LORMAN, Miss. (AP) - Coach Jay Hopson is completely aware that his hiring at Alcorn State is historic. He's just too busy to worry about it.

The first white football coach in the historically black Southwestern Athletic Conference is trying to rebuild a program that finished with a 2-8 record last year and has had five coaches in six seasons.

The 43-year-old Hopson was a well-traveled defensive assistant before landing at Alcorn State, working at places like Mississippi, LSU, Florida, Michigan and most recently Memphis.

Hopson grew up in nearby Vicksburg, Miss., and is quite familiar with the history of the SWAC, a collection of schools in Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Together, they've produced some of the greatest football players ever, including Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Alcorn's own Steve McNair.