BOXTOROW HBCU Coaches Poll: Hampton, Tennessee State losses cause shakeup in poll; N.C. A&T Aggies remain No. 1
Michael WallaceRALEIGH, N.C. – Hampton’s loss to Bethune-Cookman and Tennessee State’s loss to Tennessee Tech caused shakeups in the top-five of this week’s BOXTOROW Coaches poll.
The Pirates fell four spots to No. 7 this week and Tennessee State fell even further, dropping from No. 4 last week to No. 9 for its lowest ranking of the season. It’s been a troubling downward spiral for coach Rod Reed and the Tigers, who opened the season with an upset of FBS-level Georgia State followed by a win over Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic at the Liberty Bowl.
But since starting the season 3-0, Tennessee State has dropped four of its past five games, including last Saturday’s Ohio Valley Conference loss to previously winless Tennessee Tech. Turnovers and penalties have been repeated problems for the Tigers throughout the season, and they entered last weekend’s game as the most penalized team in their conference.
“Until we can get that fixed, we’re not going to be a very good team,” Reed said of the issues. “We’ve still got three games left in the season, and we’ve got to figure out a way to win a game. The best way we can do it is to protect the football. If and when we protect the football, we can be a good football team.”
Tennessee State closes out the season against Virginia-Lynchburg, Southeast Missouri State and defending OVC champion Jacksonville State. The Tigers were picked to finish third in the conference and had high expectations after landing six SEC transfers, including former Florida quarterback Treon Harris.
But injuries have also been problematic for the Tigers this season, with several key players missing time at different stages over the past month. Reed said his team remains motivated for a strong finish.
“This team is not going to quit; we’re still going to fight,” Reed insisted. “We’ve got to do a good job as coaches of keeping the morale up. We’re going to fight to win these next three games and see what happens. There’s no quit in this coaching staff, and there’s no quit in this team.”
In the rest of the poll, North Carolina Central, Alcorn State and Southern all moved up two spots to Nos. 3–5 this week. North Carolina A&T remains the top team, receiving 18 of 20 first-place votes. The other two first-place votes went to No. 2-ranked Grambling.
The BOXTOROW FCS coaches poll is voted on by HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
2017 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll Week 9
(Records through October 28, 2017)
No. Team W/L Pts Last Week 1. 
North Carolina A&T (18)8-0 198 1 2. 
Grambling (2)7-1 182 2 3. 
North Carolina Central 6-2 154 5 4. 
Alcorn State 5-3 131 6 5. 
Southern 5-3 96 7 6. 
Howard 5-3 93 8 7. 
Hampton 5-3 84 3 8. 
Bethune-Cookman 4-4 73 9 9. 
Tennessee State 4-4 65 4 10. 
Prairie View A&M 3-4 31 T-10 Others receiving votes: Norfolk State (3-5) 3, Florida A&M (3-6) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)Note: (1st place votes in parentheses)
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Published on Oct 31, 2016
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