What Is 2013 Alabama State football team

Overview

The 2013 Alabama State football team represented Alabama State University during the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) season. Competing as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the team was led by head coach Reggie Barlow in his fifth year at the helm.

The Hornets demonstrated solid performance throughout the season, finishing with a winning record and maintaining a competitive presence in the SWAC West Division. Despite not winning the conference title, the team showed significant improvement in key offensive and defensive metrics compared to prior seasons.

• Record: The team finished the season with a 7–4 overall record, marking one of the better performances under Barlow’s leadership and showing growth from previous years.
• Conference play: In SWAC competition, Alabama State posted a 5–3 conference record, placing them firmly in the middle of the West Division standings.
• Home field: The Hornets played their home games at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, which has a seating capacity of 26,500 and has hosted the team since 1922.
• Head coach:Reggie Barlow, a former NFL player and longtime ASU coach, entered his fifth season in 2013 and emphasized player development and disciplined gameplay.
• Key game: A notable victory came against Alcorn State on November 2, 2013, a crucial SWAC matchup that helped solidify their mid-tier conference standing.

How It Works

The structure of college football programs like Alabama State’s involves a blend of athletic performance, conference alignment, and NCAA regulations. The SWAC governs competition rules, scheduling, and postseason eligibility for its member institutions, including Alabama State.

• Division: Alabama State competes in the NCAA Division I FCS, the second-highest tier of college football, which differs from the FBS in scholarship limits and playoff structure.
• Conference: As a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the team plays a conference schedule that determines postseason qualification and division rankings.
• Scholarships: FCS programs like Alabama State are allowed up to 63 football scholarships, distributed across the roster, significantly fewer than FBS schools.
• Recruiting: The team relies heavily on regional talent, particularly from Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, to build a competitive roster within NCAA guidelines.
• Postseason: The SWAC champion earns an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs; however, Alabama State did not qualify for the postseason in 2013.
• Coaching staff: The 2013 staff included coordinators focused on offensive efficiency and defensive discipline, aiming to improve turnover margins and red-zone performance.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2013 season can be better understood by comparing Alabama State’s performance to other SWAC teams that year.

The table highlights that while Alabama State performed respectably, they were outpaced by Alcorn State and Grambling State in both conference record and postseason qualification. Their 5–3 SWAC record tied them with Jackson State but fell short of playoff contention due to tiebreaker rules and overall strength of schedule.

Why It Matters

The 2013 season was a transitional year that laid the groundwork for future competitiveness in the SWAC. It reflected ongoing efforts to stabilize the football program under consistent leadership and improve recruiting pipelines.

• Program development: The season demonstrated steady improvement under Reggie Barlow, setting the stage for future recruiting and coaching enhancements.
• Conference relevance: Maintaining a winning record helped preserve Alabama State’s standing in the SWAC and ensured competitive matchups in future seasons.
• Player development: Several 2013 players went on to become starters in subsequent years, showing the season’s role in long-term roster building.
• Community engagement: Games at the Cramton Bowl continued to draw strong local support, reinforcing the team’s cultural importance in Montgomery.
• Recruiting momentum: Competitive performances helped the program attract higher-caliber athletes from central Alabama high schools.
• Historical context: The 2013 season was part of a broader effort to revitalize Alabama State football after earlier struggles in the late 2000s.

Overall, the 2013 Alabama State Hornets football team served as a building block for future success, balancing immediate competitiveness with long-term program goals.