Wildcats Regain No. 1 Spot Amongst Coaches In HBCU Football
By Donal Ware
HBCU Columnist
College Sports Journal
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The defending national champion Winston-Salem State Rams completed a second-straight undefeated regular season and remained No. 1 in the Boxtorow national media poll, while the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats regained the top spot in the coaches’ poll.
After occupying the top spot in the coaches’ poll two weeks ago the Wildcats were clearly the favorite this week, garnering 13 of 17 first place votes.
Bethune-Cookman had 24 more points than No. 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which was No. 3 last week.
The Golden Lions clinched the SWAC’s Western Division and a berth in the championship game on December 8 by virtue of its 49-3 victory over Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M 35-21 loss to No. 4 Alabama State.
Tennessee State, who received four first place votes, dropped from the top spots to No .3 after losing 49-28 to Murray State.
Alabama A&M, North Carolina Central, and Jackson State all won moved up one spot from last week.
Delaware State dropped three spots to No. 8 this week after falling 23-20 in double overtime to the 6th ranked Eagles. In the media poll the Rams received 15 of 18 first place votes and remain the only undefeated team in HBCU football.
Bethune-Cookman and Arkansas Pine Bluff moved up one spot each to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Tennessee State dropped two spots to No. 4.
With Tuskegee’s 27-17 defeat of defending SIAC champion No. 9 Miles, the Golden Tigers moved up two spots to No. 7, while the Golden Bars dropped from No. 5 last week.
Two championship games and a game that has championship game implications take place this Saturday as Winston-Salem State and Elizabeth City State meet in the CIAA championship game in Durham, NC (heard on Classics Sports Radio Network at www.boxtorow.com/classicsportsradio).
Fort Valley State and Tuskegee will meet in the SIAC championship game in Atlanta, while Jackson State hosts Alabama A&M, that game having significant implications in the SWAC’s Eastern Division.
The Boxtorow HBCU FCS coaches’ and media polls are administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW.
The coaches’ poll is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2012 Boxtorow HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Week 10
(Records through November 3)
Rank School W-L Pts. LW
1. Winston-Salem State (15)* 10-0 172 1
2. Bethune-Cookman (3) 7-2 160 3
3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7-2 132 4
4. Tennessee State 8-2 129 2
5. Tuskegee 8-1 97 7
6. Alabama State 6-3 92 6
7. Alabama A&M 7-2 69 8
8. North Carolina Central 6-3 62 9
9. Miles 8-2 40 5
10. Fort Valley State 8-2 25 10
Other receiving votes: Jackson State (5-4) 8, Delaware State (5-4) 5, Howard (6-3) 3, North Carolina A&T (5-4) 2, South Carolina State (4-5) 1.
2012 Boxtorow FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll
Week 10
(Records through November 3)
Rank School W-L Pts. Previous Week
1. Bethune-Cookman (13) 7-2 166 2
2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7-2 142 3
3. Tennessee State (4) 8-2 138 1
4. Alabama State 6-3 115 4
5. Alabama A&M 7-2 99 6
6. North Carolina Central 6-3 94 7
7. Jackson State 5-4 58 8
8. Delaware State 5-4 45 5
9. Howard 6-3 42 10
10. South Carolina State 4-5 21 9
Others receiving votes: North Carolina A&T (5-4) 12, Prairie View A&M (3-6) 2.
Editor's Note: Donal Ware is one of the leading voices in Historically Black College and University football. His Boxtorow.com website, popular articles for such publications as Jet magazine and regular radio shows for such networks as Sirius/XM have given him a high profile in the college and professional sports world. You can read more of his material at Boxtorow.com
