It’s a pretty fruitful time for you right now with former NFL coach Hue Jackson going to Grambling State; and Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State, recently landing the nation’s No. 1 recruit. How does it feel?
We’ve had a good football run, but think about it. We have Cynthia Cooper as a women’s basketball coach. We have Mo Williams, that won a ring with LeBron [James], as a basketball coach at Alabama State. We have Lindsey Hunter [who’s] an NBA championship coach at Mississippi Valley State, but that’s what the Southwestern Athletic Conference is all about. We have legendary track coaches that have won an Olympic gold medal.
If you want to be the best at your sport, the Southwestern Athletic Conference is where you’re supposed to be. I think right now we’re starting to get the recognition, but those that have been a part of the fold have always known what the Southwestern Athletic Conference does.
One of tonight’s inductees was Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, arguably the greatest woman’s basketball player of all time. She not only coaches at Texas Southern but played at Prairie View A&M. Why don’t you think her SWAC playing roots are discussed that often?
She is the greatest women’s basketball player. I would argue that she’s top three in basketball overall, whether [it’s] women or men. I think from a generational standpoint, Cynthia is on that first wave and most other younger voters are on that second wave.
