Thomas not gloating as plan’ comes together
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 13, 2001
[11/13/01]For the last two years, Alcorn State coach Johnny Thomas has insisted the Braves were following the right path to rebuild the football program.
Thomas’ vague talk of “a plan” mixed with shouts of protest from angry alumni and calls for his dismissal as the Braves suffered through their first 0-11 season in 58 years and a 17-game losing streak.
Still, Thomas insisted the Braves weren’t far from becoming a championship contender.
Over the past six weeks, the cries and shouts from the alumni have quieted. The signs in the stands deriding Thomas have disappeared. And the talk now isn’t about a rebuilding plan, it’s about travel plans.
Since beating Alabama State on Sept. 8 to end the losing streak, Alcorn has won five of seven and vaulted to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Eastern Division.
With wins in their last two games against archrival Jackson State (5-3, 3-2 SWAC) on Saturday and lowly Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 24, the Braves (5-4, 4-1) will win the division, head to Birmingham for the SWAC title game on Dec. 1 and complete the turnaround that once seemed so unlikely.
“We came through a lot. Going from an 0-11 season to being in a situation where we can win the SWAC. Hey, we’re just living it one-by-one and we’re going to come out with the same enthusiasm next week and hope we can get a win in Jackson,” senior wide receiver Marco Walder said.
But Thomas and the Braves aren’t gloating.
Given a chance to send a message to their doubters after outlasting Alabama A&M 40-35 on Saturday, they declined.
“I don’t believe in that, I really don’t. What happened last year made this team … better … and made me a better person,” Thomas said. “I have come to realize that there are certain things … only God controls … And whatever we do from here out, we’re very happy and we’re very humble, and we’re always receptive to people who want to support the program. We don’t hold anything against anybody; everybody’s still my friend.”
Perhaps it’s because the Braves are still fighting for their lives in nearly every game Alcorn has been outscored 250-225.
Unlike the past two seasons, however, the Braves are finding ways to win close games.
Four of Alcorn’s wins, including three SWAC victories, have come by 10 points or less. Last season, the Braves lost six games by 10 points or less five of them against SWAC schools.
“Last year, losing was contagious. Then this year we started out, got a couple of wins and we got the feeling for it. Now we know it’s our time, it’s our destiny,” said linebacker Louis Green, who ranks eighth in the SWAC with 70 tackles.
Walder said the winless season has contributed to the Braves’ success this year.
“It made us stronger, because the only thing an 0-11 season can do is build character,” Walder said. “Everybody expected us to do what we did last year, so we’re coming out and we didn’t have nothing to lose.”
Green and the Alcorn defense are another big reason for the Braves’ turnaround. Alcorn ranks first in the SWAC in pass defense, giving up only 153.7 yards per game, and third in total defense (318 yards).
But it’s the other side of the ball that’s winning games for Alcorn.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Donald Carrie has stabilized the position for the Braves and already ranks 12th on the school’s career passing yardage list with 2,265 yards nearly twice the total of last season’s tandem of Damion Ford and Surhaver Fair.
“I keep telling everybody I’m not surprised at the play of Donald Carrie, because this guy is very special. He’s very talented, he’s a student of the game, he’s a humble individual … ,” Thomas said.
When Thomas took over the program in 1998, it’s doubtful he thought a walk-on, a winless season and a 17-game losing streak would be part of the rebuilding process.
“At the beginning of training camp, we set a goal as a team to go undefeated and win the championship, or win the championship. To be the only team in the history of college football to go 0-11 and win the conference championship,” Thomas said. “That is the mindset … and I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re playing pretty good football at this particular point.
“But anytime you set a goal and you keep reminding yourself of that goal … and when you’re in position to achieve that goal, it gives you the motivation to win.”