After three weeks of HBCU football, we’re finally getting to the good stuff. The money games are pretty much over, and conference play in the SWAC, CIAA, SIAC and MEAC have all begun.
As usual, there are several teams looking for their first win on the season.
That’s the case in Montgomery, where Alabama State is looking to get a win after a tough loss to SWAC rival Southern University. SU dominated ASU 64-6, sending Brian Jenkins and crew home with a week to think about how they can get their season turned around after an 0-3 start. Jenkins, who helped return Bethune-Cookman to MEAC dominance before coming over to ASU last year, says he’s evaluating everything as his team preps for Texas Southern.
“We’re going through a major evaluation and possible overhaul, coaching staff-wise and personnel wise. Because what happened Saturday is unacceptable. I’ve even got to check myself on some of the things that I’ve been doing,” Jenkins said. “You don’t have to pull the plug out and let the ship sink, I still believe we’ve still got a good football team, we just didn’t play well Saturday night.”
It’s the same situation for Howard and Morgan State in the MEAC. Howard is coming off a 34-7 loss to Hampton in the Nation’s Classic. It was a disappointing game for a team that had a 14-point lead on Rutgers in Week 2. Morgan State is 0-2 after having been idle last week.
North Carolina Central will travel to Norfolk State where both teams look to even their record at 2-2 and get their first win against an FCS opponent. Check out HBCU Gameday’s preview here:
Virginia State finds itself at the other end of the spectrum as it heads down to face Winston-Salem State. VSU has gotten off to a hot start, going 3-0 under new head coach Reggie Barlow. If that name sounds familiar to HBCU fans, it should.
Barlow starred at Alabama State and played in the NFL before returning to his alma mater to coach. He had a winning record in eight seasons at ASU, but was eventually let go in 2014. He’ll get his first taste of CIAA road play against WSSU, who met VSU in the CIAA Championship Game in 2014.
Tuskegee is also perfect, but it will have its hands full with UNC-Pembroke. UNCP has had plenty of success against HBCUs over the past couple of seasons, including a win over Tuskegee last year. The nationally ranked Golden Tigers will be looking to build off a thrilling 20-17 win over FAMU to improve to 3-0.
