MONTGOMERY—The Alabama State University football team had a walk through today as part of their final preparations for tomorrow's football game at Prairie View.
 
With the Hornets win over Alabama A&M last week the Hornets still have a chance at winning the East Division crown and playing in the SWAC Championship game on Dec. 8.  The coaching staff has worked this week making sure the players understand their goals of a SWAC Championship are still within reach and they can't take anything for granted.
 
“Coming off the last game and being able to achieve what we did, sometimes the mindset makes you think you have arrived and what we have done is try and make the guys focus on the task at hand,” Head Coach Reggie Barlow said.  “All our goals are intact and we have to go and play.  It is going to be tough because the environment is a different place, but the guys have practiced decent and hopefully their mindset will be all right.”
 
The trip to Prairie View is the longest trip of the season for the Hornets.  ASU will fly out of Montgomery and arrive in Houston, Texas, later tonight with tomorrow's game a 1 p.m. kickoff.  The coaching staff will take precautions to make sure the long trip does not become a hindrance to their performance in tomorrow's game.
 
“Thank goodness we are flying and that decreases the travel time by a lot,” Barlow said.  “When we used to ride the buses it was an eight to 10 hour trip but it will be quicker since we are flying.  Our travel arrangements are a little different this week and we will make sure we coach the guy's up on the mindset they should have during the trip.”
 
The Hornets (5-3/5-2 SWAC) are fighting to remain at the top of the East Division.  They have two losses as does Jackson State and Alabama A&M.  The Hornets need to win their remaining two conference games and for Jackson State to drop a game and the Hornets will represent the East in the SWAC Championship game.
 
Prairie View (3-5/3-3 SWAC) enters the game in second place in the West, two games behind Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  So the Panthers still have a shot at winning the West.  Since starting the season oh-and-five, PVAMU has won three consecutive games.