MONTGOMERY—The new Alabama State University football complex has housed the Hornets' football coaching staff since the end of the summer and the last bit of construction has been completed with the addition of the weight room. However, the most important aspect of completing the building was done today as the complex will now be officially known as the Houston Markham, Jr. Football Complex.
 
Markham, along with several family members, former players and former members of the coaching staff were on hand today to witness the dedication.  Markham coached the Hornets from 1987-1997 and led the Hornets to a 68-39-5 record during his 11 years at the helm of the program.  His 68 wins are the most wins by any coach in the history of ASU football.
 
“I wouldn't be around here if it weren't for great players, great coaches and a great administration,” Markham said.  “I am proud to succeed to some degree with what we had.  We adopted the motto we were going to worry about what we have and not worry about what we did not have.”
 
Among the former players that spoke at the dedication was former ASU and NFL star Eddie Robinson, who was a member of the 1991 SWAC and Black College National Championship Team.
 
“There are so many stories you can tell about coach,” Robinson said.  He was a comedian, he was a coach, he was a dad to a lot of guys and he was a psychologist.  He really did make me better than I dreamed I could be and that was not just on the football field, but just in life as a public speaker and broadcaster.  Coach Markham would take me and have me speak at elementary schools and I didn't really know why he was making me do it but it all paid off.  I think he saw something in each one of us that we didn't see in ourselves and made us better than we ever believed we could be.”
 
Current head coach Reggie Barlow was also able to play for Coach Markham before embarking on an NFL career and then coming home to lead the Hornets.
 
“This is really a special day,” Barlow said.  “I have seen a lot of buildings and a lot of football complexes but there is none that really compares to this one.  This building here has everything.  It has an academic lounge, a players' lounge and the coach's offices.  We are able to film study the way we need to.  It just creates a different atmosphere when we come to work and we really appreciate it.  But out of all the wonderful things about this building, like the weight room, the best thing is the name that it bears.”
 
“Coach Markham recruited me to Alabama State,” Barlow continued.  “Alabama State was the only school that offered me a scholarship because Coach Markham saw something in me.  I am really proud Coach Markham believed in me and allowed me to come over here and take off with my career.”
 
Markham coached the 1991 ASU team which was arguably the best season in the history of the program.  That year the Hornets finished the season with an 11-0-1 record, with the lone tie being a 14-14 finish against Texas Southern.  The Hornets finished the regular season as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Champions and ended the season with a win over North Carolina A&T in the Alamo Heritage Bowl.  At the end of the year, ASU was named the Black College National Champions.  That magical season was the centerpiece of a streak in which Alabama State went undefeated in 20 consecutive games, 19 of them victories.
 
“I want you to know this Houston Markham, Jr. on the side of this building is not Houston Markham, Jr.,” Markham said.  “it is Houston Markham and all the coaches, all the players, my family and many more that stood along beside me and not behind me,” Markham said.  “It is truly an honor; it is something I never thought would happen.  I am very happy and my family is proud, but I am more proud of these players that suffered through the pain and agony of trying to get ready to win over some teams that were sometimes better than we were.”