BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As Alonzo Hampton prepares for his third season as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff head football coach, he summarized his message to this year’s team in one word: Finish.
“We were close in a lot of games,” Hampton said Wednesday at SWAC Media Day. “This year has been an emphasis on being tough, being able to finish the drive, being able to finish the end of the game, and just being able to finish all the way around as a program. Academically, athletically, being able to grow your bodies in the weight room. On the football field, we’ve been really close. So now, our motto is ‘Finish.’ Finish everything that we do.”
UAPB (3-9, 2-6 SWAC in 2024) had three losses last year by 10 points or fewer.
The Golden Lions led 14-0 at Alcorn State in their SWAC opener but lost 38-28. UAPB had the ball down 3 points in the fourth quarter at Grambling State but lost 31-21. In the season finale, UAPB took a 10-7 lead into halftime against Texas Southern but lost 31-23.
After starting SWAC play 2-2 with wins against Prairie View A&M and Mississippi Valley State, UAPB lost its final four games and finished tied for fifth in the SWAC West Division with Grambling.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The close calls were an improvement from Hampton’s first season, in which just one of the Golden Lions’ seven SWAC losses was by a single possession, but UAPB is still looking for a breakthrough season.
Hampton said he doesn’t feel pressure to make this the breakout year. Instead, he remains focused on building up the program step by step.
“We didn’t want to be a one-hit wonder,” Hampton said. “Obviously, first year, you kinda lost big. Last year, you kinda lose close. This year, our goal is to win close, and then the next year, you want to be able to win big. So, we’re building a program. So, it’s no pressure on us. No pressure on the kids. I tell them all the time, man, this is fun. Football is fun.”
A big part of last year’s improvement came from the passing offensive, which finished third in the SWAC with 219.5 passing yards per game. That came despite the offensive line allowing the most sacks of any SWAC team, and the rushing attack struggled behind that line.
UAPB is replacing four of its five starters up front this fall. The returning starter, redshirt senior Jeremiah Rodgers, said an improved offensive line would allow UAPB to show much more of offensive coordinator Tony Hull’s schemes.
“It’s a great opportunity to just showcase the whole offense,” Rodgers said. “All the coaches, new players, new coaches alike, just evolving through the system, being able to show and display our skill is what I’m really looking forward to.”
UAPB is replacing its starting quarterback and several receivers this fall but brings back running back BJ Curry, who was one of two Golden Lions named to the preseason All-SWAC teams earlier this week. If the offensive line improves, it would allow UAPB to lean on Curry and his fellow backs more often.
Place kicker Trey Glymph was UAPB’s other preseason All-SWAC selection after being one of two in the conference last season who didn’t miss a field goal or an extra point.
Glymph said the preseason All-SWAC honor meant a lot to him.
“It’s really a testament to Coach Hampton and (special teams coordinator Tom) Manly and my teammates for putting me in situations where I can be successful and put points on the board and help the team,” he said.
Regardless of whether UAPB finishes games better like Hampton wants, this season will finish with the end of the regular season on Nov. 22 at Alabama State.
The NCAA ruled UAPB ineligible for postseason play this season due to a low four-year APR score, which athletic director Chris Robinson told The Commercial earlier this year was caused by low scores in the first years of this decade amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the advent of the transfer portal.
Hampton stressed on Wednesday the years that led to this situation came before he or most of the current players were on campus, and he knew when he took the job after the 2022 season this was probably coming.
The Golden Lions may not have any postseason opportunities to play for, but Hampton said the Golden Lions still have the mindset to win every SWAC game.
“We’re going to play for Dear Mother, play for our teammates, play for the administration, our alumni, our fans, and we’re going to have fun, and you’re going to be excited about it,” Hampton said. “People are gonna say, what if? What if what? What if we, what, win every game? Because that’s the plan. So, it ain’t nothing but excitement. Ain’t no Debbie Downer around here. When you walk in that field house, they already know what it is.”
In addition to the postseason ban, the APR penalties also include a reduction in weekly practice time from 20 hours to 16. Hampton said that shouldn’t affect UAPB’s ability to prepare each week since the Golden Lions were already using Mondays to focus on academics and spending about 16 hours a week practicing.
Hampton said seven or eight players entered the transfer portal after the penalties were announced but the rest stayed, which he said was because they believe in their coaches and each other. He also said this is an opportunity to teach the young men on the team how to deal with adversity in life.
The coach said despite the challenges UAPB has faced, the Golden Lions are continuing to improve and have high hopes for this season.
“We got better from a coaching staff perspective,” Hampton said. “We got better players. This is a better team than we’ve had. A lot of names that you don’t even know, but this is a better football team altogether, because now, guys that came into the program, guys are leaving out, but the guys that have been here throughout the summer, man, it’s been amazing.”