Injuries, eligibility questions, lawsuits equals SWAC News

After just one week of Southwestern Athletic Conference action, injuries and controversy already cast a dark cloud of some of the member schools.
Both SWAC preseason conference players of the year suffered season-ending injuries. All-American receiver Michael Hayes suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a tear of the medial meniscus in his left knee in the Jaguars’ loss to Northwestern (La.) State. Texas Southern’s All-American linebacker Lernard Mack broke his left arm in the Tigers’ win over Prairie View. Officials from both universities seek medical redshirts for both players.
The injury bug hit Jackson State the hardest, losing offensive lineman Kali Horner to a torn ACL for the season in their win against Howard in Chicago. Nate McLaurin, the Tigers’ leading rusher, could be on the shelf for 3-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Receiver T.C. Taylor suffered a dislocated wrist and may have to go under the knife, although he could still play.
Questions of academic eligibility and a lawsuit loomed over Alabama State. The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported that All-SWAC quarterback Darnell Kennedy and favorite target Kenard Williams, along with 16 other Hornet players, may be academically ineligible this season. Ron Dickerson, Hornets’ head coach from 1998-99, filed an eight-count civil suit against ASU and school representatives.
The lawsuit claimed that Alabama State fired him improperly and has not honored the contract he signed in 1997. Dickerson’s lawyer told the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser that the school hasn’t paid Dickerson since May and that Dickerson is owed approximately $200,000.
Officials at Alabama A&M are playing the waiting game, as the SWAC and the NCAA decide on the eligibility of top receiver Neal Lindsey. A&M is accused of playing the 1999 transfer from Alabama-Birmingham in the 2000 spring game when he was not eligible to participate.