ALCORN STATE, MS-- With memories of Henderson Field and Hand him the Heisman resonating on the hearts and minds of Alcornites young and old, the Return of the Soul Bowl was more than a football game between arch rivals; it was an opportunity to pay homage to the legends of 'ole that are synonymous with making this rivalry…..tradition. The last time Alcorn State played Jackson State “on the yard” was November 21, 1992, being led by the late great Steve “Air II” McNair; who is the only quarterback in school history to go undefeated in the match-up against Jackson State. In his last game sporting the purple and gold with the nine on his chest Steve (in honor of older brother Fred “Air” McNair) delivered a tearful unexpected heartfelt team speech in the locker room, compelling his teammates to trust him as he led them to the “promise land”.
I can still remember the article I read on November 20, 1994 written by Thomas George of the New York Times just one day after the Braves defeated the Tigers 52-34 en route to a Division I-AA play-off berth with an 8-2-1 record. McNair completed 29 of 34 passes for 533 yards and threw for five touchdowns. This annual war against Jackson State, this Capital City Classic better known as the Soul Bowl, could have been the last time he wore an Alcorn uniform and went to battle with this group, with these friends, with this family, therefore he was taking no chances at sealing his fate.
"I know this is as emotional as you've ever seen me," he said as his teammates formed a circle around him and sat on the floor and as McNair stood with his coaches, including the head coach, Cardell Jones, flanked off to his left. "I know we all are going to one day move on to better things.
"But if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now. When I came here, at the same time as Coach Jones, he preached unity. We have that now. It is so odd. It has happened so fast. It seems like only yesterday that I signed to play at Alcorn State. I hate to leave. This could be my last game and it is definitely my last regular-season game.
"I thank of all of you, I treat you all just like you were my brothers, and all of the coaching staff has been good to me and Coach Jones is like my father. I want you to give it your all today. I know one time this season, I said I would take us to the promise land. And we lost to Grambling. But I am not going to let this one slip away from me! I don't know about you fellas -- but I'm going out in style!"
The room erupted with applause. The aforementioned words by McNair reminded me of the new millennium band of brothers in the locker room under the leadership of head coach
Jay Hopson, gearing up for today's competition against Jackson State. All year they have waited and prepared for this day to salute those that have stood where they are standing and for the seniors to bid an emotional farewell to 1000 ASU Drive.
The first quarter of action saw a very amped Braves football team that opened with an onside kick that worked out in their favor rocking a sold-out Spinks-Casem stadium. After several successful drives the Braves'
Ernesto Santillan put them on the board first with his foot of steel booting a thirty-seven yard field goal with 11:54 left on the clock. The scoring drive was eight plays, thirty-three yards in 3:06 with a score of 3-0. Not to be out done, the Tigers came roaring back as Clayton Moore connected with Rico Richardson on a thirty-seven yard pass with 06:26 left on the clock. The PAT was no good by Ryan Deising as the scoring drive consisted of five plays, sixty-five yards in 2:14 ending the first quarter with a score of 6-3.
The second quarter was a defensive standoff; whereas neither team scored in the quarter. Therefore, your score at the half was 6-3 giving the Braves momentum and hope going into the second half being down only three to an explosive Jackson State offensive unit.
I can only imagine the electrifying speech Hopson delivered in the locker room with the early perception of Alcorn being dominated by Jackson State early and often lingering in the air. Nevertheless, our beloved Braves were only down by a field goal and were still in the game leaving Tiger fans flabbergasted knowing that the fourth place Braves shouldn't be trailing that close. However, the Braves capitalized on early mistakes by the Tigers creating turnovers and defensive stops.
The third quarter must have been a direct reflection of what Coach Rick Comegy drilled in his student-athletes at the half; whereas they scored twenty-one unanswered points. At the 12:50 mark Richardson blocked a punt return for six and the extra point was good by Deising making the score 13-3. Shortly thereafter, the Tigers Tommy Gooden got in on the action with an eleven yard touchdown run with 9:27 left on the clock with a score of 20-3. The scoring drive was four plays, thirty yards in 1:44. At the 6:57 mark Gooden struck again on a twenty-eight yard touchdown run in four plays for forty-one yards in 1:50 ending the quarter with a score of 27-3.
It's the fourth and final quarter for fifteen of the Braves finest to ever don the purple and gold. As we bid farewell to or seniors Alcorn State showed glimpses of a comeback. However, it was Jackson State that lit up the scoreboard first in the final quarter. With the clock at 6:09 Deising hit a forty-one yard field goal. The scoring drive was ten plays, thirty-seven yards in 3:45, kick starting the fourth with a 30-3 lead. The Braves rallied back with scoring drive of their own with a thirty-three yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback
John Gibbs to
Tavoris Doss. With 3:52 on the clock, in seven plays and seventy-six yards the score was 30-11 after a successful two point conversion. The final scoring drive of the night was at 2:48 when Rakeem Sims ran for forty-six yard touchdown in two plays and forty-seven yards in 0:26. The final score from Dwight Fisher Field was Alcorn State 11 and Jackson State 37.
The Return of the Soul Bowl ended with an amazing fireworks show culminating a much anticipated and exciting weekend of fun, family and faith. The Braves ended their 2012 campaign 4-5 in the conference and 4-7 overall.
As the music ends and the lights are turned off, I too bid you a farewell from Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium and Dwight Fisher Field on the beautiful campus of Alcorn State University as I sign off for the last time as your Director of Sports Information. Thanks for your support of my work….wishing the Alcorn State family well, and like the last thunderous clap of fireworks explode and evaporates into the night….this is
GOODBYE!
