Excellence standard in Southern sports

• By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
• Advocate Sports Writer
• Published: Dec 30, 2005

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The old saying from Southern University fans -- that blue-and-gold throng known as the Jaguar Nation -- is that SWAC means Southern Wins Another Championship.

That may not have been as true this year as in the past, with the Jaguars winning a mere three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. During the previous two years, the Jaguars hauled in 19 championship trophies.

But the overall excellence of the program continues.

Southern won its fourth straight Commissioner's Cup, given to the best program in the conference, and finished first on the women's side and tied for first in the men's side.

Only two other schools in the 10-team conference have won the award since its inception in 1991-92. Otherwise, SU has been the standard, winning 11 of the 13 Cups.

The baseball team -- behind tournament MVP Joshua Kirk, a pitcher; Outstanding Hitter Kevin Nelson, a first baseman; and Outstanding Pitcher Jose Pena -- won its eighth title in the last 10 seasons, winning 21 of its final 25 games en route to the title. The women's tennis team won its fourth straight title and eighth overall. And the women's track team, behind Outstanding Field performer Jacqueline Dix and (for the second straight year) Outstanding Track performer Erikka Thomas, won its third straight title and eighth since 1994.

There was some heartbreak -- losing in the football championship game, the women's basketball title game, the softball championship round and the bowling finals and finishing second in women's indoor track and field.

That being said, football boasted the Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Thomas Ricks. Women's basketball had the regular-season and tournament MVP in Rolanda Monroe. And women's indoor track and field had Monica Robinson recognized as Outstanding Field performer and Thomas as Outstanding Track performer.

Plus, men's cross country and women's golf finished third.

Meanwhile, the following of the faithful continues to be massive.

Despite a substantial increase in ticket prices, football attendance led Division I-AA. That would be impressive enough, but the rule of the thumb is that the Jaguars actually draw better on the road, turning almost every stadium they play in into a virtual home field.

While facilities remain a problem the school has to resolve, Southern hasn't been shy about doling out money to its head coaches.

The school gave successful football coach Pete Richardson a three-year extension, at $200,000 per year making him the highest paid I-AA coach in the nation.