BOXTOROW HBCU Coaches Poll: Aggies eager to complete historic MEAC run; Bayou Classic to decide SWAC West
Michael WallaceRALEIGH, N.C. – With conference championships on the verge of being determined and postseason implications looming, there was little change at the top of this week’s BOXTOROW HBCU Coaches Poll.
But there’s one team in position to make history.
North Carolina A&T (10-0) extends its months-long run in the No. 1 spot and is one victory shy of securing the first 11-0 undefeated season in school history. The Aggies can achieve that feat with a win Saturday at home over rival and No. 7-ranked North Carolina Central. They’ve clinched at least a share of the MEAC title and are in the driver’s seat to represent the league in the Dec. 16 Celebration Bowl.
History is also at stake for the Aggies, who can become the first team since the MEAC was founded in 1971 to finish a complete season with an undefeated record. No other incentive is needed for N.C. A&T.
“We’re already making history,” Aggies tailback Marquell Cartwright told the Greensboro News & Record after Saturday’s 36-17 win over Savannah State. “Well, we want to continue that. We want greatness. We want to win this thing outright, so we can look back and say, ‘We did it.’ Going (11-0) hasn’t been done before, and we can be the guys remembered as the ones who did it.”
Bethune-Cookman’s Hail Mary victory over N.C. Central in Durham ended the Eagles shot to set up a ‘winner-take-all’ stage heading into the weekend. The Eagles won’t be able to defend their MEAC title, but they can maintain bragging rights with an upset. Howard, which has just one conference loss, can earn a share of the MEAC crown with a win Saturday at Hampton and a N.C. A&T loss to N.C. Central.
Meanwhile, Grambling maintained its grip on the No. 2 spot in the HBCU Coaches Poll after winning its ninth consecutive game. The victory sets up a showdown at the Nov. 25 Bayou Classic against No. 4-ranked Southern to decide the West division representative in the Dec. 2 SWAC championship game. Both Grambling and Southern have a bye this weekend to prepare for their matchup in the Superdome. Third-ranked Alcorn State won Saturday to clinch the SWAC East division for the fourth straight season.
Meanwhile, conference championships have already been decided in HBCU leagues at the Division II level, with Virginia State finishing 10-0 to win the CIAA title and Tuskegee going 9-2 to win the SIAC. Both Virginia State and Bowie State of the CIAA have advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs and will host first-round games this weekend. Tuskegee, however, did not earn a playoff bid.
The BOXTOROW FCS coaches poll is voted on by HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
2017 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll Week 11
(Records through November 11, 2017)
No. Team W/L Pts Last Week 1. 
North Carolina A&T (13)10-0 198 1 2. 
Grambling (2)9-1 182 2 3. 
Alcorn State 7-3 148 4 4. 
Southern 7-3 130 5 5. 
Howard 7-3 120 6 6. 
Bethune-Cookman 6-4 92 7 7. 
North Carolina Central 7-3 89 3 8. 
Tennessee State 6-4 64 8 9. 
Prairie View A&M 4-5 40 10 10. 
Hampton 5-5 24 9 Others receiving votes: Alabama State (3-6) 2, Florida A&M (3-7) 1, South Carolina State (3-5) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)Note: (1st place votes in parentheses)
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by BOXTOROW HBCU and/or Michael Wallace are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.
Published on Nov 14, 2016
Related content
