Alcorn State underwent an offseason of change, with a new coach and several longtime contributors graduating, but its stranglehold on the Southwestern Athletic Conference seems as strong as ever.

Alcorn was picked to win the SWAC’s East Division for a third consecutive season Friday in a preseason poll conducted at the league’s annual media day in Birmingham.

The Braves also put five players — offensive lineman Detonio Dade, punter Haiden McCraney, linebacker Darien Anderson and defensive linemen Stacey Garner and Mike Brooks — on the All-SWAC first team.

Jackson State was picked to finish third in the East, behind Alcorn and Alabama State.

Alabama A&M was picked to finish fourth in the five-team division, and Mississippi Valley State was picked to finish last.

Prairie View A&M was picked to win the West Division.

“It’s always tough to win. It was tough to win one championship, and then it was tough to win two,” Alcorn head coach Fred McNair said. “Obviously a three-peat will take a lot of work. We talk to the guys all the time that it’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Alcorn was thrown for a loop when Jay Hopson left to become the coach at Southern Miss just before signing day. His former assistant McNair was promoted to the top job a couple of days later, and said Friday he believes the Braves are in a good position to compete for their third consecutive SWAC championship.

Alcorn has not won three league titles in a row since 1968-70.

“We’re going to continue to compete, week-in and week-out. We’re going to go out and play fundamental football. If everyone goes out and does what they’re supposed to do from all phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams — then I think we’ll be successful,” McNair said. “We have to carry on the momentum that we created from the spring into the season. We’re going to play hard every week.”

Linebacker Michael Hurns said the transition from Hopson to McNair has been a smooth one. He credited that to McNair’s presence on the staff and status in Alcorn lore.

McNair is the brother of former Alcorn quarterback Steve McNair, one of the all-time greats in college football, and is himself a member of Alcorn’s athletic hall of fame.

“It’s not like we are starting from scratch. We’ve known Coach McNair as he’s obviously been here for years,” Hurns said. “The transition has been very easy. It’s been good for the team because everyone wants to play for him and we love him. He’s a legend here at Alcorn and we want to go to war for him when it’s time.”

The biggest change at Alcorn seems to be the pace of play.

Both Hurns and quarterback Lenorris Footman mentioned that the Braves have upped the tempo on both sides of the ball.

“In the spring we always tried to play fast and score fast,” said Footman, who was a second team preseason All-SWAC selection. “We’ve really put on emphasis on getting in better shape so that we can play faster.”