Struggling Alabama State shakes up coaching staff

• By PERRYN KEYS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 12, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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When Alabama State faces Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Gulf Coast Classic, the Jaguars will have at least one advantage: more coaches.

Just moments after ASU’s offense failed to show up in a 20-0 loss to Jackson State last weekend, second-year head coach Reggie Barlow canned two assistants — offensive coordinator Ben Noonan and offensive line coach Eric Schnupp.

“Things hadn’t gone the way I would like them to go offensively,” Barlow said. “I know it takes time, but sometimes you can look at things and (say), ‘OK, I don’t know if it’ll get better.’ You’re not getting what you want. I didn’t think it would get better. Actually, I thought it was getting worse.”

Saturday’s loss to JSU was, from any angle, ugly. Alabama State managed just 93 yards from scrimmage and suffered its first shutout in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game since 1996.

“It was a collective effort on offense,” Barlow said. “There were times when the receivers weren’t doing what they were supposed to. Running backs weren’t blocking as good as you would like. And then (there were) the quarterbacks.”

The Hornets used three men behind center Saturday — sophomore Anthony Speight, junior Reid Herchenbach and sophomore Brandon Dowdell.

Herchenbach had started earlier this season, but was eventually pulled.

Speight started Oct. 25, throwing two touchdowns and four interceptions in a 17-16 loss to Alabama A&M.

Barlow gave Speight another week against Alcorn, a 24-17 victory.

Then there was Jackson State, when the three quarterbacks combined for 90 passing yards.