ESPN.com once ranked Prairie View A&M as having the worst football program of all time. Sadder than the ranking itself, is the fact that once upon a time, no one would have disagreed with that sentiment.
But how those times seem so far away now, as the Panthers try to capitalize on their first winning season since 1976 with the ultimate prize; the 2008 SWAC football championship.
So how did a team that once lost 80 consecutive games in the 90′s reintroduce themselves as a serious contender for the SWAC championship this season? The answer is threefold: the administration, the coaching and the dedication of the players.
First, the commitment of PVAMU President Dr. George C. Wright has resulted in the expansion and construction of athletic facilities, the hiring of competent coaches, and full oversight on athletic administration. Black colleges face a unique problem of college presidents allowing athletic directors and coaches to run roughshod over programs, but a culture change on The Hill has spearheaded a renaissance in several sports.
This commitment to oversight led to the hiring of Henry Frazier III, a former Bowie State University standout player who returned to coach and led the program to new heights between 1999 and 2003. In five years, Frazier has produced the sixth-highest win total in school history and reversed a culture of losing within the program. This year will mark the fourth year of his first recruiting class, and should yield greater results than last season’s 7-3 record.
And the players have responded at a high level to Frazier’s motivational tactics and game plan. In Zach East, the Panthers have a SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and a potential NFL draftee or free agent signing. Will so much attention being paid to the program, there is a high probability that the 10 returning starters from last season’s campaign will put on a show for SWAC football fans in their last go at PVAMU.
