Southern University: Living her dream

Sandy Pugh, Head Women's Basketball Coach
Interim Athletics Director, Southern University

As it turns out, Jessica Thomas ended up where she wanted to be all along.

The senior Northwest girls basketball standout inked a letter of intent to play basketball at Southern University next season Tuesday in the Northwest High library with her family and Lady Raiders coach Latosha Malone on hand.

"It's amazing to be where I am because of all the hard work I've put in and coach Malone helping me out a lot on everything I had to do to get to this point," Thomas said. "I had to do a lot of things, keep my grades maintained and stay focused in school and not worry about anything else."

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Southern's Hall learned by example

Frazier Hall

Baton Rouge, LA - Hard work. It’s something every coach talks about, but something players more often learn by example.

Southern University senior first baseman Frazier Hall first began to grasp the concept of hard work watching his older brother Ben recover from brain tumor surgery a decade ago. Ben was 14 years old when a tumor was discovered in the left temporal lobe of his brain – the location that controls short-term memory.

The Hall family expected Ben to come out of brain surgery as a vegetable, sitting in wheelchair and eating from a tube for the rest of his life, not able to pursue his boyhood dreams of playing football.

“The family wouldn’t accept that so we countered that with absolute prayer and belief,” Hall said.  Miraculously, Ben was not only...

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Early outburst leads SU by UAPB, 15-10

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The Southern baseball team didn’t get a sparkling effort from its pitching staff Friday. But the Jaguars got enough of what they needed — from reliever Daniel Garcia, from its solid defense and from its suddenly potent offense.

In the opener of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division series, Southern erupted for 14 runs in the first four innings and held off Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a 15-10 victory. It was the first time the Jaguars scored 15 or more runs since March 12, when they opened a three-game road series at Prairie View with a 17-5 win.

It was also Southern’s first game with 10 or more runs since March 27, when the team defeated UAPB 10-7 to complete a three-game sweep in Baton Rouge. Frazier Hall, Wilmy Marrero and B.J. Rowry, the Nos. 3-5 hitters, combined to go 8-for-15 with seven RBIs.

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Southern U’s Banks talks with players for first time

Baton Rouge, LA - His day was a virtual parade of handshakes, paperwork and face-to-face meetings with officials at Southern University — but as the sun crept closer to the Mississippi River, Roman Banks had one more important matter to handle Thursday.

It was, he said, the most enjoyable part of his first full day on campus as the new men’s basketball coach. It was, arguably, the most important part of the day. At about 5:30 p.m., he met with his new players. Together, he said, they had to restore pride to a hurting program.

“I remember when Southern, I thought, was one of the best programs in the state,” Banks said later. “I always dreamed of coaching and hopefully having a chance to bring that pride, that enthusiasm back to the (F.G. Clark) Activity Center. ... It always made Southern very appealing to me.”

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Southern University names Banks new head basketball coach

Coach Roman Banks

The Southern University Department of Athletics is proud to announce Roman Banks as its new head men's basketball coach. He will officially take over the men's program on May 1, 2011.

His appointment is conditional, pending confirmation by the Southern University Board of Supervisors at its upcoming meeting on April 29, 2011.

Roman Banks replaces Rob Spivery, who coached the Jaguars from 2005 through this past season.

Banks has served as Southeastern Louisiana University's men's associate head basketball coach the past five years, and spent eight years total on the coaching staff.

Banks comes to Southern with a keen knowledge of the Baton Rouge community and surrounding Ark-La-Tex regions, along with his knowledge of recruiting and game preparation. He was worked extensively on athletic projects, including fundraisers with the community and has coached and lectured at numerous basketball camps throughout the state. He also brings a true knowledge and conception of the game of basketball and what the game brings to the community -- socially as well as economically. He also brings a strong work ethic.

During his tenure in Hammond, Banks was part of a program that produced seven winning seasons (the most of any Division I school in the state of Louisiana) and 140 total wins (second to LSU's 144 wins from 2003-11). He played a vital role in the Lions' defensive effort in 2004-05 as Southeastern finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense (55.8 ppg) and produced the school's first Southland Conference Tournament championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Banks played a key role in the recruitment of several of the Lions' standout players, highlighted by 2005-06 SLC Player of the Year Ricky Woods, along with All-Conference selections Daryl Cohen, Kevyn Green and Terry Bryant.

Regarded as one of the top recruiters in Louisiana, Banks spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Southern University where he served as the Jaguars' chief recruiter. While at Southern, he was responsible for the recruitment of two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Adarrial Smylie and Dionte Harvey, the 1997-98 SWAC Newcomer of the Year.

Banks played basketball at Northwestern State and was the Demons' point guard in their upset win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena. He finished his career as the school's all-time leader in assists while ranking second in steals and seventh in scoring. He led the Demons in four categories as a senior in 1991-92, including a 16.2 scoring average, was named honorable mention All-Southland Conference and was a third-team All-Louisiana selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Banks was named to the All-Southland Conference second team in 1989-90 after averaging 14.7 points and dishing out a career-high 157 assists. He helped the Demons to their first winning season in five years and helped the team establish 23 school records while leading the nation in team scoring, averaging 95.0 points per game.

Banks started his coaching career at Shreveport's Green Oaks High School before spending two years at Southern University-Shreveport, where he was the Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach.

A native of Shreveport, Banks was a three-time All-District 2-4A selection at Captain Shreve High School where he averaged 22.7 points and 7.6 assists as a senior in helping lead the Gators to a 28-7 record.

Banks, a member of the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, is married to the former Tiffaney McCoy, a school teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. They are the parents of two children, a son Tre'lun (15) and a daughter Kennedi (9).

Banks gets Southern men's basketball job

Thursday morning, Roman Banks pulled out of his driveway in Hammond and headed west toward Southern University, where he agreed to become the new men's basketball coach. Along the way, his car might have been on Interstate 12. But at some point, Banks' head started to wander down Memory Lane.

Banks, who has two family members in the SU Hall of Fame, started to think of his days as an assistant there from 1996-2002. There was the time the Jaguars got thumped at Alabama A&M. "They came to us a couple weeks later," he said. "Our guys just put on a clinic. One of our better wins in school history. It was special to me." There was the time in late 1998, when Texas A&M came into the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

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Keys: Southern University Pugh takes on a tough assignment

Southern Interim Athletic Director Sandy Pugh

Baton Rouge, LA - Monday afternoon, less than a week into her new role as the interim athletic director at Southern University, Sandy Pugh was all smiles. Above her head, sunlight poked through a field of fast-moving clouds. All around her, trees swayed in a strong breeze. What a day it was.

“I want people to believe some fantastic things are getting ready to happen,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day here at Southern.”

Lately, fewer and fewer people are able to share Pugh’s sunny disposition. Who could blame them? After all, this has been the wildest, most disturbing year in the history of Southern athletics. The football team posted its worst record ever, going 2-9. The men’s basketball team posted its worst record ever for the third straight year, going 4-26, and coach Rob Spivery was fired.

Southern University seeks to fill the athletic director position quickly

Baton Rouge, LA — To borrow a phrase from the sports teams it presides over, Southern’s athletic department has lost some big names, and the work of replacing them must now begin.

Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was let go from his post last week after being arrested for allegedly soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was in Houston scouting potential hires for the men’s basketball team after the firing of former coach Rob Spivery following a 4-26 season.

“Given the circumstances, I think it would be difficult for the university to move forward with Mr. LaFleur as the head of the athletic program,” Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said in a release last week.

The decision leaves Southern with two big positions to fill.

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Southern University fires Greg LaFleur; Coach Sandy Pugh recommended as interim athletics director

SU's Interim Athletics Director Sandy Pugh

BATON ROUGE, LA – Southern University Chancellor Kofi Lomotey today (4/6/2011) dismissed Athletic Director Greg LaFleur. He will recommend to the university's Board of Supervisors that Lady Jaguar Basketball Coach Sandy Pugh become the interim athletic director.

LaFleur’s dismissal comes after his arrest for allegedly soliciting a prostitute in Houston, Texas.

“This decision was reached after consultation with campus and system administrators. We think the decision is in the best interest of Southern University,” Lomotey said.

The chancellor praised LaFleur for his guidance of Southern University athletics during tough economic times and coaching changes. “I appreciate his effort and the hard work he put in during some difficult situations,” Lomotey said. “I speak for the rest of my staff in wishing him well.”

Lomotey said his decision to fire LaFleur is one that had to be made and made quickly for the stability of Southern's athletic program. “Given the circumstances, I think it would be difficult for the university to move forward with Mr. LaFleur as the head of the athletic program,” he said.

“I think that bringing Sandy Pugh into the job provides us with someone who has done a great job of recruiting student athletes, who is a rising star in her profession and who commands respect immediately,” the chancellor said.

“Her presence and background will be invaluable in guiding our athletic department over the next several weeks and especially next week during crucial meetings with representatives from the NCAA,” Lomotey said.

Coach Pugh has brought the Lady Jaguar basketball program to an unprecedented level of prominence in her 11-year tenure. She presently serves on the Top 25 Coaches poll. Her teams have been to four NCAA Tournaments, two WNIT appearances and have won four regular season Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships, as well as having produced the only player ever drafted from the SWAC into the WNBA.

“But more importantly,” Lomotey said, “her teams have consistently averaged an APR score well above the standard.”

Lomotey said the University will launch a nationwide search for a new athletic director. “The person hired will come into the job with the full support of the campus, administration and the Jaguar Nation,” he said. “That person will be expected to help our coaches attract and graduate the best student-athletes available.”



by Southern University Media Relations

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Southern U blasts three home runs in win

UPDATED ALERT, 10:15 a.m: Southern cancels news conference set to address athletic director LaFleur


Three days after Greg LaFleur was arrested on a misdemeanor prostitution count in downtown Houston, Southern University called a news confernece “to address” its athletic director’s situation but canceled it Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the athletic department.

A statement will be released by the university on LaFleur, accoridng to the release.

SU blasts three home runs in win

NEW IBERIA, LA — Perhaps the Southern University baseball team should find a way to face Nicholls State on a neutral site every year. Tuesday night at Acadian Ballpark, the Jaguars got a solid effort from starting pitcher Belfred “T.J.” Pryer and rallied for four late-inning runs en route to a 6-4 victory.

“We took care of business tonight,” SU coach Roger Cador said.

It was Southern’s second win in as many seasons over the Colonels in a ballpark that didn’t serve as either team’s primary home. Last spring, the Jaguars dropped Nicholls 8-5 at Southland Field in Houma. Nicholls was the designated home team in both games.

Boxscore: SU 6, Nicholls State 4

Attorney: APR cited in firing of Spivery

Southern University believes it does not have to pay the remainder of Rob Spivery’s contract because the coach oversaw a men’s basketball program that had a low Academic Progress Rate, Spivery’s attorney said Tuesday afternoon.

The attorney, Donald Dobbins, said he doesn’t believe low APR scores constitute a breach of contract. Dobbins contended that maintaining and improving APR is the responsibility of an athletic department, not a coach.

News conference set to address LaFleur

Three days after Greg LaFleur was arrested on a misdemeanor prostitution count in downtown Houston, Southern University will hold a news conference on campus “to address” its athletic director’s situation, according to a release late Tuesday from the athletic department.

The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, the release said.

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Southern University AD Greg LaFleur arrested, Southern releases statement

HOUSTON, TX  - Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur has been arrested in Houston for prostitution. According to the police report, Greg LaFleur, 52, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in Houston for solicitation of a prostitute.

The prosecutor's office in Harris County characterizes the case as "straight sex for pay," because the police report says LaFleur picked up a female for sex. According to the police report, the female he picked up happened to be an undercover police officer.

The former LSU and NFL football player was booked on a misdemeanor charge by Houston Police, with bond set at $500 according to court records.



Ex-NFL player and Southern A.D. arrested for solicitation

It’s been a wacky couple of days for NFL arrests, with Mike Vrabel’s beer heist almost topping Louis Murphy’s Viagra adventure for sheer ridiculousness. Now even ex-NFL players want to get in on the act.

The Associated Press notes that Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur is free on bond after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was a third-round pick of the Eagles who played for the Rams for six seasons.

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Spivery out at Southern University

 Spivery leaves the Jaguars with a 37-87 career record, an
 NCAA APR score of  847 and a two scholarships loss.

Southern University has decided to fire men’s basketball coach Rob Spivery — though that’s hardly news to him. The university released a brief statement late Friday afternoon that said Spivery will be terminated effective April 21.

The statement also revealed for the first time that the university informed Spivery of its decision on March 18, eight days after a face-to-face meeting between Spivery and SU Athletic Director Greg LaFleur to discuss the direction of the program. The news release, in its entirety, reads:

“Rob Spivery’s tenure as head basketball coach at Southern University and A&M College will end April 21.

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Tulane women's basketball team routs Southern 61-31 in WNIT

No point for Tulane to sit back and let its WNIT opener against Southern become competitive. The Green Wave swarmed the Jaguars with a full-court press from the onset.

Any lethargic Tulane tendencies the Green Wave might be expected to have after not earning an NCAA Tournament bid never appeared.

Tulane’s pesky defense helped it cruise to a 61-31 win over Southern on Thursday night at Fogelman Arena. The Green Wave will take on Oral Roberts, who defeated TCU, in Tulsa, Okla. either on Saturday or Sunday at 4 p.m.

Missing the women’s NCAA tournament is still a sore spot for tguard Olivia Grayson, who scored a team-high 12 points and still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Tulane Women's Hoops Rolls Past Southern In WNIT Opener, 61-31

NEW ORLEANS - Sophomore Olivia Grayson had 12 points and the Green Wave defense forced 22 turnovers as the Tulane University women's basketball team defeated Southern, 61-31, in the opening round of the 2011 WNIT Thursday evening in Fogelman Arena.

The Wave used its press to tally 12 steals - the 15th double-digit steal outing of the year and the most by the team since having 16 thefts at SMU on Feb. 3 - while limiting the Lady Jaguars to a 16.9 field goal percentage (12-of-71). With the win, Tulane improves to 23-10 on the year and advances to take on Oral Roberts in the second round of the WNIT on Monday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla. Southern, meanwhile, concludes its 2010-11 season at 20-12.

Tulane routs SU in WNIT

NEW ORLEANS – Southern’s stay in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament was over almost before it began as an epidemic of missed shots and turnovers doomed the Jaguars in the first half of a 61-31 loss to Tulane in the first round Thursday night at Fogelman Arena.

Both teams were sloppy offensively at the outset, but the Green Wave (23-10) gradually got a handle on things. Southern (20-12) never did as it finished with its lowest point total of the season, falling short of an 85-36 loss at Miami on Nov. 29. The Jaguars made just 12-of-71 shots (16.9 percent), including 3-for-35 (8.6 percent) in the first half, and committed 22 turnovers.

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Southern University Releases 2011 Football Schedule

Jaguars face stiff 2011 slate

Stump Mitchell, quite naturally, wants to win more than two games in his second season as Southern University’s football coach. Apparently, his team won’t grow fat on weak opponents. SU’s schedule for 2011 includes three games in NFL stadiums, home games against big rivals and a first month that looks like a doozy.

Southern opens its season in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.

After that, the Jaguars face Alabama A&M and Jackson State on back-to-back Saturdays, followed by an appearance at the Georgia Dome in the Atlanta Football Classic, against an opponent to be announced later (Florida A&M University Rattlers).

Southern University Jagaurs 2011 Football Schedule

September
3 Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn.
10 Alabama A&M Baton Rouge
17 Jackson State Baton Rouge
24 Florida A&M Atlanta Football Classic Atlanta
October
1 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss.
8 Prairie View Baton Rouge

15 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, Ark.

22 Open

29 Alcorn State Baton Rouge

November

5 at Texas Southern Houston

12 at Alabama State Montgomery, Ala.

19 Open

26 Grambling New Orleans

A week-by-week look at SU's football schedule

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Mitchell hoping effort pays off for Southern Jaguars

Less than three months after his first season ended with a 2-9 record, Stump Mitchell said he knew his second recruiting class had to count for quite a lot. This time around, his program couldn’t afford to whiff.

Mitchell, who introduced 17 new recruits to a crowd of faithful fans Wednesday night at the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union, said he wanted the complete package among this year’s signees — players who weren’t just ready for college football, but those who were coming to campus with a lofty grade-point average.

After all, he said, student-athletes aren’t worth much to a football program if they can’t remain students.

SU’s Mitchell re-recruiting former players

Second-year coach Stump Mitchell was, without much doubt, pleased with his second class of recruits at Southern University, which included 17 signees. But there’s another piece to a potential turnaround at SU, which posted a 2-9 record — the worst in school history — in Mitchell’s first season.

It was almost as important, Mitchell said, to re-recruit some players who are already on campus — former SU veterans who were academically ineligible last season.

The Official List of 2011 Southern U. Football Signees

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Late defensive stand ends Alcorn's four-game slide

LORMAN, MS — Alcorn State accomplished what it needed to Saturday against Southern University by snapping a four-game losing skid. But the game ended up being much closer than Alcorn would have liked.With just one touchdown in the second half, the Braves survived a late Jaguars surge with a last-minute defensive stop to escape with a 27-20 win.

“A win is a win is a win, and I’ll take it any way I can, but (we still made) mistakes,” Braves head coach Earnest Collins said. “Today, the difference in the mistakes we made the last few weeks is, we had a better defense out there to make up for it.”

Jags just short again

LORMAN, Miss. — Four yards.

On a beautiful sun-drenched afternoon in the Mississippi woods, after Southern had made so many mistakes, fallen asleep and fallen 24 points behind Alcorn State in the second half of yet another college football game to remember, the late-arriving, late-thriving Jaguars found themselves 4 yards away from a game-tying touchdown.

With less than a minute remaining in the Braves’ 27-20 thriller of a victory, both teams lined up for the most crucial play of all.Southern, still searching for its first big win under a new coaching staff, faced a fourth-and-goal at the 4.

Joseph comes alive in second half

LORMAN, Miss. — In the first half, he hurried throws, scrambled away from trouble, and watched as his receivers dropped a handful of on-the-money passes.

This was not how Southern quarterback Dray Joseph envisioned his first college start. Early on, in a heartbreaking, down-to-the-wire 27-20 loss at Alcorn State on Saturday, Joseph looked exactly like what he was: A true freshman who wanted to win it all by himself.

“He just had to calm down,” SU quarterbacks coach Ted White said. “He’s played in a couple games, but he still hasn’t had a lot of snaps. Until you get in there, in real live action, that’s when your experience starts to gather.”

Revitalized running game

LORMAN, Miss. — A renewed focus on the rushing game, and contributions from untapped sources played key roles for Alcorn State on Saturday afternoon at Jack Spinks Stadium.

Terrance Lewis and Jaquez Caldwell each scored touchdowns as Alcorn State held off a late Southern rally en route to a 27-20 win.

Before this week, Lewis had primarily played wide receiver while Caldwell had seen most of his action at running back, but those things changed against Southern.

Alcorn holds off late Southern rally, wins 27-20

Alcorn State jumped to a 24-point third quarter lead, then held off a frantic Southern comeback for a 27-20 Southwestern Athletic Conference win Saturay at Lorman, Mississippi.A fourth-and-goal pass by Southern's Dray Joseph got the Jaguars down to the Alcorn 1-yard line in the game's last minute, but fullback Lee Mitchell was tackled just short of tying the game.

Alcorn (4-4, 3-3 in the SWAC) led 27-3 after Terrance Lewis' 1-yard touchdown run with 10:26 left in the third quarter. But the Jaguars (2-6, 1-5) stormed back with a 5-yard touchdown run by Sylvester Nzekwe, a 22-yard field goal by William Griswold, who also kicked a 49-yarder in the first quarter, and a 54-yard run by Corey Cushingberry.

Attendance: 18,075

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Southern University Human Jukebox vs. Jackson State University Sonic Boom (10/16/10)

SU marching band struggles to attend away games

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The Southern University's marching band, known as the Human Jukebox, is world-famous for its smooth sounds and high-stepping moves. But budget cuts have limited the band from traveling to away games with the football team.

Southern University was forced to cut the band's entire travel fund of about $120,000 because of state-wide budget cuts. The campus shaved nearly $18 million dollars from its budget this year. The band has been absent from both away games this season, and the Human Jukebox will likely miss even more.

"When you see the Human Jukebox, it's like no other experience someone can experience," said Lawrence Jackson, director. "There will be good music, good marching, and a good show. There's no business like show business."



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Southern tries to regroup from defeat

First-year Southern head football coach Stump Mitchell has covered a wide range of emotions in just two weeks of the Jaguars' season. He experienced the thrill of a come-from-behind win in the season's first week against Delaware State. On Saturday, he got the opposite feeling as his team lost to NCAA Division II member Arkansas-Monticello at home.

"We had a bunch of mental mistakes in that ballgame," Mitchell said Monday. "It cost us. "It was the second week in a row we also had a special teams breakdown. We had a punt returned against us for a touchdown which put the defense in a bad position and we were inefficient in the red zone. We got down there a couple of times and were not able to score. As a result, we ended up losing that ballgame, 31-7."

State Roundup: Ark.-Monticello breezes past Southern

BATON ROUGE — Johnny Polite rushed for two touchdowns and Jywin Ceasar scored on a 94-yard punt return to help Arkansas-Monticello beat Southern University 31-7 on Saturday night. The Boll Weevils (1-1) jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on Polite's 2-yard rushing score, Ceasar's punt return for a touchdown and a 1-yard touchdown by Nakita Myles.

Scott Buisson led Arkansas-Monticello with 101 yards rushing on 13 carries. He also completed 9 of 15 passes for 164 yards. Polite finished with 37 yards rushing on 11 attempts.

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SU's Nzekwe answers the call

ORLANDO, Fla. — During a long, hot offseason, first-year Southern coach Stump Mitchell famously said he thought Gary Hollimon might lead the nation in rushing. As it turns out, Mitchell may have picked the wrong guy.

In Mitchell’s wild debut, a walk-on — sophomore running back Sylvester Nzekwe — came off the bench to lead all players with 98 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 37-27 comeback victory against Delaware State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

It was the first time in his college career Nzekwe played with the offense in a meaningful moment; all last season, the Seattle native played almost entirely on special teams. Sunday, with a national ESPN audience watching, voters selected Nzekwe as the Jagaurs’ team MVP.

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Southern defenders ready to deliver big hits

Over the years, the nickname has changed.

Players used to call them “bone crushers.” Then they were “slobber-knockers.” Nowadays, it’s called a “de-cleater.” That’s the trendy term for a big hit. By any name, Southern linebacker Corey Ray said, the big hit is a surefire sign that preseason camp has shifted into a higher gear. It’s just a shame, Ray said, that de-cleaters have been in short supply so far.

“On defense, that’s what we live for. That’s what we want,” Ray said. “Any situation calls for a de-cleater. You know what I mean?” Most players seem to. The Jaguars have practiced eight times since players reported for camp Aug. 3 — and while SU’s coaching staff often tells players to stay on their feet, that doesn’t always happen. Every so often, during team drills, they sneak in a noteworthy lick.

“For the most part, I’m pleased with how physical we’ve been,” first-year coach Stump Mitchell said. “On both sides of the ball, we will be a more physical football team than what people have seen at Southern over the past few years. I like that. That’s what I want.”

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SU Jaguars’ practice pace faster this year

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle: When the sun comes up, you’d better be running.

—origin unknown

Every so often, during the first three days of preseason football camp at Southern University, players placed their hands on their hips between periods, then strolled to various spots on the practice fields. The coaching staff was not impressed. Take, for example, Friday afternoon’s session. About halfway through, when too many players straggled on their way to team drills, the squad got a quick, blunt and alarmingly loud reminder from first-year coach Stump Mitchell and his assistants.

In so many words, the message went like this:

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