The Alabama A&M Bulldogs are the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions and picked to win it again.
Coach Anthony Jones’ response: So what? The score starts out 0-0, and so does the record.
“No one has given us an advantage or spotted us points because of what happened last year,” Jones said. “If you want try to relive last year, things are going to really be bad for you.
“We realize how competitive this conference was last year, and we anticipate it being the same.”
Besides, that team lost one of the league’s best defensive players in linebacker Johnny Baldwin, and fullback Kevin McCants is the only returning running back who recorded a carry last season.
Only Grambling, which won three straight championships from 2000-02, has ever successfully defended its title.
Quarterback Kelcy Luke is a big reason why the Bulldogs were the pick to repeat after finally winning a SWAC title in their fourth trip to the championship game.
