Southwestern Athletic Conference Explained

Southwestern Athletic Conference
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Association:NCAA
Division:Division I
Subdivision:FCS
Teams:12
Sports:18
Mens:8
Womens:10
Region:Southern
Headquarters:Birmingham, Alabama
Commissioner:Charles McClelland
Map:File:Swac2021.png
Map Size:250

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for most sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly referred to as Division I-AA.

The SWAC is considered the premier HBCU conference and ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of alumni affiliated with professional sports teams, particularly in football.[1] On the gridiron, the conference has been the biggest draw on the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level of the NCAA, leading the nation in average home attendance every year except one since FCS has been in existence.[2] [3] In 1994, the SWAC fell just 40,000 fans short of becoming the first non-Football Bowl Subdivision conference to attract one million fans to its home games.

History

In 1920, athletic officials from six Texas HBCUs - C. H. Fuller of Bishop College, Red Randolph and C. H. Patterson of Paul Quinn College, E. G. Evans, H. J. Evans and H. J. Starns of Prairie View A&M, D. C. Fuller of Texas College and G. Whitte Jordan of Wiley University - met in Houston to discuss common interests. At this meeting, they agreed to form a new league, the SWAC.

Paul Quinn became the first of the original members to withdraw from the league in 1929. When Langston University of Oklahoma was admitted into the conference two years later, it began the migration of state-supported institutions into the SWAC. Southern University entered the ranks in 1934, followed by Arkansas AM&N (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) in 1936 and Texas Southern University in 1954.

Rapid growth in enrollment of the state-supported schools made it difficult for the church-supported schools to finance their athletics programs and one by one they fell victim to the growing prowess of the state-supported colleges. Huston–Tillotson (formerly Samuel Huston) withdrew from the conference in 1954,[4] Bishop in 1956, and Langston in 1957—one year before the admittance of two more state-supported schools: Grambling College and Jackson State College. The enter-exit cycle continued in 1962 when Texas College withdrew,[5] followed by the admittance of Alcorn A&M (now Alcorn State University) that same year. Wiley left in 1968, the same year Mississippi Valley State College entered. Arkansas AM&N exited in 1970 and Alabama State University entered in 1982. Arkansas–Pine Bluff (formerly Arkansas AM&N) rejoined the SWAC on July 1, 1997, regaining full-member status one year later. Alabama A&M University became the conference's tenth member when it became a full member in September 1999 after a one-year period as an affiliate SWAC member.[6] Most of the former SWAC members that have left the conference are currently a part of the Red River Athletic Conference of the NAIA.

On 3 September 2020, the SWAC had announced that there would be a division realignment with the additions of Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University beginning with the 2021–22 academic year; which both would compete in the SWAC East, while Alcorn State would be moving to the SWAC West.[7]

Chronological timeline

Competitions

The SWAC is one of three FCS conferences  - the others being the Ivy League and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference  - whose conference champion does not participate in the FCS playoffs, opting instead to play in the Celebration Bowl against the champion of the MEAC. However, SWAC teams can still be invited via an at-large invitation, as was the case in 2021 when SWAC member Florida A&M University was invited over SWAC conference football champion Jackson State, who was obligated via contract to play in the 2021 Celebration Bowl. The SWAC instead splits its schools into two divisions, and plays a conference championship game. Three of the SWAC's teams, Alabama State in the Turkey Day Classic and Grambling and Southern in the Bayou Classic, play their last games of the regular season on Thanksgiving weekend, preventing the SWAC Championship from being decided until the first weekend of December, long after the tournament is underway.

Current championship competition offered by the SWAC includes competition for men in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track, outdoor track & field and tennis. Women's competition is offered in the sports of basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, indoor track, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.[6]

Member schools

Current full members

The SWAC currently has 12 full members, all but one are public schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColors
East Division
Alabama A&M UniversityHuntsville, Alabama1875Public6,172Bulldogs (men's)
Lady Bulldogs (women's)
1999
Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, Alabama1867Public4,190Hornets (men's)
Lady Hornets (women's)
1982
Bethune-Cookman UniversityDaytona Beach, Florida1904United
Methodist
2,901Wildcats2021
Florida A&M UniversityTallahassee, Florida1887Public9,626Rattlers (men's)
Lady Rattlers (women's)
2021
Jackson State UniversityJackson, Mississippi1877Public7,080Tigers (men's)
Lady Tigers (women's)
1958
Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta Bena, Mississippi1950Public2,147Delta Devils (men's)
Devilettes (women's)
1968
West Division
Alcorn State UniversityLorman, Mississippi1871Public3,523Braves (men's)
Lady Braves (women's)
1962
Pine Bluff, Arkansas1873Public2,498Golden Lions (men's)
Golden Lady Lions (women's)
1936;
1997
Grambling State UniversityGrambling, Louisiana1901Public5,438Tigers (men's)
Lady Tigers (women's)
1958
Prairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View, Texas1876Public9,350Panthers (men's)
Lady Panthers (women's)
1920
Southern UniversityBaton Rouge, Louisiana1880Public7,140Jaguars (men's)
Lady Jaguars (women's)
1935
Texas Southern UniversityHouston, Texas1947Public7,524Tigers (men's)
Lady Tigers (women's)
1954
Notes:

Former members

The SWAC had six former full members, all but one were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference
Bishop CollegeMarshall, Texas1881Baptist HMSN/ATigers1920–211955–56N/A
Huston–Tillotson UniversityAustin, Texas1881Methodist,
Church of Christ
900Rams1920–211953–54Red River (RRAC)
Langston UniversityLangston, Oklahoma1897Public3,922Lions1931–321956–57Sooner (SAC)
Paul Quinn CollegeDallas, Texas1872A.M.E. Church1,020Tigers1920–211928–29Red River (RRAC)
Texas CollegeTyler, Texas1894C.M.E. Church600Steers1920–211961–62Red River (RRAC)
Wiley UniversityMarshall, Texas1873United Methodist1,200Wildcats1920–211967–68Gulf Coast (GCAC)
Notes:

Divisional realignment

Alcorn State moved to the West Division with the additions of both Bethune–Cookman and Florida A&M in 2021.

!East Division!West Division
Alabama A&MAlcorn State
Alabama StateArkansas-Pine Bluff
Bethune-CookmanGrambling State
Florida A&MPrairie View A&M
Jackson StateSouthern
Mississippi Valley StateTexas Southern

Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1920 till:2030

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id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote) id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the twoPlotData=

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bar:1 color:Full from:1920 till:1956 text:Bishop (1920–1956)

bar:2 color:Full from:1920 till:1929 text:Paul Quinn (1920–1929)

bar:3 color:Full from:1920 till:1990 text:Prairie View (1920–present) bar:3 color:FullxF from:1990 till:1991 bar:3 color:Full from:1991 till:end

bar:4 color:Full from:1920 till:1952 text:Samuel Huston (1920–1952) bar:4 color:Full from:1952 till:1954 text:Huston-Tillotson (1952–1954)

bar:5 color:Full from:1920 till:1962 text:Texas College (1920–1962)

bar:6 color:Full from:1920 till:1968 text:Wiley (1920–1968)

bar:7 color:Full from:1931 till:1957 text:Langston (1931–1957)

bar:8 color:Full from:1934 till:end text:Southern (1934–present)

bar:9 color:Full from:1936 till:1970 text:Arkansas AM&N (1936–1970) bar:9 color:FullxF from:1997 till:1998 text:Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1997–present)

bar:9 color:Full from:1998 till:end

bar:10 color:Full from:1954 till:end text:Texas Southern (1954–present)

bar:11 color:Full from:1958 till:end text:Grambling (1958–present)

bar:12 color:Full from:1958 till:end text:Jackson/Jackson State (1958–present)

bar:13 color:Full from:1962 till:end text:Alcorn A&M/Alcorn State (1962–present)

bar:14 color:Full from:1968 till:end text:Mississippi Valley State (1968–present)

bar:15 color:Full from:1982 till:end text:Alabama State (1982–present)

bar:16 color:Full from:1999 till:end text:Alabama A&M (1999–present)

bar:17 shift:(-80) color:Full from:2021 till:end text:Florida A&M (2021–present)

bar:18 shift:(-80) color:Full from:2021 till:end text:Bethune-Cookman (2021–present)

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Sports

The SWAC sponsors championship competitions in eight men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[8]

Men'sWomen's
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and Field (Indoor)
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Volleyball

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country
Football Golf Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)
Track & Field
(Outdoor)
Total SWAC
Sports
Alabama A&M 8
Alabama State 8
Alcorn State 7
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8
Bethune-Cookman 8
Florida A&M 6
Grambling State 6
Jackson State 7
Mississippi Valley 7
Prairie View 8
Southern 6
Texas Southern 7
Totals 12 12 11 12 7 8 12 12 86

Women's sponsored sports by school

School Basketball Bowling Cross
Country
Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)
Track & Field
(Outdoor)
Volleyball Total SWAC
Sports
Alabama A&M 9
Alabama State 10
Alcorn State 8
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8
Bethune-Cookman 9
Florida A&M 8
Grambling State 9
Jackson State 9
Mississippi Valley 8
Prairie View 10
Southern 9
Texas Southern 9
Totals 12 9 12 4 10 12 11 12 12 12 106

Facilities

Louis Crews Stadium21,000Alabama A&M Events Center6,000Bulldog Field500
Hornet Stadium26,500ASU Acadome7,400Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex500
Spinks-Casem Stadium22,500Davey Whitney Complex7,000Foster Baseball Field at McGowan Stadium
Golden Lion Stadium16,000K. L. Johnson Complex4,500Torii Hunter Baseball/Softball Complex1,000
Daytona Stadium10,000Moore Gymnasium3,000Jackie Robinson Ballpark4,200[9]
Bragg Memorial Stadium25,500[10] Al Lawson Teaching Gym9,639[11] Moore-Kittles Field500[12]
Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium19,600Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center7,500Wilbert Ellis Field at Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Park1,100
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium60,492Williams Assembly Center8,000Braddy Field800
Rice-Totten Stadium10,000Harrison HPER Complex5,000Magnolia Field120
Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field15,000William Nicks Building6,500John W. Tankersley Field512[13]
Ace W. Mumford Stadium29,000F. G. Clark Center7,500Lee-Hines Field1,500
22,000Health and Physical Education Arena8,100MacGregor Park

SWAC championships

Football

Prior to splitting into divisions and using a postseason championship game to decide its overall champion, the SWAC determined its champions by winning-percentage against conference opponents in regular season play.

In 1933 Langston appeared to win the title outright with a 4–0 conference record after the regular season, while Wiley finished 4–1, and Prairie View A&M finished 3–1. Langston was invited to the Prairie View Bowl, which was won by Prairie View. The Panthers subsequently declared themselves SWAC champions even though their claim was based on a postseason game. The SWAC seems to acknowledge both schools' claims to the title in the conference's football media guide,[14] although some other sources[15] including Michael Hurd's Black College Football, 1892–1992: One Hundred Years of History, Education, and Pride (1993) also list Wiley as an additional co-champion, apparently since all three schools had 4–1 records against conference opponents if the postseason game is incorporated into the regular season conference standings.

Prairie View vacated[15] its 1941 championship.[16] No championship was awarded in 1943 due to World War II.[15] Grambling vacated its 1975 championship due to a violation of SWAC rules for scheduling opponents.

See main article: SWAC Championship Game. Games from 1999 to 2012 were played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The conference moved the game in 2013 to NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Starting in 2019, the game will officially be played at the first place team's home. Since 2015, the winner of the SWAC plays the winner of the MEAC conference in an overall HBCU championship bowl game called the Celebration Bowl in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The MEAC gave up its automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs for this game.

Texas Southern vacated its 2010 championship due to violations of NCAA rules.[17]

The 2020–21 football season was played during Spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1999SouthernJackson State31–30
2000GramblingAlabama A&M14–6
2001GramblingAlabama State38–31
2002GramblingAlabama A&M31–19
2003SouthernAlabama State20–9
2004Alabama StateSouthern40–35
2005GramblingAlabama A&M45–6
2006Alabama A&MArkansas–Pine Bluff22–13
2007Jackson StateGrambling42–31
2008GramblingJackson State41–9
2009Prairie View A&MAlabama A&M30-24
2010Texas Southern (vacated)Alabama State11–6
2011GramblingAlabama A&M16–15
2012Arkansas–Pine BluffJackson State24–21
2013SouthernJackson State34–27
2014Alcorn StateSouthern38–24
2015Alcorn StateGrambling49–21[18]
2016GramblingAlcorn State27–20
2017GramblingAlcorn State40–32
2018Alcorn StateSouthern37–28
2019Alcorn StateSouthern39–24
2020Alabama A&MArkansas–Pine Bluff40–33
2021Jackson StatePrairie View A&M27–10
2022Jackson StateSouthern43–24
2023Florida A&MPrairie View A&M35–14

Since splitting into western and eastern divisions and using a postseason championship game to decide its overall champion, the SWAC determines its division champions by winning-percentage against conference opponents in regular season play. For the 1999 season only, inter-divisional conference games did not count in the conference standings. Each division's outright champion or top-seeded co-champion advances to the championship game.[14]

Texas Southern vacated its 2010 division championship due to violations of NCAA rules.[17]

YearWestern Division champion(s)Eastern Division champion(s)
1999SouthernJackson State
2000GramblingAlabama A&M
2001GramblingAlabama State
2002GramblingAlabama A&M
2003Southern Alabama State
2004SouthernAlabama State
2005GramblingAlabama A&M
2006Arkansas–Pine BluffAlabama A&M
2007GramblingJackson State
2008GramblingJackson State
2009Prairie View A&MAlabama A&M
2010Texas Southern Alabama State
2011GramblingAlabama A&M
2012Arkansas–Pine BluffJackson State
2013SouthernJackson State
2014SouthernAlcorn State
2015GramblingAlcorn State
2016GramblingAlcorn State
2017GramblingAlcorn State
2018SouthernAlcorn State
2019SouthernAlcorn State
2020Arkansas–Pine BluffAlabama A&M
2021Prairie View A&MJackson State
2022Southern

  • Prairie View A&M
Jackson State
2023Prairie View A&MFlorida A&M
Note: an asterisk denotes the division's top-seeded co-champion and representative in the SWAC Championship Game; a double-asterisk denotes that the division's co-champion was ineligible for the SWAC Championship Game due to a violation of SWAC rules that were in effect from 2011 to 2014 concerning Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores.[19] [20]

Starting with the 2021 season with the additions of both Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, the football schedule is as follows:

Celebration Bowl results

YearMEAC teamSWAC teamAttendanceSeries
2015North Carolina A&T Aggies41Alcorn State Braves3435,528MEAC 1–0
2016North Carolina Central Eagles9Grambling Tigers1031,096Tied 1–1
2017North Carolina A&T Aggies21Grambling Tigers1425,873MEAC 2–1
2018North Carolina A&T Aggies24Alcorn State Braves2231,672MEAC 3–1
2019North Carolina A&T Aggies64Alcorn State Braves4432,968MEAC 4–1
2021South Carolina State Bulldogs31Jackson State Tigers1048,653MEAC 5–1
2022North Carolina Central Eagles41Jackson State Tigers34 49,670MEAC 6–1
2023Howard Bison26Florida A&M Rattlers3041,108MEAC 6–2

Men's basketball

See also: SWAC men's basketball tournament. The 1977–78 season was the SWAC's first as an NCAA Division I basketball conference.[21]

The semi-final and championship SWAC Basketball Tournament games are held at the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.[22] As of the 2017 tournaments,[23] they feature an eight-team three-day layout with the quarterfinal rounds hosted on campus sites. This changes the previous 10-team, five-day tournament format. The higher seeded teams will host a combined eight games leaving two days for travel and practice rounds. The tournament concludes with the semi-finals and championship rounds inside Birmingham's Bill Harris Arena. Winners of the tournaments earn automatic bids to their respective NCAA Division I Tournaments. The championship games are nationally televised live annually on an ESPN network.

YearRegular seasonCoachTournamentCoach
1956–57Ed Adamsnot held
1957–58Ed Adams
1958–59GramblingFred Hobdy
1959–60GramblingFred Hobdy
1960–61Prairie View A&MLeroy Moore Jr.
1961–62Prairie View A&MLeroy Moore Jr.
1962–63GramblingFred Hobdy
1963–64Grambling
Jackson
Fred Hobdy
Harrison Wilson
1964–65SouthernRichard Mack
1965–66Alcorn A&M
Grambling
E. E. Simmons
Fred Hobby
1966–67Alcorn A&M
Arkansas AM&N
Grambling
E. E. Simmons
Hubert Clemens
Fred Hobby
1967–68Alcorn A&M
Jackson State
Bob Hopkins
Paul Covington
1968–69Alcorn A&MBob Hopkins
1969–70Jackson StatePaul Covington
1970–71GramblingFred Hobdy
1971–72GramblingFred Hobdy
1972–73Alcorn A&MDavey L. Whitney
1973–74Jackson StatePaul Covington
1974–75Jackson StatePaul Covington
1975–76Alcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1976–77Texas SouthernRobert Moreland
1977–78SouthernCarl StewartJackson StatePaul Covington
1978–79Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneyAlcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1979–80Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneyAlcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1980–81Alcorn State
Southern
Davey L. Whitney
Carl Stewart
SouthernCarl Stewart
1981–82Alcorn State
Jackson State
Davey L. Whitney
Paul Covington
Alcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1982–83Texas SouthernRobert MorelandAlcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1983–84Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneyAlcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1984–85Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneySouthernBob Hopkins
1985–86Alcorn State
Southern
Davey L. Whitney
Bob Hopkins
Mississippi Valley StateLafayette Stribling
1986–87GramblingBob HopkinsSouthernBen Jobe
1987–88SouthernBen JobeSouthernBen Jobe
1988–89Grambling
Southern
Texas Southern
Bob Hopkins
Ben Jobe
Robert Moreland
SouthernBen Jobe
1989–90SouthernBen JobeTexas SouthernRobert Moreland
1990–91Jackson StateAndy StoglinJackson StateAndy Stoglin
1991–92Texas Southern
Mississippi Valley State
Robert Moreland
Lafayette Stribling
Mississippi Valley StateLafayette Stribling
1992–93Jackson StateAndy StoglinSouthernBen Jobe
1993–94Texas SouthernRobert MorelandTexas SouthernRobert Moreland
1994–95Texas SouthernRobert MorelandTexas SouthernRobert Moreland
1995–96Jackson State
Mississippi Valley State
Andy Stoglin
Lafayette Stribling
Mississippi Valley StateLafayette Stribling
1996–97Mississippi Valley StateLafayette StriblingJackson StateAndy Stoglin
1997–98Texas SouthernRobert MorelandPrairie View A&MElwood Plummer
1998–99Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneyAlcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
1999–00Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneyJackson StateAndy Stoglin
2000–01Alabama StateRob SpiveryAlabama StateRob Spivery
2001–02Alcorn StateDavey L. WhitneyAlcorn StateDavey L. Whitney
2002–03Prairie View A&MJerome FrancisTexas SouthernRonnie Courtney
2003–04Alabama StateRob SpiveryAlabama StateRob Spivery
2004–05Alabama A&ML. Vann PettawayAlabama A&ML. Vann Pettaway
2005–06SouthernRob SpiverySouthernRob Spivery
2006–07Mississippi Valley StateJames GreenJackson StateTevester Anderson
2007–08Alabama StateLewis JacksonMississippi Valley StateJames Green
2008–09Alabama StateLewis JacksonAlabama StateLewis Jackson
2009–10Arkansas–Pine BluffGeorge IvoryArkansas–Pine BluffGeorge Ivory
2010–11Texas SouthernTony HarveyAlabama StateLewis Jackson
2011–12Mississippi Valley StateSean WoodsMississippi Valley StateSean Woods
2012–13SouthernRoman BanksSouthernRoman Banks
2013–14SouthernRoman BanksTexas SouthernMike Davis
2014–15Texas SouthernMike DavisTexas SouthernMike Davis
2015–16Texas SouthernMike DavisSouthernRoman Banks
2016–17Texas SouthernMike DavisTexas SouthernMike Davis
2017–18GramblingDonte JacksonTexas SouthernMike Davis
2018–19Prairie View A&MByron SmithPrairie View A&MByron Smith
2019–20Prairie View A&MByron SmithCanceled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2020–21Prairie View A&MByron SmithTexas SouthernJohnny Jones
2021–22Alcorn StateLandon BussieTexas SouthernJohnny Jones
2022–23Alcorn State
Grambling
Landon Bussie
Donte Jackson
Texas SouthernJohnny Jones
2023–24GramblingDonte JacksonGramblingDonte Jackson

Men's basketball tournament performance by school

SchoolChampionshipsYears
Texas Southern1990, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Southern1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2006, 2013, 2016
Alcorn State1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1999, 2002
Jackson State1978, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2007
Mississippi Valley State1986, 1992, 1996, 2008, 2012
Alabama State2001, 2004 2009, 2011
Prairie View A&M1998, 2019
Alabama A&M2005
Arkansas–Pine Bluff2010
Grambling State2024

Women's basketball

See also: SWAC women's basketball tournament.

YearRegular seasonCoachTournamentCoach
1981–82Jackson StateSadie MageeJackson StateSadie Magee
1982–83Jackson StateSadie MageeJackson StateSadie Magee
1983–84Alcorn StateShirley WalkerJackson StateSadie Magee
1984–85Alcorn StateShirley WalkerJackson StateSadie Magee
1985–86Alcorn StateShirley WalkerAlcorn StateShirley Walker
1986–87GramblingPatricia BibbsMississippi Valley StateJessie Harris
1987–88Mississippi Valley StateJessie HarrisGramblingPatricia Bibbs
1988–89GramblingPatricia BibbsAlabama StateRon Mitchell
1989–90GramblingPatricia BibbsJackson StateAndrew Pennington
1990–91Alcorn StateShirley WalkerAlcorn StateShirley Walker
1991–92Alcorn StateShirley WalkerAlcorn StateShirley Walker
1992–93Alcorn State
Southern
Shirley Walker
Herman Hartman
Mississippi Valley StateJessie Harris
1993–94Alcorn StateShirley WalkerGramblingPatricia Bibbs
1994–95Alcorn State
Grambling
Jackson State
Shirley Walker
Patricia Bibbs
Andrew Pennington
Jackson StateAndrew Pennington
1995–96Alcorn State
Jackson State
Shirley Walker
Andrew Pennington
GramblingPatricia Bibbs
1996–97GramblingPatricia BibbsGramblingPatricia Bibbs
1997–98GramblingDavid PontonGramblingDavid Ponton
1998–99GramblingDavid PontonGramblingDavid Ponton
1999–00GramblingDavid PontonAlcorn StateShirley Walker
2000–01Alcorn StateShirley WalkerAlcorn StateShirley Walker
2001–02SouthernSandy PughSouthernSandy Pugh
2002–03Alabama State
Jackson State
Freda Freeman-Jackson
Denise Taylor
Alabama StateFreda Freeman-Jackson
2003–04Alabama StateFreda Freeman-JacksonSouthernSandy Pugh
2004–05Alcorn StateShirley WalkerAlcorn StateShirley Walker
2005–06Jackson State
Southern
Denise Taylor
Sandy Pugh
SouthernSandy Pugh
2006–07Prairie View A&M
Jackson State
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
Denise Taylor
Prairie View A&MCynthia Cooper-Dyke
2007–08Prairie View A&MCynthia Cooper-DykeJackson StateDenise Taylor
2008–09Prairie View A&MCynthia Cooper-DykePrairie View A&MCynthia Cooper-Dyke
2009–10SouthernSandy PughSouthernSandy Pugh
2010–11SouthernSandy PughPrairie View A&MToyelle Wilson
2011–12Mississippi Valley StateNate KilbertPrairie View A&MToyelle Wilson
2012–13Texas SouthernCynthia Cooper-DykePrairie View A&MToyelle Wilson
2013–14SouthernSandy PughPrairie View A&MDawn Brown
2014–15Alabama StateFreda Freeman-Jackson Alabama StateFreda Freeman-Jackson
2015–16Alabama StateFreda Freeman-Jackson Alabama StateFreda Freeman-Jackson
2016–17Texas SouthernJohnetta Hayes-Perry Texas SouthernJohnetta Hayes-Perry
2017–18SouthernSandy PughGramblingFreddie Murray
2018–19SouthernCarlos FunchessSouthernCarlos Funchess
2019–20SouthernCarlos FunchessCanceled due to the coronavirus pandemic
2020–21Jackson StateTomekia ReedJackson StateTomekia Reed
2021–22Jackson StateTomekia ReedJackson StateTomekia Reed
2022–23Jackson StateTomekia ReedSouthernCarlos Funchess
2023–24Jackson StateTomekia ReedJackson StateTomekia Reed

Baseball

This is a list of the last 10 SWAC baseball champions; for the full history, see the list of Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball champions. In recent decades, the conference tournament has determined the overall champions; for specifics concerning the tournament in particular, see the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament.

Year Program
Southern
Southern
Alabama State
Florida A&M
Grambling State

SWAC marching bands

Marching bands have a rich tradition being a centerpiece of school spirit and pride for each institution in the conference. Furthermore, the competitiveness, prestige, pageantry, and showmanship of SWAC marching bands significantly add to the unique identity and culture of the conference.

School Band Dance Auxiliary
Alabama A&M Marching Maroon and White Dancin' Divas
Alabama State Sensational Stingettes
Alcorn State Sounds of Dynomite World Renowned Golden Girls
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Girls
Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats 14 Karat Gold Dancers
Florida A&M -----
Grambling State Orchesis Dance Company
Jackson State Prancing J-Settes
Mississippi Valley State Mean Green Marching Machine Satin Dolls
Prairie View A&M Black Foxes
Southern Fabulous Dancing Dolls
Texas Southern Motion of The Ocean

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Y-E-A promotes SWAC Championship at Texas Black Expo - SWAC - Southwestern Athletic Conference . SWAC . 2015-07-20.
  2. Web site: SWAC earns FCS game attendance title for 2018. HBCU. Sports. 15 June 2019.
  3. Web site: HBCU Sports May 19, 2015 Football 2 Comments . SWAC Ranks No.1 In FCS Football Attendance . HBCU Sports . 2015-05-19 . 2015-07-20.
  4. Web site: H–T Plans To Resume Grid Sport. Austin American (p. 23). September 21, 1955.
  5. Web site: Grambling Grid Slate Announced. Shreveport Times (sec. D, p. 5). June 24, 1962.
  6. http://www.swac.org/conference/history.htm
  7. https://swac.org/news/2020/9/3/general-swac-announces-new-divisional-realignment-starting-2021-22.aspx SWAC Announces Division Realignment Starting 2021–22 - Southwestern Athletic Conference
  8. Web site: Southwestern Athletic Conference . SWAC . 2015-07-20.
  9. Web site: Radiology Associates Field. Daytona Tortugas. Minor League Baseball. November 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031132/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t450&ymd=20100223&content_id=8118192&vkey=team1. December 1, 2017. live.
  10. Web site: Bragg Memorial Stadium. Florida A&M University. November 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730071636/http://www.famuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25300&ATCLID=205111949. July 30, 2017. live.
  11. Web site: Al Lawson Center. Florida A&M University. November 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171109094617/http://www.famuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205111952&DB_OEM_ID=25300. November 9, 2017. live.
  12. Web site: Moore-Kittles Field. FAMUAthletics.com. November 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20130508194330/http://www.famuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=25300&ATCLID=205111945. May 8, 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: Tankersley Field. Prairie View A&M University Athletics. November 21, 2014.
  14. Web site: 2015 SWAC Football Media Day by SWAC . Issuu.com . July 20, 2015 . April 9, 2016.
  15. Web site: Grambling State University Tigers. Gsutigers.com. October 25, 2017.
  16. Web site: The Afro American - Google News Archive Search. News.google.com. April 9, 2016.
  17. Web site: Texas Southern Faces 2013 & 2014 Postseason Ban. TheMatadorSports. October 9, 2012. Business Insider. April 9, 2016.
  18. Web site: Turnovers kill Grambling as Alcorn captures SWAC title . Thenewsstar.com . December 6, 2015 . April 9, 2016.
  19. News: Ineligible Jackson St predicted to win SWAC East . . July 19, 2011 . April 9, 2016 .
  20. Web site: I.C.. Murrell. Despite APR, Golden Lions still eligible for SWAC football title | Pine Bluff Commercial . Pbcommercial.com . May 14, 2014 . April 9, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425213444/http://pbcommercial.com/sports/uapb/despite-apr-golden-lions-still-eligible-swac-football-title . April 25, 2016.
  21. Web site: SWAC Regular Season Champions, by Year.
  22. Web site: SWAC Announces Partnership with City of Birmingham. July 12, 2018.
  23. Web site: SWAC concludes Spring Meetings. Swac.org. June 15, 2016.