Rivalry renewed

The golden era of Southern University football may be returning soon.
For the first time in years SU has strung together four consecutive wins and has a legitimate shot at Western Division and Southwestern Athletic Conference crowns all in the same season.
Last season, SU started off 5-0, 3-0 SWAC, creating lofty expectations only to sputter toward the end and drop three out of its last six conference games.
In fact, 2004 was the last time SU had a win streak of four games or more, led the Western Division and appeared in the SWAC Championship game.
But that may all change this year.
“We’re starting to get that swagger back,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “We lost it for two or three years, now we’re getting it back. That helps our team a great deal.”
But SU’s swagger will be put to the test this week.
SU (4-2, 3-0) faces a tough Florida A&M (4-2, 1-2) team led by first year head coach Joe Taylor. Taylor had coached at Hampton University the last 16 seasons and had played SU in both regular season and Heritage Bowl match ups.
“His teams are known for having size,” Richardson said. “They really want to run the football, control the clock and shorten the game.”
Southern and Florida A&M are a rivalry similar to Jackson State and Grambling, so whenever the two meet, records no longer matter.
SU first played Florida A&M in 1941 and the two schools played every season from 1946-2001. The teams did not play again until last year’s season opener. SU won that game, 33-27.
“This rivalry is just as deep as the one’s with Jackson and Grambling,” Richardson said. “It goes way back.”
SU normally doesn’t schedule non-conference opponents after September, but managed to fit this game around the SWAC master schedule implemented this season. But with the new master schedule in place, SU’s conference schedule may be a problem when it comes to scheduling non-conference games in the near future.
“It will be a challenge for us, especially at this time of year,” Richardson said. “We don’t usually play a team outside of conference this late, but hopefully we can rekindle this rivalry because it’s needed for both teams.”
SU and FAMU have not reached an agreement on a game date next season.
“It’s disappointing, but non-conference scheduling has a lot to do with it,” Richardson said. “It’s yet to be seen, but that’s the thing that’s holding us up.”
Keys to Victory
Protect the football
Stop FAMU run game
Cover punt and kick returns
Players of the Week
Bryant Lee
Juamorris Stewart
Josh Duran
Notes
Saturday’s game will be broadcasted live on ESPN360.com and tape delayed on ESPNU at 9 p.m. Students can access ESPN360.com only on the SUBR campus. E
“Our crowd is starting to filtrate back and people are getting excited about our program,” Richardson said. “Hopefully we have a packed house this weekend.”
Lee earned SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his homecoming performance against Texas Southern. Lee was 18-of-34 for 305 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 21 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns.