Thursday, February 7, 2008

Coach Billy Joe's Miles College Golden Bears signs 12 football student-athletes

Photo: College Football Hall of Fame coach William "Billy" Joe, Miles College.

I know, I know--NCAA Division II Miles College is not a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Golden Bears are a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), where former FAMU head football coach William "Billy" Joe is in his first season as Papa Bear.

This hall of fame coach has been our long time favorite coach, especially when it comes to recruiting philosophy and his ability to snatch a blue chip player or two.

Coach Joe will be one of five persons enshrined into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame during a reception on Thursday, March 13, 2008 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Joe has always be an entertaining ball coach, doing the unthinkable like coaching from the Press Box or saving scholarships for the late July rush of Division I transfers to help his teams. It will be interesting to look in on Coach Joe from time to time, to see how he's doing and his success in rebuilding the Miles College Bears.

Billy Joe signed 12 players on national signing day. The surprise was he nabbed (transfers) former Florida A&M University players Richard Koonce, OT, 6-7/315, Lantana, FL; Dan Henderson, OG, 6-4/330 Columbus, OH; and Carlton Hill, QB, 6-4/210, University of South Florida, Monticello, FL. These guys will be starters in Coach Joe explosive no huddle spread offense and are Division I level players.

Also signed were:

1. Josh Maxwell OC 6-3/305 Nashville, TN Stratford High School Accomplishments: All Region, All Metro and Rival Top 50

2. Steven Randlerson LB 6-0/205 Lake Worth FL Lake Worth High School, Accomplishments: All Area and All Star.

3. Lucius Wade, Jr. RB 5-8/161 Monticello FL Jefferson Co. High School Accomplishments: 2007 All State All Star.

4. DeMarcus Starks QB 6-3/190, Midfield AL Midfield High School,
Accomplishments: 2007 All Metro

5. Cedric Pendeleton OL 6-2/300 Jackson, MS Hinds C.C.

6. Aquantis Mobbley DB 5-10 180 Monticello, FL Gulf Coast C.C.

7. John Wilson DE 6-3 210 Graceville, FL Edward Waters College

8. Larry Johnson DE 6-3 250 Clinton MD West Hill C.C.

9. Justin Chapman OLB 5-9 210 College Park, GA Banneker High School
Accomplishments: Carter School Record, 367 Tackles All Region and All SW Metro
Have you noticed that Michael Strahan and Coach Joe both won Super Bowls with teams that were not given a prayer of a chance of winning. Coach Joe played on the 1969 Jets that won Super Bowl III with Joe Namath at quarterback, who guaranteed the win due to the lack of respect given by Baltimore Colts fans. Sounds familiar--so is the gap that Strahan and Joe's have in their similes. When they smile, you cannot help it but smile too, which is great for the soul. They both have a tremendous sense of humor that will keep you laughing.

The 67 year old coach has a game scheduled with 1-AA new Southern Conference member Samford University on September 6, 2008. Let the Coach Billy Joe era begin or better, the scheduled opponents should get ready for some major beat downs given by the Miles College Golden Bears and the second winningest coach in HBCU football history.

-beepbeep

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