett, a 6-5, 210-pound senior who
ranked second to MVSU's Jerry Rice
in receiving, catching 42 passes for 772
yards and nine touchdowns.
Also helping to solidify Jackson
State's offense, which ranked third in
the SWAC last year with an average of
349 yards per game, are Sutton, one of
Division I-AA's best at the guard position,
and running back Carl Blue, who
ranked sixth in conference rushing in
'83 with 491 yards and four
touchdowns.
While the Tigers' offensive prospects
appear bright, the defense may be a
step behind. Three starting defensive
linemen from the SWAC's No.
2-ranked defense a year ago have
graduated.
The strength of the JSU defense is at
the linebacker slots, where Wills and
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team in tackles last year with 106, including
12 quarterback sacks, while
Walker ranked second with 80 stops
and totaled two interceptions.
JSU's defensive secondary will be
stacked, experienced and paced by allSWAC
cornerback Darrell Woods,
while the kicking game will be strong
with the return of senior Eric Dozier,
who connected on 31 of 32 extra-point
kicks to lead his team in scoring with
iPCRW REVIEW
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1
An Alumnus
Among the players Jackson State's
W.C. Gordon must replace in '84 is
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But the Tigers will remain tough
(photo by James Terry).
67 points. ^
TEXAS SOUTHERN
Statistically, Texas Southern looks
awfully impressive - 70 of last year's
78 lettermen return as well as 16 of
1983's 22 first-stringers. Throw in a
roster of 17 recruits who are marveled
at by the folks in Tigerland and TSU
could very well be in the hunt for the
conference crown.
There are, however, a few matters at
hand that must be taken care of before
the Tigers stock their trophy case.
Foremost will be the program's adjustment
to a new coach who brings with
him his own new set of philosophies
and strategies.
Lionel Taylor, the old American
Football League's all-time leading
receiver, with 563 receptions, 7,105
. yards and 51 touchdowns, was summoned
to replace ousted Coach Joe
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post from 1981 to 1983. Although
Taylor inherits a veteran team to initiate
his career, his most immediate
problems will be to find a quarterback
and reconstruct an offensive line.
Harold Smith, last year's starting
quarterback, has graduated and
Johnny Holley, the backup, left school
prematurely for personal reasons, leaving
a void at the punter's spot, too.
Johnny Cole, a junior without experience,
or redshirts Ken Clay or
Rudolph Johnson, will fill in.
on tne line, all-SWAC tackle Boyd
Jones has graduated, as well as right
and left guards Billy Dorn and Greg
Poitier. Tackle Darrell Allison and
5S5SS5SS55 September, 1984-Page 17