No NAIA pushover

After playing its first two games on the road, UAPB is set for its home opener Saturday when it takes on Langston (1-0) at 6 p.m. The last time the Golden Lions faced a team from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, they walked away with an easy 550 victory over Cumberland (Tenn.), during Week 2 last season.

Though it may appear UAPB will again be playing down to the competition, Thomas isn’t about to allow his Golden Lions to approach the contest that way.

“I can just pull all of the NAIA and Division II teams that we’ve lost to in the last four or five years,” he said. “History will repeat itself if we feel like we’re in position to take anybody lightly. We lost to Morehouse, lost to a couple of schools in Oklahoma in years past, and some of these seniors were on those teams.

“We’re in no position to take anybody light.”

UAPB last lost to an NAIA school in 2016 when Oklahoma Panhandle State strolled into Pine Bluff and left with a victory. Thomas doesn’t expect Langston to be intimidated, particularly because of how well the Lions have fared against bigger opponents.

Langston, ranked No. 14 in the NAIA top 25, played SWAC member Southern tough before falling 33-18 last season in a game that was called in the third quarter because of lightning. The Lions also took down Division II members Lincoln and Lane in 2017.

“Coach [Quinton Morgan] is doing a great job with that program on that level,” Thomas said. “They played Southern tough so we’ve got to be ready to play, and that’s on us as a coaching staff. Our kids aren’t good enough to take anybody for granted.

“We’ve got some things that we’re going to show them and say ‘hey look, if you don’t come out, prepare and put yourselves in position to be successful, then we’ll be crying when it’s over.’”