SWAC at a glance: Conference caps off historic year led by buzz of coach Prime, strike from Florida A&M

SWAC football life in 2021 was a year unlike any other.

For decades, the league has had a reputation for showcasing elite talent from the coaches to the players.

Legendary names such as Deacon Jones, Mel Blount, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Steve McNair all stormed the field for conference bragging rights.

However, in 2021, the SWAC elevated its profile to a new galaxy in terms of competition, economics, marketability and brand awareness.

"We've had a great year. We're still tallying the numbers, but we think we set a record for attendance," SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland said during a Zoom press conference.

"It's been a historic year. We should beat some Power 5 championship games. We are excited about where we are in the SWAC. We're trending in a great direction. Hats off to our administrators and coaches. Our sponsors have also taken note."

A Prime Time impact

This launch to this stratosphere began in 2020 when Jackson State announced the hire of Deion Sanders as its head coach.

The Florida State and NFL icon took the job without any collegiate coaching experience. However, he wasn't a stranger to wearing a headset on the sideline.

Before going to Jackson, Miss., Sanders was an assistant at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, a suburb of Dallas.

Spring football season didn't go according to plan for Sanders and the Tigers.

Jackson State went 4-3 and finished tied for second in the East Division at 3-2. This would be the last down moment for the program in 2021.

Sanders was a lightning rod as a player and analyst on TV.

His charisma carried over to coaching.

He appeared on national commercials, did spotlight interviews and encouraged a handful of skilled players to transfer to his program.

The end result was an East Division and conference title this fall season.

Jackson State defeated Prairie View A&M 27-10 on Saturday in the SWAC Championship Game. The Tigers are now 11-1 with nine wins in a row.

"This is unbelievable. We started off with a saying that we embodied and felt. Look at this. Look at the community," Sanders said during his on-the-field TV interview with ESPN's Tiffany Blackmon.

"Look at Jackson. Look at the SWAC. I'm so elated right now. It's one thing to win, but to win with our people? Jesus, Lord, I thank you."

The Tigers will make their first appearance in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 18 against MEAC champion South Carolina State. This game is set for Dec. 18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Florida A&M "strikes" venom over SWAC foes

Like the classic tales of the SWAC, FAMU already had an established rich football tradition before 2021.

However, when the university joined the league, everything upgraded.

The official transition occurred this summer. McClelland addressed the Rattlers inside the Al Lawson Center.

"With the addition of Florida A&M, we have truly become a super-conference," McClelland said during his speech inside the FAMU gym.

"This is truly a good day - July 1, 2021. This day will go down in history. There will be books written, movies produced based on this decision and what happened today."

He was 100% accurate in his statement.

FAMU fell 7-6 in the season opener to Jackson State. This was the only setback in conference play.

The Rattlers swept through Alabama and Louisiana.

They blanked Alabama State 28-0 in their SWAC home opener.

On the road in Huntsville, FAMU rallied from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Alabama A&M 31-28.

FAMU celebrated its homecoming with a 26-3 rout over Grambling State. It then went to Baton Rouge and clinched a 29-17 win versus Southern.

The landmark outing for FAMU was its 46-21 triumph in the Florida Classic against arch-rival Bethune-Cookman.

For the first time, the Florida Classic was filed as a SWAC game. B-CU is also a new member of the conference.

Life in the SWAC was an excellent experience for FAMU players. It provided a welcoming sight to play in front of packed venues for road games.

This was a stark contrast from the MEAC.

"Week in and week out, the competitive nature of the game and electrifying atmospheres was what I looked forward to every Saturday," said FAMU defensive back and First-Team All-SWAC player BJ Bohler

FAMU also became the first team from the SWAC to qualify for the FCS playoffs since Jackson State in 1997.

The Rattlers lost 38-14 to Southeastern Louisiana in the first round.

Panthers, Braves duke it out in the SWAC West Division

Before realignment with the additions of FAMU and B-CU, Alcorn State dominated the East Division.

It captured six straight division titles, winning the SWAC championship four times during this span.

This fall, the Braves moved to the West Division. Its string of conference championship game appearances ended.

Alcorn State beat Prairie View A&M 31-29 on Nov. 13. However, the 24-10 loss to Jackson State sealed the fate of collecting a seventh division trophy for the Braves.

Coaching changes in the SWAC

In November, two head coaches were fired from their programs - Donald Hill-Eley of Alabama State and Broaderick Fobbs from Grambling State.

Hill-Eley was fired on Nov. 1 following a loss to Alabama A&M that dropped the Hornets to 3-4. He went 20-21 over five seasons in Montgomery.

Fobbs, a Grambling State alum, was let go two weeks before facing arch-rival Southern.

The spring and fall 2021 seasons were the only times he finished under .500 in his seven years with the Tigers.

Fobbs has a career mark of 54-32 and 1-1 in the Celebration Bowl.

He led Grambling State to a Black college national championship in 2016.

Grambling State found minor comfort with its 29-26 over Southern in the Bayou Classic to close out the season.

Southern's Jason Collins still has an interim tag on his name. Officials are expected to decide this month as to his status

Alabama State was the first to make a full-time coaching hire. Hornets alum Eddie Robinson Jr. is now in charge of the program.

SWAC postseason honors

Listed below are the final standings and selections for the All-SWAC teams. Additional accolades include Offensive, Defensive and Coach of the Year.

East Division

• Jackson State 8-0 11-1

• Florida A&M 7-1 9-3

• Alabama A&M 5-3 7-3

• Alabama State 3-5 5-6

• Miss. Valley State 3-5 4-6

• Bethune-Cookman 2-6 2-9

West Division

• Prairie View A&M 6-2 7-5

• Alcorn State 5-3 6-5

• Southern 3-5 4-7

• Grambling State 3-5 4-7

• Texas Southern 2-6 2-8

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-7 2-9

All-SWAC First-Team Offense

• Quarterback: Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M

• Running Back: Bishop Bonnett- Florida A&M

• Running Back: Gary Quarles- Alabama A&M

• Offensive Lineman: Keenan Forbes- Florida A&M

• Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black- Southern

• Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

• Offensive Lineman: Johnathan Bishop- Southern

• Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers- Texas Southern

• Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim- Alabama A&M

• Wide Receiver: Odieu Hilaire- Alabama A&M

• Tight End: Kemari Averett- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First-Team Defense

• Defensive Lineman: James Houston- Jackson State

• Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas- Prairie View A&M

• Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson- Grambling State

• Defensive Lineman: Antwan Owens- Jackson State

• Linebacker: Isaiah Land- Florida A&M

• Linebacker: Untareo Johnson- Bethune-Cookman

• Linebacker: Aubrey Miller- Jackson State

• Defensive Back: Markquese Bell- Florida A&M

• Defensive Back: Drake Cheatum- Prairie View A&M

• Defensive Back: BJ Bohler- Florida A&M

• Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First-Team Specialist

• Placekicker: Jose Romo-Martinez- Florida A&M

• Punter: Josh Sanchez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

• Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden- Jackson State

All-SWAC Second-Team Offense

• Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State

• Running Back: Caleb Johnson- Mississippi Valley State

• Running Back: Niko Duffey- Alcorn State

• Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray- Jackson State

• Offensive Lineman: Ja'Tyre Carter- Southern

• Offensive Lineman: Danny Garza- Prairie View A&M

• Offensive Lineman: Jay Jackson-Williams- Florida A&M

• Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston- Alabama State

• Wide Receiver: Keith Corbin- Jackson State

• Wide Receiver: Dee Anderson- Alabama A&M

• Tight End: Jyrin Johnson- Texas Southern

All-SWAC Second-Team Defense

• Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas- Mississippi Valley State

• Defensive Lineman: Savion Williams- Florida A&M

• Defensive Lineman: Michael Badejo- Texas Southern

• Defensive Lineman: Deonte Williams- Florida A&M

• Linebacker: Monroe Beard III- Arkansas-Pine Bluff

• Linebacker: Keonte Hampton- Jackson State

• Linebacker: Tarik Cooper- Texas Southern

• Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis- Alabama State

• Defensive Back: Keonte’ Daniels- Mississippi Valley State

• Defensive Back: Darius Campbell- Prairie View A&M

• Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders- Jackson State

All-SWAC Second-Team Specialist

• Placekicker: Garrett Urban- Grambling State

• Punter: Garrett Urban- Grambling State

• Return Specialist: Darnell Deas- Bethune-Cookman

Offensive Player of the Year

• Quarterback: Aqeel Glass-Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year

• Linebacker: Isaiah Land-Florida A&M

Coach of the Year

• Deion Sanders-Jackson State

Follow FAMU beat writer Rory Sharrock on Twitter@married2game1.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: SWAC at a glance: Conference caps off historic year led by buzz of coach Prime, strike from FAMU