Something to roar about

The trophy case at Flowers Hall tells you all you need to know about the football program at the University of North Alabama.

Included in that case are three Division II national championship trophies won from 1993-95. No other college team in Division I, I-AA or II has ever won three consecutive national championships.

The 1990s were a special time for the Lions as those teams established a tradition of excellence for UNA football.

That tradition has been carried on and is now being kept alive under the leadership of UNA head coach Mark Hudspeth. Entering his sixth season as head coach of the Lions, ‘Coach Hud’ has helped UNA regain its status as one of the elite Division II programs in the nation.

Under Hudspeth, UNA has won two Gulf South Conference championships in five seasons and made three trips to the NCAA playoffs.

Hudspeth said the tradition of the program and the support of the community are what make UNA football special.

“The expectations of the community and the former players are very high,” he said. “In return, the fans are very supportive of the program. The combination of those high expectations and great support has made UNA one of the nation’s top programs in the last 25 years.

“But as high as our fans’ expectations are, nobody has higher expectations than our coaching staff. Our goal every year is to win a national championship. Our fans expect us to win a national championship and I feel like they have confidence in us. That makes it exciting to come to work every day.”

A native of Louisville, Miss., Hudspeth played football at Delta State – one of UNA’s biggest rivals -- from 1987-91. After several coaching stops he returned to his alma mater and was offensive coordinator for the 2000 Statesmen team that won the Division II national championship at Braly Stadium.

He moved to the Naval Academy in 2001, serving as offensive coordinator for the Midshipmen before being hired as UNA’s head coach in 2002.

The Lions had experienced three consecutive losing seasons when Hudspeth arrived. His first UNA team showed promise in finishing with a 4-7 record in 2002.

Everything then clicked for UNA in 2003. The Lions rolled to an 11-0 record in the regular season and advanced to the Division II playoff semifinals before losing to North Dakota. Quarterback Will Hall was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II and Hudspeth earned numerous coach of the year honors.

“There are a lot of great memories from that season,” Hudspeth said. “Beating Jacksonville State on the road in the second game was a big moment for us. That win showed that we were headed in the right direction. Our program seemed to gain confidence with each win. To win the GSC championship and then advance that far in the playoffs was a thrill.”

UNA made another trip to the playoff semifinals in 2005, losing a heartbreaker to Northwest Missouri. Last year the Lions claimed their second GSC championship under Hudspeth and advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

Hudspeth attributes the success UNA has enjoyed during his tenure to the hard work of the players and coaching staff.

“You don’t win by playing the games on Saturdays,” he said. “You win by working hard year-round in areas like our offseason workouts, recruiting or academically. We work hard every day in those areas.

“We have a sign that our players touch that says ‘Battles are won before they are fought; sharpen your blade today.’ Our guys work hard every day in practice and in the classroom.”

Hudspeth said it is important for the coaching staff to set the tone for the players. If the coaches are intense at practice, then the players will feed off of that intensity.

“Hud definitely sets the pace for the staff and the players,” said UNA offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield, who has been with Hudspeth all six years with the Lions. “He is very intense and has a lot of energy. He is a great motivator and has a way of bringing the best out of our players. When he corrects them he does it in a positive way and they appreciate that.

“We’ve had our ups and downs in six years, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hud down. He is good at filtering out the bad and focusing on the positive. He is always upbeat, and that builds confidence in the players and coaches.”

As important as it is to have success on the field, Hudspeth also wants his players to be successful in the classroom and in other areas of their lives. He constantly reminds his team that they are representing UNA and that they need to be aware of the example they set.

“They understand that they are expected to do well on and off the field,” Hudspeth said. “Our players are required to sit on the first two rows in classes and are not allowed to miss class. If they d, the penalties are severe.

“When our team goes on the road it is important that we look like a top-notch program with the way we dress and the way we act. We talk a lot about having the proper body language and being respectful of others. We always want people to see us as a class program.”

A college football coach wears many hats. In addition to the on-the-field duties, he handles recruiting, planning, scheduling, speaking engagements and dealing with the academic and personal issues of more than 100 young men.

Hudspeth said he enjoys all the different aspects and challenges of his job, but admits his favorite part is still the hands-on coaching.

“Coaching on the field is by far the best part of my job,” he said. “Being out there on the grass is what I love to do. Unfortunately, it is often the thing I do least.

“Game days are still the biggest thrill for me. We play all our home games at 6 p.m., which is good for our fans, but it just eats me alive waiting all day. I get such a rush from being on the sideline and in the line of fire with our team.”

UNA games at Braly Stadium have become events in recent years. UNA attendance ranked fourth nationally in Division II for 2006, averaging more than 10,000 fans per game.

The pregame atmosphere has no doubt contributed to the great crowds at Braly as students and fans enjoying tailgating and the Lion Walk. The Lion Walk, in which the team gets off the bus and walks through a gauntlet of UNA fans to the locker room has become a big part of the home games.

“The atmosphere at Braly on game day is incredible,” Edenfield said. “There is no other place in the conference like it. Hud always wants game day to be exciting for our fans and our players. That’s one reason kids love to come and play at UNA.”

With all of the success he has experienced at UNA, Hudspeth’s name constantly pops up when coaching jobs come open at bigger schools.

While he is flattered at the interest, Hudspeth said it would take a special job to get him to leave UNA.

“I’ve never actively pursued another head coaching job,” Hudspeth said. “I always figure if you work hard and do a good job, one of two things will happen. Either someone will come after you or the people where you are will want you to stay.

“Just because a school might be Division I-AA doesn’t mean it is a better job. We draw more fans than probably 75 percent of Division I-AA schools. I’ve got a great job with great support here at UNA and I have so many friends in the community. That would make it very hard to leave here. This is a special place and I love coming to work every day.”