Football |
Alcorn Athletics 28 Days of Black History: 1969 SWAC and Black College National Champions
The Braves recorded an impressive 8-0-1 record during the 1969 season.
Day three of Alcorn Athletics' 28 Days of Black History features the 1969 Braves Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and National Black College Championship football team. This remarkable team posted an 8-0-1 undefeated record en route to capturing their second SWAC title in school history.
Under the leadership of legendary head football coach Marino Casem, the Braves averaged 30.4 points per game while holding their opponents to just 11.3 points per game. They held four of their opponents, (Grambling State, Texas Southern, Lane and Jackson State), to fewer than 10 points a game, including two shutouts (Texas Southern and Lane).
NCAA and NAIA All-American defensive back David Hadley, along with 13 other Braves, earned All-SWAC honors that season. Alcorn's 14 representatives were the most in school history. The names of the All-SWAC honorees are listed below:
Robert Bell (OG)
Cleo Bingham (C)
Fred Carter (OG)
Allan Simmons (E)
Joe Leasey (LB)
Rayford Jenkins (LB)
Willie Ray (RB)
Marvin Weeks (QB)
Clarence Guice (OT)
Oscar Martin (WR)
Pertis Williams (OG)
Joe Owens (DE)
William Tate (LB)
Six players from the Braves championship team were drafted in the 1970 NFL Draft after a stellar career at Alcorn State (David Hadley, Rayford Jenkins, Lawrence Watkins, Willie Peake, Lawrence Estes and David Washington).
