Alcorn fires coach again

Coach Ernest T. Jones ends Alcorn State coaching career with 2-10 record.

Ernest T. Jones was fired as Alcorn State’s football coach Tuesday, a year after being hired and three months after an eruption of firings, rehiring and a lawsuit.

In a statement released Tuesday, Alcorn officials said Jones “has been terminated on the grounds of malfeasance and contumacious conduct. The decision was reached following ASU’s fulfillment of due process procedures as indicated under the terms of Jones’ employment contract.” Contumacious is defined as a legal term meaning “obstinately disobedient or insubordinate.” “The decision was what we believed to be the best decision for the campus and our student-athletes. We feel we made the best decision for everyone involved,” Alcorn president Dr. George E. Ross said this morning.

Jones said Tuesday night he would speak with his attorney and make a statement “in a few days.” A university grievance committee rejected Jones’ appeal of his dismissal, bringing another chapter in the coach’s brief tenure at his alma mater to a close. Jones was first reported to have been fired Dec. 11, exactly one year after he was hired and a few days after all of his assistant coaches were fired and then reinstated. In later weeks, Jones sued Alcorn for breach of contract and was reinstated pending an appeal. In the lawsuit, Jones is seeking $3.5 million in damages. He agreed to a three-year, $140,000 per year contract in December 2007, although his lawsuit states he did not sign the contract until last summer and it contained different terms than he had agreed to.

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Dang Soap Opera!! Why leave a true Division I coaching position at Big East Conference Cincinnati to put yourself and family through this HBCU foolishness? Another example why talented Division I football professionals do not seek to place their career in jeopardy by answering the call from MEAC and SWAC football programs. Shame on Alcorn!! The only winner here is Jones' lawyers...They got paid!

-beepbeep

Alcorn Braves pointing up

Excerpts:

Ernest Jones has no problem speaking his mind. Remember, this is the first-year coach who proclaims Alcorn State will compete for a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship this season, despite astonishing odds against it. Jones has tried to combat the losing mentality with high energy and expectations. But he looked at the seat to his right when asked what was most important for on-field success at the SWAC Media Day in Birmingham. Sitting there was senior linebacker Lee Robinson.

"Defense is the strength of our football team," Jones said. "We'll go as far Lee Robinson will carry us, as he'll lead us. The defense is going to have to carry us until the offense catches up." Jones wants to exploit the entire field by playing quicker and getting the ball snapped within seven seconds of it being set in play. He plans to have a 50-50 run-pass ratio and wants to give the defense something to think about with a variety of formations.

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Alcorn looks for success with new coach

LORMAN — Since Ernest Jones was hired as Alcorn State’s football coach last December, the mantra for the program has been, “It’s a new day.” That new day arrives Aug. 30 when the Braves host Southeastern Louisiana at Jack Spinks Stadium.

“I’m chomping at the bit,” Jones said. “I want it to get here, but I’m not in that big of a hurry. We need these days to prepare. We just want to get out there.”

Since Jones was hired, excitement around the Alcorn program has been at a fever pitch. Now, the coach knows his team must produce results on the field to keep the excitement level up. “The fanfare has been very positive,” Jones said. “The alumni and administration are excited and we expect to sell the stadium out on Aug. 30. It’s time for the fans to see something exciting and positive and we plan to give them that.”

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Alcorn Braves planning to aim high

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Anyone paying attention to the Alcorn State football program can tell there's a stark difference between the lively new coach Ernest Jones and his stoic predecessor Johnny Thomas. But as the saying goes, "Talk is cheap." Jones can say all the right things, but if players don't buy what he's selling none of it will matter for a team picked to finish dead last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division.

But when Emmanuel Arceneaux drops the phrase, "It's a new day," in a casual conversation at the Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day in Birmingham, you get the feeling he's been paying attention to the new face of Alcorn football. "It did need to change," said Arceneaux, the team's top returning receiver. "The mindset is the pride and tradition that he's trying to bring back to Alcorn. No disrespect to the former coaches, but they came in and gave a boost of energy. Everything is just fired up."

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