BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After back-to-back 3-8 seasons, nobody expected Mississippi Valley State to be picked high in the league's preseason poll.
MVSU was picked fourth in the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, just ahead of Alcorn in the five-team league here Tuesday at the SWAC media day.
The Delta Devils played a lot of freshmen in 2008 after after kicking 18 players off the team because of discipline problems prior to the season.
MVSU has a wealth of starters back, including quarterback Paul Roberts, who Willie Totten says has transformed into a much better player.
"Paul understands what he has to do," said Totten, in his eighth year as the head coach at his alma mater. "Paul knew he didn't train like he was supposed to last year. You're going to see his play a lot different."
Roberts was one of just three players in the SWAC to top 2,000 passing yards last year, and that was despite playing just nine games.
Totten said the attitude change has spread team wide.
"The way they approached the weight room … meeting rooms was entirely different last year," Totten said. "They understand. We'll be a much, much improved team. This may be the most disciplined team I've had. And I've had some good teams."
Grambling State was picked to repeat as SWAC champion. The two-time reigning Western Division champ has played in back-to-back title games and last year avenged a 2007 SWAC championship game loss to Jackson State.
J-State, winners of the Eastern Division crown the last two years, was picked to defend its division title.
In the East, Alabama A&M was second and Alabama State third.
In the West, Grambling got 14 first-place votes, but Southern was chosen by five voters to win the West and is slotted second.
Prairie View got three first-place votes and is projected to place third, followed by Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Southern quarterback Bryant Lee was named preseason offensive player of the year, and Grambling State defensive lineman Christian Anthony was picked as the top defensive player.
Southern and Prairie View A&M tied with seven all-conference players. Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff had six apiece. JSU, Grambling, Alabama A&M and Valley each fielded five players on the two teams. Two Alabama State players were voted on and just one from Alcorn.
Linebacker Rory Malone was Valley's lone first-team selection.
Offensive lineman Robert Ogletree, wide receiver Brandon Stargell, linebacker Chris Ivy and safety Michael Higgins of Greenwood received second-team honors.
Malone, a 6-foot, 205-pound junior, finished last season with 72 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble.
Ogletree, a 6-2, 290-pound senior, was a key member of the offensive unit that gained 316.5 yards per game last year. Stargell, a 6-2, 195-pound junior, caught 39 passes for 474 yards and three touchdowns - averaging 12.2 yards per reception. Ivy, a 6-2, 220-pound senior, played in 10 games, finishing with 34 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Higgins, a 6-3, 185-pound senior out of Greenwood High School, tallied 68 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups.
