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28 NWA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.29.2021 ERICK TAYLOR ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach Doc Gamble has seen what's been written about the Golden Lions after they won their first division title in nine years last spring, and he's heard the chatter about their chances of making it back to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game this fall. But the Cincinnati native isn't ready to immerse himself in any of it. To him, it's all a matter of opinion. What Gamble is ready to engage in is the fact that his expectations for the Golden Lions are as high as they've ever been since he joined the team as an assistant in 2018. "The expectation from here on out is to win every game that's on the schedule," he said. "Our guys know that, our staff knows that, anybody that joins us will know that. If [a game] is on the schedule, we want to play it. And not only do we want to play it, we want to win it." Winning has been the driving force for UAPB over the past two seasons. After suffering through a six-year stretch of losing records from 2013-18, the Golden Lions posted a 6-5 mark in 2019 before going 4-1 earlier this year during an unprecedented spring season. That taste of success now has UAPB aiming for more, particularly a league title. With 19 returning starters, 10 of whom were named preseason All-SWAC, the Golden Lions are in position to a make a strong run at that conference crown. "Aw man, we're just excited about this year," junior linebacker Isaac Peppers said. "Too excited to be honest. We want to get to that SWAC Championship Game again. Shoot, I wish it was December already." Peppers' feelings toward Dec. 4 – the date of the conference's title matchup – are shared unanimously by his teammates, but they're all aware their journey toward that day started not long after they walked off the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss., on May 1. The Golden Lions watched an eight- point halftime lead evaporate in a 40-33 loss to Alabama A&M in the SWAC final. Afterward, Gamble said he believed his team would be back in that spot in seven months, with their preparation to do so starting as soon as they boarded the bus back to Pine Bluff. "The best motivation can come in the worst times," Peppers said. "We're motivated to get better every day. Even when [the SWAC] picked us to finish second to last in the West this year, we still put ourselves first. It's what we think about ourselves, that's what matters to us." UAPB will flash experience at every position on the field, especially on offense. Junior quarterback Skyler Perry was second in the SWAC in passing yards (1,236) and touchdown passes (13) in the spring. According to Gamble, the left- handed signal-caller is ready to build off that production. "Skyler's doing well," he said. "He's a winner, and he's proven that. He was the first guy back on campus [this summer]. [Administrators] told them they couldn't move back in until a Monday, and he showed up on a Saturday. I said, 'What are you doing here?' He said, 'Coach, I had to get back.' " Perry will have plenty of guys to throw to, starting with all-league wideouts Josh Wilkes (25 catches, 341 yards, 6 TD) and Tyrin Ralph (24 catches, 307 yards., 1 TD). Wide receiver DeJuan Miller, who was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2018 after catching 56 passes for 801 yards and 6 touchdowns, is also back, as are all five starting offensive linemen, led by junior tackle Mark Smith. The only true question mark UAPB has on an offensive unit that ranked fourth in the conference in scoring with 34.8 points per game is running back. UAPB NOT LISTENING TO OUTSIDE EXPECTATIONS Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell Doc Gamble will lead the Golden Lions into the 2021 season after serving as an assistant coach since 2018. Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell UAPB's defense will rely on Isaac Peppers (53), a second-team All-SWAC linebacker, to solve Alabama A&M's high-powered offense.