LORMAN — Alcorn State head football coach Jay Hopson has been named one of 20 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Football Championship Subdivision Coach of the Year award, according to a school press release.

In his second season at the helm of the Braves’ program, Hopson led Alcorn to a 9-3 overall record, 7-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, including a 48-33 win against archrival Jackson State this past weekend. Hopson went 4-7, 4-5 in his first season as the Braves’ head coach in 2012.

“It’s certainly an honor, but I give all the credit to the players and assistant coaches,” Hopson said. “Everything is team-related.”

Hopson went on to say he was proud of his team for what it accomplished this year, especially what they accomplished later in the season, when the Braves finished 6-1 in their final seven games.

“We really competed hard, and it was a good year,” Hopson said. “Everything in football is a process. We have a system, and those guys went to work right away and did the things we asked them to do. We have some outstanding young men, and it’s just a joy to go to work every day. I’m truly blessed.”

Hopson said the Braves will go to work in the offseason with their last memory being a good one — the big win against Jackson State.

“Every year, that is the game,” Hopson said. “It being the last game of the year, you get to enjoy it a little bit longer than during the season, when you only get to enjoy it for four hours before you’re getting ready for the next opponent.”

The winner of the Eddie Robinson award will be announced at The Sports Network’s annual FCS awards banquet Dec. 16 in Philadelphia.