What it is: Founded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has a history that dates back nine decades. The SWAC currently consists of 10 historically black college & university (HBCU) institutions in five states (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas).
Any discussion of SWAC football has to begin, and end, with Grambling State University, and its legendary head coach, Eddie Robinson. In his 57 years as the Tigers head coach, Robinson won 408 games during his career. Those victories rank second all-time behind. Only John Gagliardi of NCAA Division III St. John's (Minn.), with 471 wins, has more than Robinson entering the 2010 season.
The SWAC has also had its share of former players go on to illustrious careers in the NFL. Notable alumni have included Hall of Fame linebacker Buck Buchanan (Grambling), running back Walter Payton (Jackson State), Super Bowl XXII MVP quarterback Doug Williams (Grambling), and wide receiver Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State).
The SWAC has one of the greatest end of season traditions in college football as well, as current members Grambling and Southern compete in the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans, which has been played since 1974. The Tigers have won four of their last six meetings against their archrivals from Baton Rouge. Both teams have won 18 games apiece in the series. The game itself is usually played on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Currently, the SWAC is one of just two conferences that does not send their teams to the FCS playoffs, the other being the Ivy League. Since 1999, it has played a championship game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, pitting the two division champions, East and West, against each other. Grambling has won the conference title via the championship game five of the last 11 years.
Website: http://www.swac.org/
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record of finish, projected champion in BOLD type)
East Division
1. Alabama A&M (7-5): The Bulldogs were the lone team in the division to finish 2009 with a winning record.
2. Alcorn State (3-6): The Braves finished tied for second in the SWAC East last season.
3. Alabama State (4-7): The Hornets are on an even keel in terms of starters returning lost: 11 a piece.
4. Jackson State (3-7): The Tigers are hoping to advance to the SWAC title game for the second time in three games.
5. Mississippi Valley State (3-8): The Delta Devils 2010 schedule takes them as far away as Chicago.
West Division
1. Prairie View A&M (9-1): The defending SWAC champion Panthers hope 10 all-conference honorees will help them pull off an encore in 2010.
2. Grambling State (7-4): FBS Louisiana Tech and NAIA Concordia (Ala.) are the only non-conference opponents the Tigers face this year.
3. Texas Southern (7-4): The Tigers make the long flight north to face U Conn of the Big East on September 11.
4. Southern (6-5): The Jaguars finished 2009 tied for last in the SWAC West at 3-4.
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5-5): The Golden Lions will play in seven different cities this season.
4 years ago
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