In with the new

• By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:45 a.m.

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So many new quarterbacks. Another crop of new coaches. And a return to the seven-game format, along with a new tweak to the master schedule.

This is Southwestern Athletic Conference football 2008.

New quarterbacks

Southern, with SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Bryant Lee, and Prairie View, with Mark Spivey getting a sixth season of eligibility for a medical hardship after going 5-1 as a starter in the Panthers’ last six games, are the two known, successful constants.

The rest of the conference spent the spring and preseason camp and this week evaluating quarterbacks.

ALABAMA A&M: Sophomore Kevin Atkins, who did not complete a pass in two attempts last season, replaces All-SWAC first-teamer Kelcy Luke (2,401 yards, 20 TDs), a former Auburn transfer who led A&M to the 2006 SWAC title.

ALABAMA STATE: Second-year coach Reggie Barlow said Alabama-Birmingham transfer Anthony Speight and junior-college transfer Reid Herchenbach will alternate in Saturday’s opener with Florida A&M. After that, Barlow said he’ll choose a No. 1. Of last year’s starters, Chris Mitchell (1,286 yards, 10 TDs, 13 interceptions) is academically ineligible and Alex Engram, a 38.9-percent passer, has moved to receiver.

ALCORN STATE: Senior Tony Hobson (957 yards, nine TDs, seven interceptions, 49.4 percent) has held onto the role in replacing Chris Walker (930 yards, three TDs, six interceptions). Hobson and Walker tag-teamed as starters. Junior Tim Buckley (8-for-12 for 58 yards) and two freshmen, Aaron Shavers and Percy Turner, are backups.

ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF: Senior Jonathan Moore, who shared time with Chris Wallace, the 2006 SWAC Offensive MVP, the last few seasons, takes over full time. Moore threw for 914 yards, three TDs and five interceptions and completed 42.1 percent of his throws last year.

GRAMBLING: Sophomore Greg Dillon, who ran the scout team last season, emerged ahead of Missouri transfer J.P. Tillman, also a sophomore. The decision came down Tuesday. Grambling needed to find a replacement for senior Brandon Landers (2,609 yards and 23 TDs), who became academically ineligible during the summer.

JACKSON STATE: Former Mississippi State transfer Trae Rutland (302 yards on 33.9-percent passing), who started five games for State in 2006, and Louisiana Tech transfer Michael Mosley continue to battle this week. They’re replacing Jimmy Oliver (2,550 yards and 20 TDs), a former junior college transfer who led JSU to the SWAC title last season.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE: Junior Ryan Burciaga, from Honolulu, Hawaii, has emerged in a spot that saw three different players, including Burciaga, lead the SWAC’s worst offense last season. Burciaga was 42-for-107 (39.3 percent) for 560 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

TEXAS SOUTHERN: Former Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid, who is a Houston native but became embroiled in controversy last season, has transferred in to lead first-year coach Johnnie Cole’s wide-open system.