The Texas Southern Tigers have officially been rebooted and stabilized to make a run at another Southwestern Athletic Conference Title; wow I still can’t believe that I said that. But with every opportunity there is a challenge and Texas Southern Head Coach Kevin Ramsey is most definitely up to the challenge. He has gotten the team back on track from the tough turbulent times after suffering the dismissal of former Head Coach Johnnie Cole and some of his football staff and Instead of crying about it and having an old school pity party Coach Kevin Ramsey has surrounded himself with a staff of coaches that believe in doing it his way. Although Coach Kevin Ramsey is a 1st year Head Coach don’t get the notion that he just fell off the turnip truck either. In 2010 he was the mastermind behind the #1 defense in the nation and if you don’t believe me ask the rest of the offensive coordinators around the league they know firsthand. Moving forward I had the opportunity to attend the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama which was event with lots of excitement and fanfare, with the return of Doug Williams to Grambling State and Melvin Spears to Alcorn State mixed in with an already competitive league it should bring a can’t miss effect to SWAC football. The Texas Southern Tigers were picked to finish 2nd in the Western Division behind Grambling State which to me was sort of a head scratcher but I guess that’s just the Maroon and Grey blood that runs through my veins. The Texas Southern Tiger football team had seven players selected to the All-SWAC Team Running backs Marcus Wright and Martin Gilbert were TSU’s first team offensive selections. Wright rushed for 1212 yards and eight touchdowns as the SWAC’s second leading rusher. Gilbert carried the ball 107 times for 529 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensive end Marquis Jackson and defensive back Zack Gallow aka the “Gallow Penisula” were the defensive first team selections. Jackson was 17th in the nation in tackles for loss (18-98 yards) and 51st in the nation in sacks (8-66 yards). Gallow led the team with five interceptions for 63 yards and 10 pass breakups. Wide receiver Joe Anderson, tight end Kirk Fitzhugh and defensive tackle Jonathan Hollins were named to the preseason All-SWAC second team. The Texas Southern Tigers will have a new signal caller in Dontavious Parker who transferred from Troy University; Parker who didn’t play a single down last season has shown lots of promise during the early and late stages of camp. And he will stand behind an untested offensive line that returns only one starter with Quinn Chris as the anchor.TSU Offensive coordinator Charles Coe and TSU Offensive Line Coach Manny Martinez must find a way to give Dontavious Parkers a little breathing room for the Tigers passing game to be successful. Houston product and Jack Yates Alumnus Darveon Trahan has received lots of praise from the defensive coaches as he makes the transition from Quarterback to Defensive back in which he has made a few nice plays in the secondary with his athletic ability. Although there are quite a few new additions to replace the 2010 Tigers of old I still feel that this team is even more hungrier to prove that the 2010 SWAC title will not be turned over so easily in 2011.The Texas Southern Tigers have tasted success and the menu is to their liking, now they will face 290 rival Prairie View A&M on September 10th @ Delmar Stadium. For season ticket information or to purchase an All-Sports Pass for 150.00,call Harlon Robinson at (713) 313-4355.Also you can tune into the live broadcast and ride the radio roller coaster on KTSU 90.9 fm with myself and 19 year broadcast veteran Devin Wade the with Kick-Off scheduled for 7:00pm.
