As we head into year 3 of the Eddie Robinson Jr. era at Bama State, year 3's expectations are lofty ones. In his first two seasons as head coach, Eddie Robinson is 2-0 vs Alabama A&M and 1-0 against Tuskegee. Robinson has also defeated Jackson State, Southern, and Grambling. Robinson holds a 13-9 overall record at Bama State and finished 2nd in the SWAC East last year behind eventual conference champion Florida A&M. The Hornets finished 6-5 in 2022 and 7-4 in 2023 which gives the Hornets back to back winning seasons for the first time since the 2014-2015 seasons. Defensively the Hornets have been one of the best units not only in the SWAC but in the country. The Hornets finished 2nd in scoring defense a season ago and finished 3rd in total defense.
For everything that Alabama State has been defensively, offensively they've ranged anywhere from pedestrian to just plain ole offensive. In 2022 the Hornets only averaged 19.1 points per game and 298 yards per game which were 102nd Nationally and next to last in the conference. In 2024 the offense will be lead by Texas Southern transfer Andrew Body. Body has already passed for 4,108 yards and 27 TDs in his collegiate career at Texas Southern. He's also added 1,864 yards rushing and 9 rushing TDs. This is quite different than what Alabama State has had previously at the quarterback position. Andrew Body will also have a team of talent around him at Alabama State that he did not have at Texas Southern. The biggest difference is the defense. Andrew Body was in shootouts weekly at Texas Southern because their defense struggled as a unit but Body will have a strong defense to lean on at ASU.
A week ago at SWAC Media Day, the coaches predicted Alabama State to win the Eastern Division. The Hornets haven't won the SWAC East since 2010 and have not won a SWAC Football Championship since 2004. In 2022 and 2023 Alabama State was able to sneak up on opponents but with the predictions coming out of Birmingham for SWAC Media Day, that will no longer be the case. Alabama State will enter the season with a huge bullseye on it's back. The Hornets will open up the 2024 season in Miami Gardens against North Carolina Central a team who's predicted to win the MEAC and a team that won the 2022 Celebration Bowl. It's quite possible that the Orange Blossom Classic could be an early season preview of the 2024 Celebration Bowl if Media Day predictions hold up. The Hornets will host Miles College on September 7th in a revenge contest. The Golden Bears upset the Hornets at home a year ago. The Hornets will visit Samford and Bethune-Cookman before welcoming Florida A&M to Montgomery on October 5th for homecoming. If the Hornets can get past the Rattlers there's a stretch from October 26th through November 23rd that will determine ASUs fate. During that stretch Bama State will face off against Alabama A&M in The Magic City Classic, Alcorn State in The Port City Classic, they'll visit Grambling State, host Jackson State and then Prairie View. Thisnis one of the toughest 5 game stretches that you'll see in College Football. Those 5 games may very well stand between Alabama State and a SWAC Championship game appearance.
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