Boxtorow.com

They say timing is everything.

Four teams have sat atop the BOXTOROW Coaches Poll this season.  None of the teams was Alcorn State.

Until now.

With its 38-24 victory over Southern in the SWAC championship game, the Braves were voted 2014 BOXTOROW HBCU national champions in the final coaches poll of 2014.

“It’s a true honor and we’re very appreciative of this award,” said third-year head coach Jay Hopson.  “I am very proud of this team and the coaches.  It has been a long time since Alcorn State has won a national championship.  It’s a humbling experience and we are truly honored and blessed.”

Alcorn’s three losses this year – to Southern Mississippi, Grambling State and Jackson State – all came by seven points or less.

Last year’s champion Bethune-Cookman finished No. 2 and received four first-place votes.  North Carolina A&T received the other first-place vote, finishing No. 3.  South Carolina State finished No. 5, giving the MEAC three of the top five teams.  All three, along with No. 6 North Carolina Central and No. 7 Morgan State, shared the MEAC crown in an unusual five-way tie for the championship.

Southern was also in the top five and finished exactly where it did last year at No. 4.

The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.

2014 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll
FINAL
(Records through December 6, 2014)

Rank	School	W-L	Pts.	Last Week
1.	Alcorn State (13)	10-3	174	4
2.	Bethune-Cookman (4)	9-3	157	1
3.	North Carolina A&T (1)	9-3	140	3
4.	Southern	9-4	134	2
5.	South Carolina State	8-4	92	5
6.	North Carolina Central	7-5	81	6
7.	Morgan State	7-6	76	7
8.	Grambling State	7-5	73	8
9.	Alabama State	7-5	40	9
10.	Tennessee State	6-6	17	10

Others receiving votes: Alabama A&M (5-7) 3, Prairie View A&M (5-5) 2, Texas Southern (5-6) 1.

BOXTOROW National Football Champions (Coaches) Year-by-year
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2011 Norfolk State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State

This year marks the first time the Alcorn State Braves are BOXTOROW HBCU national champions with the release of the final BOXTOROW Media Poll of 2014.

Alcorn State won its first SWAC championship since 1994 by defeating Southern 38-24 on Saturday.

The Braves received the majority of the first-place votes with five other teams also receiving at least one first-place vote.  The final poll was reflective of the parity of the 2014 football season.

Last year’s champion Bethune-Cookman received one first-place vote, finishing No. 2, six points ahead of No. 3 Southern.

North Carolina A&T also received a first-place vote finishing No. 4.  CIAA champion Virginia State received three first-place votes and rounded out the top five.  It was the Trojans highest finish ever.

Morgan State, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central – all three were MEAC co-champions with Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T – finished No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8, respectively.

The BOXTOROW Media Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.

2014 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
FINAL
(Records through December 6, 2014)

Rank	School	W-L	Pts.	Last Week
1.	Alcorn State (10)	10-3	144	5
2.	Bethune-Cookman (1)	9-3	126	3
3.	Southern (1)	9-4	120	1
4.	North Carolina A&T (1)	9-3	116	4
5.	Virginia State (3)	10-3	115	2
6.	Morgan State (1)	7-6	73	7
7.	South Carolina State	8-4	71	6
8.	North Carolina Central	7-5	47	8
9.	Winston-Salem State	9-2	46	10
10.	Grambling State	7-5	41	9

Others receiving votes: Tuskegee (9-3) 25, Albany State (7-3) 6, Jackson Sate (5-7) 3, Tennessee State (6-6) 1.

BOXTOROW National Football Champions Year-by-year (Media)
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Winston-Salem State
2011 Winston-Salem State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
2008 Grambling
2007 Tuskegee