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Photo: Jacksonville JAM head coach Mike Gillespie has better days ahead in professional basketball.
The JAM will have a new head coach in Mike Gillespie, who brings strong credentials, albeit with some recent off-the-court issues. Gillespie has a 33-year coaching resume, including the past six as head coach of Florida A&M University.
Gillespie's squad made the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and 2007, but he was fired in August following a May arrest on stalking charges. In September, Gillespie reached a plea agreement for one year of probation.
"[Florida A&M] made a decision. I certainly didn't agree with the decision," Gillespie said. "I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to coach this year and coach the JAM and I hope to be here for a long, long time."
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Like most, its tough watching minor league/developmental league basketball when you can flip the channel on any given evening and catch an NBA game. However, you may want to pay attention to the Jacksonville JAM and other Premier Basketball League teams (PBL) this season.
Mike Gillespie is a good coach that can motivate a team to reach its potential.
He has snared former Florida A&M University players Brian Greene, 6-5 guard; and Terrance Woods, 6-3 shooting guard that blows the lights out on three pointers. Former Mississippi Valley State University 7'-0" center/forward Ronald Alexander will anchor the post for the JAM.
Last month, former NBA star and TNT analyst Kenny Smith took the job as commissioner of the new league. Smith on board says there is potential in this league to expand in minor markets.
The PBL season opens tonight, so let's see how this develops for Gillespie and the former MEAC/SWAC players attempting to make it to the National Basketball Association.
The Jam will now tip-off their second season at the University of North Florida. WJXE TV-15 will now broadcast all of the JAM games throughout the season for both home and road games.
The Jacksonville JAM successfully launched its inaugural season in the 2006-2007 American Basketball Association season. With a 28-8 record, a Southeast Division Championship and a number two ranking nationally in the final regular season ABA power rankings, the JAM emerged on the scene as a premier sports and entertainment organization.
HAMPTON - There's a new man in charge of Hampton University football, but little else appears to have changed. Jerry Holmes said Thursday during his introduction as the Pirates' coach that his primary goal is to build on the success of departing coach Joe Taylor.
The biggest change on the horizon is a first-ever game against a Division I-A opponent, perhaps as early as 2009. HU athletic director Lonza Hardy listed several schools he's interested in contacting: Duke, North Carolina, Army and Navy.
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Why the change of philosophy by Hampton University to schedule "money games" with Football Bowl Subdivision (D-1A) teams? This did not happen during Joe Taylor's 16 years over the Pirates program, nor does it happen often in Hampton University basketball program. Is Hardy beginning to assert himself as athletic director?
The above mention schools are at the same difficulty level of a Princeton or Southern Illinois at the FCS level; so, why not get paid $250,000 for a road game with them, as we don't expect that Hampton with be seeing the FCS playoffs anytime soon. Before Hamptonites get upset with our statement, let us provide our rationale.
It's the Joe Taylor factor--recruits and D-I transfers want to play for Coach Taylor, not the other guy. Expect the blue chip talent to take the detour to North Florida henceforth, and become Florida A&M University Rattlers.
Hampton without Joe Taylor is like Burger King without the Whooper.
Photo: Oby Okafor recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Morehead State University. The 5-9 junior forward from Rolla, Missouri Rolla High School is majoring is Psychology.
Tennessee State shot better than 50 percent from the field Thursday night to help capture a 74-62 win over Morehead State in the Gentry Center. With the win the Lady Tigers move to 5-7 (2-1 OVC) while the Eagles drop to 3-10 (1-4 OVC).
Oby Okafor picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kendra Appling also posted 20 points and just missed her first career double-double with nine boards. Tiffany Jackson nearly recorded a double-double as well with 18 points and nine rebounds.
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Photo: #11 TSU Bruce Price, 6-3/205 junior guard, Minneapolis, Minnesota South High School.
A second-half rally by the Morehead State men fell short as the Tennessee State Tigers defeated the Eagles, 59-53, Thursday evening at the Gentry Center in Nashville. The Tigers continued their domination on defense to clap down on the MSU Eagles, holding the team to only 36 percent shooting for the game. This improved the Tigers record to 5-7, 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference, but more importantly continued the win streak began with TSU upset of Illinois 60-58 on Sunday.
Both teams started the game slowly, with Morehead scoring the first basket at the 18:30 mark of the game. The Eagles gained their biggest lead 7-4 with 14:30 left in the first half but TSU moved ahead 8-7 with 12:17 left. After an 8-8 tie (11:07) the Tigers took control of the half and took a 28-18 lead into the half.
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From a fan perspective, the Tigers do just enough on offense to win but their defense is beginning to jell into championship form.
City officials say they plan to aggressively court the 2009 MEAC men's and women's basketball tournaments, which are seeking a new home after Raleigh, N.C., declined to renew its contract with the league.
Norfolk has bid to host the tournaments twice previously; Mayor Paul Fraim said Wednesday that the city would do so again. Although the MEAC hasn't officially told the city it is seeking bids, he said he asked John Rhamstine, director of the city's cultural facilities, to begin preparing one Wednesday.
MEAC commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said the league is seeking bids and that "information is going out as we speak" to prospective cities, including Norfolk. "I think Norfolk is a tremendous city, a very progressive city," he said. "We look forward to their bid."
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Photo: Cliff Tucker and the Terrapins forced 24 Savannah State Tigers turnovers, and scored 33 points off of them.
Last night, the Terrapins gave their coach proof that they deserve a piece of their identity back. Four starters scored in double figures and the Terrapins asserted their dominance with several big blocks in a 75-48 victory over Savannah State at Comcast Center.
The Terrapins (8-6) forced the over matched Tigers (7-12) into 24 turnovers, converting the miscues into 33 points, eliminating any chance that Maryland's only non-televised game of the season would be competitive.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors – Chairman Ronald Mason Jr. – has announced the selection of Duer Sharp as the new Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Sharp will replace Robert Vowels Jr. as commissioner.
Commissioner Sharp, who assumes his duties immediately, joined the SWAC staff in January 2004 as an assistant commissioner. He was promoted to associate commissioner in June 2005, coordinating the football championship and basketball tournament as well as managing the day-to-day operations of the SWAC office.
The 38-year-old Sharp’s duties also included the enforcement of SWAC and NCAA policies for 18 intercollegiate sports. He also has served as the interim athletic director at Grambling State.
“I am honored and excited to lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and I am grateful to the Council of Presidents and Chancellors for giving me this opportunity to be a part of the exciting future of the SWAC,” Sharp said.
Vowels stepped down in June to become vice president for educational services with the NCAA.
From October 2005 to June 2006 Sharp was the interim athletics director at Grambling State University.
Prior to joining the SWAC, Sharp spent six years as a sports management administrator at the Big Ten Conference. During that time Sharp worked with a number of coaches and administrative groups as a staff liaison.
Sharp received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Afro-American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a four-year starter for the Badger football team (1988-1991). He was the recipient of Jay Seiler award for team leadership and was the recipient of Kappa Alpha Psi Tom W. Shick Scholarship awarded for intellectual vigor, concern for social justice and equality.
Kindell Stephens, a longtime prominent Tennessee State athletics department employee, died Wednesday after a lengthy illness.
Stephens, 64, celebrated his 30th year at TSU last summer. He spent many years as the Tigers' sports information director and radio broadcaster and was a standout basketball player at Fisk University.
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Photo: NCCU Eagles received tough introduction to Mid-American Conference basketball at WMU on Wednesday.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan opened up 2008 by holding North Carolina Central to 30-percent shooting en route to a 79-43 defeat of the Eagles in front of 2,832 fans at University Arena on Wednesday night.
Sophomore gaurd David Kool led the Broncos (6-7) with a game-high 17 points and hit a career-high five three-pointers. Kool also set a career-high with 11 three point attempts. Junior forward Derek Drews pitched in 13 points and senior center Joe Reitz scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Junior point gaurd Mike Redell scored seven points and dished out a career-high 10 assists to notch only the 10th double-digit assist game in Western Michigan history. Sophomore center Donald Lawson tied a career high with six rebounds and set a new career high with five blocked shots. Junior guard Andre Ricks scored all seven of his points in the second half. All 12 players saw at least four minutes on the court and 11 scored to give WMU a 27-6 advantage in points off the bench.
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The North Carolina Central Eagles season record is now 1-18 in their first season of NCAA Division I basketball. The Eagles next will visit East Carolina at 7 p.m. Saturday.
EASTON, Pa. - Junior Cristin Zavocki made Lafayette history with eight three-pointers in the Leopards' 83-62 rout of Morgan State on Wednesday night. The eight three-pointers were the most scored by a Lafayette women's basketball player in program history while her 26 total points were a career-high.
Morgan State responded by scoring 12 unanswered points to cut the lead to 12 (63-51) with 8:23 on the clock. Zavocki responded by scoring five straight points and the lead stood at 18 (74-56) after yet another Zavocki three-pointer with 4:40 remaining.
The Lady Bears found themselves trailing by 20 (80-60) after a LaKeisha Wright jumper with under three minutes to play. The Leopards took a game-high 21-point lead after a free throw by sophomore Amanda Leone and went on to the 83-62 win.
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HAMPTON - Events unfolded so quickly and unexpectedly last Saturday that Hampton University football fans barely have had time to process them. Joe Taylor departed for Florida A&M after 16 seasons as the Pirates' coach, and Hampton defensive coordinator Jerry Holmes ascended to head coach.
So the questions linger. Who is this Jerry Holmes guy now in charge of black-college football's most successful program? Does he have what it takes to follow in the beloved Taylor's footsteps?
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Photo: BCU 5-9 freshman guard Demetria Frank, Miami Jackson Senior High School, dished six assists and scored 16 points.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Wofford College (8-4) needed an extra five minutes, but the Terriers took advantage of the additional time to pull away for an 83-71 triumph Wednesday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action against Bethune-Cookman inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena in Spartanburg, S.C. The contest was the first overtime tilt for both schools this season.
Natasha Ferguson led the 3-9 Wildcats and all players with 20 points and 12 caroms. She was one of two Bethune-Cookman players with a double-double, as Keturah Newkirk added 18 points and 10 boards. Demetria Frank finished with 16 points and a team-high six assists.
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Photo: Denise Tate #40, 6-1 junior forward from Cleveland, Ohio Glenville High School grabbed seven rebounds against the Florida Lady Gators. Tate is a FAMU Pharmacy major.
Gainesville, FL - Junior center Aneika Henry (Coconut Grove, Fla.) grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds and blocked a personal-best six shots to lead a defensive charge that sparked the University of Florida women’s basketball team to a 71-51 win over Florida A&M at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Wednesday evening.
Junior guard Stephanie Foster led FAMU with 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting, while senior guard Q’Vaunda Curry and junior forward Denise Tate shared the team lead with seven rebounds apiece. Junior guard Evette Young dished out five assists to pace the Lady Rattlers.
“It was our first game since the break and we were not in sync," said FAMU coach Debra Clark, whose team was playing its first game in 16 days. "It was not a good game for us. Florida was much bigger and seemed more comfortable on the court.
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The Lady Rattlers record falls to 9-2 on the season with Florida A&M scheduled to face the Savannah State University Tigers at Gaither Gym on January 4, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
WACO, Texas -- When Baylor coach Kim Mulkey saw how well North Carolina A&T played against No. 12 Texas A&M on Sunday, she didn't know what to expect on Wednesday.
What she got was an 80-percent first-half shooting performance by her Lady Bears en route to an 89-48 win. The Lady Bears shot 60 percent for the game.
Rachel Allison scored a career-high 28 points and Angela Tisdale hit five 3-pointers and scored 22 for No. 9 Baylor (11-1). The Lady Bears used a 31-4 run early in the game to put it out of reach. Tisdale hit two 3s during the stretch.
After leading Texas A&M by four late in the game before eventually losing 74-65 on Sunday, A&T coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs was at a loss trying to explain her team's contrasting performances in the last two games.
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The Aggies return to Cal Irvin-Don Corbett Court on January 12 to face Morgan State, which will be their first home conference game of the season.
The Aggies Coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs became the 38th active women's basketball coach to record 400 career wins and just the second women’s basketball coach to do it at an HBCU. Cage-Bibbs milestone came on November 23, 2007, in a convincing 88-62 win over UNC Asheville.
On top of all that, she has all but rebuilt her third women’s basketball program in twenty-three years of coaching. She is a 1972 graduate of Grambling State University and is in her third season leading the Aggies women basketball program.
Photo: Hampton University Head Football Coach Jerry Holmes
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Jerry Holmes, head football coach, Hampton University has retained four assistant coaches from Joe Taylor's previous staff.
Coach Taylor, named head football coach at Florida A&M University is taking former Hampton running backs coach Aaron Taylor (his son), and offensive line coach Lawrence Kershaw to the Rattlers program. Kershaw is under consideration by Taylor to become offensive coordinator at FAMU.
Coach Holmes has promoted 17 season veteran Donovan Rose to defensive coordinator. Rose has been an assistant coach for the duration with the Pirates program, and served previously as the assistant head coach/secondary coach for the past five years. He is a 1979 Hampton University graduate.
Corey Sullivan was named offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. The 2002 Tennessee State University graduate is in his second season with the Pirates and his offense scored 29.9 ppg, leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2007.
Roy Johnson, quarterbacks coach will also remain on the Pirates staff. Johnson is a former Pirates quarterback and 1999 graduate of Hampton University, who is in his second season with the program. Prior to coming to Hampton, Johnson spent six years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Meadowcreek High School and Redan High Schools in Georgia. He is second all-time at Hampton in passing yards (7,086) and completions (502), while ranking fourth in touchdown passes with 45.
Devan Hill is in his fifth year working as a defensive backs coach for the Pirates. The 2000 Hampton University graduate has committed to remain on Coach Holmes staff. He was a four-year letterman (1996-99) and two-year starter at cornerback for Joe Taylor and the Pirates.
Florida A&M University will receive Lawrence Kershaw and Aaron Taylor on Joe Taylor's Rattlers staff.
Photo: FAMU Football Coach Lawrence Kershaw
Coach Kershaw is a 1995 graduate of Virginia State University. He spent 2007 at Hampton University as the offensive line coach. He served in the same capacity in 2006 at Truman State in Missouri.
Prior to that, Kershaw spent two seasons at Virginia Union University where he was the assistant head coach and offensive line coach, in addition to being the recruiting coordinator and organizing the strength and conditioning program.
Kershaw was also an assistant coach for seven years at Virginia State University of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), where he helped the Trojans win two conference titles. There he served as the running backs coach in 1995, the offensive line coach in 1996-97 and 2000-03, and the offensive coordinator from 2001-03.
In 2000, 2002 and 2003, Kershaw’s offensive line was the best in the CIAA in sacks allowed, while the Virginia State offense also led the conference in numerous offensive categories. From 1995-2003 the program produced 25 all-conference players on offense, including 13 first team selections and three offensive players of the year.
Kershaw also has one year of coaching experience at Fordham University, where he was a volunteer assistant offensive line coach in 1998 for the NCAA Division I FCS program.
Kershaw started his collegiate playing career at Stony Brook where in 1990 he was named to the All-Liberty Conference football team. He played his final two seasons at Virginia State in 1993 and 1994.
Kershaw graduated from Virginia State in 1995 with a bachelor of arts in sociology and in 1997 he received his masters of education in guidance from VSU.
Photo: FAMU Football Coach Aaron Taylor
Aaron Taylor served seven years on Joe Taylor's Hampton University staff. Last season he served as the running backs coach, after spending time coaching the tight ends and tackles, as well as four years coaching the defensive line.
During his tenure on the defensive side of the ball, Taylor worked with numerous all-conference performers to lead a Hampton defense that ranked amongst the best in the country. With the Pirates’ defensive unit leading Division I-AA in turnovers forced in 2004, Hampton was able to capture its third MEAC championship.
In 2005, his first season overseeing the running backs, he aided Alonzo Coleman and Ardell Daniels in becoming just the third duo in Division I FCS history to rush for 1,000 yards each in consecutive seasons.
The Charleston, Illinois native and oldest son of head coach Joe Taylor is a graduate of Phoebus High School (Va.) where he was a four-year letterman in football.
In 2001 he earned his bachelor’s degree in history/political science from Virginia State University where he also was a member of the Trojans’ football team. His outstanding senior campaign as an offensive guard garnered him All-CIAA honors.
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Photo: Is another National Football Championship in the plans for the Joe Taylor led FAMU Rattlers? Only time will tell as Step One in the process has been completed. Photo is FAMU's 1978 National Championship Team, the hardware and Miss FAMU 1978.
The dialogue from FAMU's press conference on December 31, with the presentation of Florida A&M University new head football coach Joe Taylor quickly became an ole fashioned revival of Rattler Pride and an awaking of the Jake Gaither mystique.
Coach Taylor, like FAMU President Dr. James Ammons and director of athletics William "Bill" Hayes vowed to return Florida A&M University to its former greatness on the gridiron. The synergies of these three leaders are remarkable and Rattler Nation finally has the leadership and commitment necessary for us to work collectively together to accomplish these lofty goals.
As you read the transcript of Coach Taylor's remarks, you will have no doubts that this is all part of the master's plan or the master plans of the Ammons Administration.
Joe Taylor is now the highest paid football coach in Black College Football and is predestined to take the mighty Rattlers to their traditional place of football supremacy in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Here are the remarks made by Coach Joe Taylor.
Thank you so much.
I didn’t have a prepared speech. I guess when you’ve been here and done some things for a while, it’s kind of here what you do. [Taylor points to his heart.] I do want to thank Dr. Ammons and let him know that really he’s the reason I’m here. I’ve researched. I’ve looked around. Everywhere I looked, everything I heard said this is a guy you really want to work for. That’s why I’m here.
When you look at Eddie Robinson, certainly he did a great job of molding and building and sending men forward. Then there is another guy I had the real fortunate occasion to meet. That’s the great Jake Gaither. He had built, in my mind, one of the most storied programs ever. I tell the story all the time when Eddie and Jake got together in the Orange Blossom Classic. Bob Hayes was one of the great receivers out of here.
This story I always share with my players because it sends a message. Bob was running down the sideline. He had caught a pass and he was about to score. One of the Grambling corner-backs was in pursuit and about to make the tackle. The fans from FAMU started to yell, ‘Go Bob Hayes. Go Bob Hayes.’
The corner-back stopped running. He was about to make the tackle. When he got back to the sideline, Eddie said, ‘Son, what happened? You could have made the tackle.’ The corner-back responded,‘I didn’t know that was Bob Hayes. I’m not supposed to be able to catch him.’ So I use that often because that’s a mystique.
You want that kind of tradition. You want people to know that what you stand for they can’t compete against. I would think that spirit can return. That spirit can still be here. With that in mind, what I intend to bring here is no magic. There’s no mystery.
In my mind, coaching is a ministry. Whenever you are trying to improve the lives of young people, it’s a ministry. We’re not going to be concerned with what happens on Saturday; we’re going to be concerned with what happens all week. You can not be a champion all week and expect to be one on Saturday.
I think that every Sunday everybody should start off in some-body's church. Find a man’s spirit, there also you find him. When his spirit is right, then everything else follows. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – class. You’ve got to go to class. That’s what champions do. You can’t get smarter turning in someone else’s homework. You’ve got to do it for yourself.
In the weight room, it’s not osmosis. You lift to get smarter. That’s what champions do. On the track, again you’ve got to run to get faster. If you could lay under a shade tree and drink kool-aid to get in shape, then we’d do that. But we know that doesn’t work.
Study hall – we’ve got to be there. Whatever responsibility there is, you have to manage. If you do that, the only thing that changes on Saturday is the atmosphere because you are already a champion.
In my mind there are four numbers that we all have. Those four numbers we have nothing to do with. That’s the year we were born. There will be, at some other time, four other numbers. Those will represent expiration. We really have nothing to do with that. But in between those numbers is a dash. That’s the only thing we have control over – that’s your dash.
How do you control your dash? Let’s spell it out.
Now, I’m letting you know that the players are going to hear this a little more intensely but I want you to hear the philosophy.
The ‘D’ is for discipline. I don’t care what you try to get done in life, it must start with discipline. You’ve got to do the right thing. There is no short cut. You’ve got to do the right thing.
‘A’ is attitude. We will never accept invitations to pity parties. Attitude. Attitude. We’re not concerned about what the naysayers are saying. We’re not concerned about what people say you can’t do.
We’ll find a way to reach inside and flush all of that negative programming because it’s about your attitude. And your attitude can get derailed by what I call noise. We’ve got to rise above the noise. Attitude. Attitude. You have to control your attitude.
‘S’ is for sacrifice. You were not put here on this earth to be served. You were put here to serve. It’s about sacrifice. When you put forth the necessary effort to be the best person that you can be, that’s a sacrifice. But look at how many people it serves and who can sit there and feel great about what’s happening on that field or in that classroom. It’s a sacrifice. You need to think about that.
We are ambassadors for all the great things that ever happen here. We have to connect that. We need to understand that. Others made great sacrifices so that you could be here. How dare you think you don’t need to be of that same nature. You must sacrifice.
Then the ‘H.’ The ‘H’ is for habits. Man does not decide his future. Man decides his habits. And his habits decide his future.
A player comes into me and says, ‘Coach, I want to be a doctor.’ ‘That sounds good, son, but I heard you were out drinking last night.’ ‘Yeah, but I want to be a doctor.’ ‘No, you want to be an alcoholic.’ Let’s get that straight.
When you can get that D-A-S-H, when you can control that, then you’ve got a chance. The program has a chance. The people around you have a chance. More importantly, you will have a life that is full of quality. That’s what the Lord wants. He wants you to have a great life. But you’ve got to control the dash.
In a nutshell, that’s really the key to success.
Certainly, this profession has been great to me. Really, I was called for this. It’s not like you came out of the womb and said that’s what you wanted to do. As my life went on in terms of going on to college with a scholarship and graduating within four years and having all kinds of opportunities, my high school coach kept calling me back. It just evolved. I’m just being obedient.
Someone says, ‘Wow, 16 years and 13 championships and you want to move?’ I’m being obedient. I told them I wasn’t moving. I’m expanding the neighborhood.
This is another opportunity to come and to minister and to let young men understand why they are on this earth. We want the Jake Gaither spirit to rise. We want all of Rattler Nation to be proud of what’s going on and we want to be a part of that.
As I said, Dr. Ammons is the biggest reason but Bill Hayes and I go back a long ways. We faced each other across the field. I don’t know who got the record over the other one. I’m just saying let’s put both records together. Then, too, we all know this place has so much potential. Let’s let people know we were sleeping for a little while but we’re back.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity. I vow to you my best. My wife already knows that football is 13 months a year. It’s non-stop. It’s something you can always do because you enjoy. It’s not a job. It’s an opportunity and it’s something we look forward to doing in this community.
Straight No Chaser, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Nat Adderley 1974
Alcorn State University new head football coach Ernest Jones wasted no time in assembling a staff of assistant coaches for the 2008 Braves. The staff consists of 11 assistant coaches, equipment manager and two graduate assistants. Jones was hired on December 11, 2007, to replaces Dr. Johnny Thomas who was fired after a 10 year record of 48-61 and a 2-8 season last year.
The 37 year old Jones move away from hiring former Alcorn State coaches and players on his staff. The biggest name is defensive coordinator/associate head coach Earnest Collins. Collins served as secondary coach for C-USA champion Central Florida in 2007, where he was one of three new hires on the defensive side of the ball.
Photo: Alcorn State University Head Football Coach Earnest Jones
The football staff includes: (previous school in parenthesis)
Head coach: Ernest Jones (Cincinnati) Defensive coordinator/associate head coach: Earnest Collins (Central Florida) Offensive coordinator: Dino Dawson (Illinois) Wide receivers: Michael Armour (Lane) Running backs: Terrance Robinson (Central Michigan) Linebackers/recruiting coordinator: Zach Shay (Marion, Ill., High School) Defensive backs: Jack Phillips (former Alcorn State player) Defensive line/special teams: Keith Majors (Arizona Western College) Offensive line: Adam Shorter (Cincinnati) Strength and conditioning: Lorenzo Guess (Kentucky State)
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Photo: Florida A&M University President Dr. James Ammons hired the best coach in America, Joe Taylor to head Rattler Football.
Consider the message sent. Loud, clear and with no chance to be misinterpreted.
Florida A&M President James Ammons wants to taste success again on the football field. And he's willing to spend money to make that happen. With a smile on his face and an extra dose of pride in his voice, Ammons introduced Joe Taylor as FAMU's football coach on Monday afternoon. Taylor, an eight-time conference champion at Hampton, accepted a five-year contract worth $225,000 annually that also includes a $12,000 housing allowance.
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There is no argument that the 58 year old Joe Taylor is head and shoulders above ALL African-American head football coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Jim Lamar, Sports Editor, Tallahassee Democrat lays it out clearly for all to see and read in the referenced article.
Dr. James Ammons has determined the price of success on the gridiron will cost the Rattlers $237,000 annually or $1,185,000 over the next five years.
This is a very small price to pay for the annual income stream of $12 - $16 million annually or the $80 million that is expected to come from Rattler football during the contract terms. The deal for Joe Taylor just makes solid business sense for the vision that Ammons has for Florida A&M University and the impact that football has on all aspects of university life.
More importantly, the contracted amount is more than fair and reasonable in the context of current market pricing for hall of fame winning coaches working in the FCS and lower hierarchy of the FBC subdivision. We blogged about this topic on December 21, 2007, and provided current contract data showing that the average cost for procuring a successful head football coach has risen to the low $200,000 range.
We knew that envy and jealousy would raise its ugly head among small minded individuals within Rattler Nation and other HBCUs. The issue for some is more social than pure business economics. You see, some African-Americans have a very bad habit of devaluing each other, their own institutions or their talented black leadership.
Some would have no problem with Joe Taylor signing for the same amount and terms with Western Carolina University.
The chatter on most message boards, given by individuals who were hoping that this superior, talented coach leave the MEAC and sign with perennial loser, Western Carolina University of the Southern Conference, was based on social aspects.
Few expected Coach Taylor to sign on with FAMU.
Why? So that it would help continuation of the black talent drain from HBCUs and justification of their stupid mystique that any white school is a better place than Florida A&M University, Grambling State or any HBCU. Even, lowly ranked WCU in Southern Conference football with no winning history.
Rattler Nation must acknowledge this one fact in their thought process: Joe Taylor is not Rubin Carter, some other first time head coach or lesser coach.
He is a long term proven winner, leader and developer of successful student-athletes. He can be trusted with our children and is committed to developing them to their full potentials.
To Coach Taylor, football is a part of his overall ministry to improve the lives of young people. His success and record speak volumes about himself as a person and a coach.
Twenty-five years of winning experience and a record of 197-78-4 is more than worthy of an income of $237,000 in today's coaching market. Coach Taylor is worth every penny that President Ammons and the FAMU Board of Trustees have committed to his position.
Florida A&M University is not a starting point for a head coaching career. It is the mecca for hall of fame coaches that are worthy of wearing the Orange and the Green, and winning national championships. That's the tradition and legacy of Jake Gaither.
Rightfully so, Dr. Ammons is bring back the Jake Gaither mystique and the legacy.
Discussion of another man's income for taking care of his family is not worthy of my time nor the energy of true Rattlers that are committed to a championship program. Some must change their attitude and rise up above the petty chatter and become true supporters of FAMU.
Florida A&M University hired the best football coach in America and Coach Taylor should be paid as such. You can never over pay the best.
Photo: FAMU Rattlers at Hampton University Pirates - 2007.
Hampton University football players label Jerry Holmes as passionate, aggressive, businesslike, a players' coach. All of those traits emerged, even as he submerged, during a rainy practice last fall.
Holmes, then the Pirates defensive coordinator and now the Pirates new head coach, was displeased with the players' lethargy, something he believed was the result of the wet conditions.
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South Carolina transfer corner back Sam Pope said, "He'll keep the same offense and defense, and you can talk to him about anything. He's real down to earth."
That's what Rattlers want to hear--same offense and defense of Joe Taylor's former team coming to Tallahassee in 2008. This will be a playoff styled game for both programs.
Dennis Wagner was hired yesterday as Western Carolina’s 12th football coach.
Wagner is a former offensive line coach at Nebraska and a former head coach at Wayne State College of Nebraska. Prior to Wagner’s four-year stint at Nebraska, he served as assistant head coach and offensive line coach for seven years at Fresno State.
The 49 year old coach was the head coach at Wayne State College from 1989 to 1996, leading the Wildcats to a 44-37-1 record while guiding the team from NAIA to NCAA Division II classification. His 1993 team led NCAA Division II in total offense at 581.5 yards per game.
Wagner, who has seven years of head coaching experience, will be formally introduced at a press conference scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Western Carolina University.
Western Carolina committed more than three-quarters of a million dollars with the hope that Wagner can turn the Catamounts' program around, too. Wagner agreed to a contract worth at least $830,000 over the next five years.
Wagner's contract will pay him $100,000 for the first season, $180,000 for each of the second through fourth seasons and $190,000 for the fifth season. Smith said the contract includes incentives for beating an NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision team, winning a conference championship, winning playoff games and attaining certain academic progress achievements.
WCU athletic director Chip Smith said the contract's lower first-year salary was requested by Wagner's agent and is not related to the fact that WCU still owes former coach Kent Briggs $110,823 annually over the next two years.
Photo: Western Carolina new head football coach Dennis Wagner brings seven years of head coaching experience at NAIA and Division II levels. Former Hampton coach Joe Taylor was offered the position but he elected to take the Florida A&M job instead.
Western Carolina did not win a Southern Conference game while going 3-19 overall the last two seasons under WCU graduate, Kent Briggs, who was fired on November 12, 2007.
Briggs was moved to another job at the university after the 1-10 season of 2007, and an overall six-year record of 22-43.
Bill Callahan brought Wagner to Nebraska shortly after he was hired in 2004.
Wagner last month was one of seven assistant coaches that Bo Pelini chose not to retain after replacing Callahan as the Nebraska Huskers' head coach.
The Catamounts will open the 2008 season at Florida State University.
WCU annually play reigning FCS champion Appalachian State and Georgia Southern in the Southern Conference and they played at Georgia and Alabama in 2007.
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The Dennis Wagner Profile Age: 49. Birthplace: Waverly, Iowa. Education: Utah, bachelors in psychology, 1982; St. Cloud State, masters in athletic administration, 1987. Playing experience: Drake, 1976; Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College, 1977; Utah, 1978-79. Coaching experience: Luther College (assistant coach/offensive line), 1980; UNLV (assistant coach/tight ends), 1981-82; William Penn (head track and field coach), 1983; UNLV (assistant strength coach), 1984; St. Cloud (Minn.) State (offensive coordinator/offensive line), 1985-88; Wayne (Neb.) State (head coach), 1989-96; Fresno State (assistant head coach/offensive line), 1997-2003; Nebraska (assistant coach/offensive line), 2004-2007.
Photo: DSU senior forward Roy Bright leads the Hornets in scoring averaging 17.6 ppg., 4.6 ast.
In a battle of contrasting styles, Seton Hall’s fast paced attack prevailed over Delaware State’s ball control in the Pirates’ 77-54 win at the Prudential Center Monday afternoon. Seton Hall won for the second time in three games to improve to 9-3 on the season, while the Hornets lost their fifth straight to fall to 3-9.
Senior guard Roy Bright was the only Hornet to finish with double-digit scoring (24 points). His team shot a woeful 34 percent in the first half, a stat that served as its biggest setback, before a quiet crowd of 5,285 at the Prudential Center. Bright’s performance included four three-point field goals. Donald Johnson added eight points, while Kyle White had a season-high seven for the Hornets.
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On the Hornets west coast swing last week, Roy Bright averaged 23.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and shot 46% from the floor in two games. He had a game high of 25 points against California and led all scorers with 22 points in the Southern California game.
Delaware State University returns to action on January 12, 2008 when MEAC play resumes with a contest at South Carolina State.
Photo: Ernest Maul, 6-0/180 senior Guard, Indianapolis, Indiana, Black Hawk CC
The Florida A&M University Rattlers men basketball team completed their Southwest holiday swing with another tough match up with the 10-1 Baylor Bears. This was the first meeting ever between the Rattlers and the Bears on the hardwood, who has a 5-0 record all-time against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Rattlers are 3-8, 1-6 on the road, most recently dropping an 83-54 decision at AP ranked #12 Texas A&M University (12-1) on Saturday.
The Rattlers faced Baylor Coach Scott Drew (4th season, 46-70 record) who is an outstanding recruiter. The Rattlers faced players from his nationally ranked recruiting classes that were No. 17 in 2006, No. 11 in 2005 and No. 10 in 2004 at Baylor.
Prior to Baylor, Drew spent 10 seasons at Valparaiso, the last as head coach after nine seasons as an assistant to his father Homer. During his decade at Valpo, the Crusaders earned six NCAA Tournament berths, including five straight from 1996-2000. Drew is responsible for five national Top-20 recruiting classes over the last eight years.
This was a learning experience for the FAMU Rattlers both in the big-time game atmosphere and in the necessary patience required to build a mid-major basketball program. The key word for Rattlers fans this season is--PATIENCE. FAMU coach Eugene Harris is in his first season over the Rattlers program and has not had a recruiting class.
Here is the game's outcome:
WACO, Texas -- Henry Dugat scored 21 points for Baylor as the Bears defeated Florida A&M 84-61 Monday. Curtis Jerrells added 19 for Baylor (11-1).
Lamar Twitty scored 14 for Florida A&M (3-9), Larry Jackson had 11 and Ernest Maul scored 10. L.C. Robinson opened the second half for Florida A&M with three consecutive 3-point baskets and finished with nine points.
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The Rattlers showed improvement in this game with only 10 personal fouls and hit 10-22 three point shots (45.5%).
The Rattlers next game is scheduled for January 5, 2008, with Warner Southern in Tallahassee's Gaither Gym in a 4:00 p.m. contest.
The fourth major test was a charm for the Tennessee State men's basketball team Sunday. After suffering close losses to major powers Georgia Tech, Indiana and Vanderbilt earlier in the season, the Tigers scored their biggest win of the season with a 60-58 upset victory over Big Ten foe Illinois before a stunned Assembly Hall crowd of 16,618 in Champaign, Illinois.
"There's no question about it that having been there before made a big difference," TSU Coach Cy Alexander said. "We've played with all of these teams. We haven't gotten blown out by anybody all year. This is a great win for our program as we try to move the program forward."
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This is a tremendous win for the Tennessee State University men's basketball team over a high quality Division I program.
This win was no fluke.
The Tigers led 29-24 at halftime behind 40 percent shooting from the field and five 3-pointers. Tennessee State ended the game 8-for-19 from 3-point range. The Tigers' second-half advantage increased to 47-33 before Illinois (8-5) rallied to cut the lead to 48-45.
We read this story a few days ago regarding Morgan State University head basketball coach Todd Bozeman. Most of you know his story, but its worth your time to read it again as there are several nuggets that a matured Bozeman passes on in this story. Not only is Bozeman an amazing coach, but he is a person that has overcome a major mistake in his life that would have destroyed lesser men.
Most certainly would not consider leaving the United States to pursue the craft that they loved, which Bozeman did without hesitation. Bozeman is proving that good coaches can attract blue chip players at any institution when you place priority on developing the student-athlete into a first class person and player. We expect to see this trend grow as black coaches and players begin to see that the sky is the limit at HBCUs.
Coach Bozeman is an asset to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
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Photo: The California Connection - Jerrell Green, left, Jamar Smith, center, and Marquise Kately migrated 3,000 miles to Morgan State to play for Coach Bozeman.
Photo: New Florida A&M University Head Football Coach Joe Taylor is 3rd winningest coach in FCS.
by beepbeep
What we knew last evening regarding the historic signing of future College Football Hall of Fame inductee Joe Taylor, has been confirmed Sunday evening by the man himself. Taylor indicated in a conversation with the Newport News Daily Press newspaper that he has signed his Florida A&M University contract today, to become head football coach of the Rattlers program.
FAMU issued an official press release to the Associated Press this evening that announced the hiring of Taylor. Florida A&M President James Ammons and new athletic director Bill Hayes will introduce Coach Taylor on Monday to the local press and Rattlers community.
Taylor said that the many positives regarding FAMU's program went into his decision to select the Rattlers over Western Carolina University. Both were simultaneously seeking his services as head coach last week.
MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street is very pleased with this selection for Florida A&M University, but more importantly it keeps this talented hall of fame coach in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to continue to help build our conference supremacy. In the end, FAMU got the best coach in the market and that's all that matters. He was the top choice.
No one can debate the point that the ice is colder at Florida A&M University for Joe Taylor. Welcome, Coach Taylor to the Hill and thank you Dr. James Ammons and Administration for the exceptional work in the hiring a superb new football coach.
Let's get this party started--Go Rattlers!
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Photo: Jacksonville JAM head coach Mike Gillespie has better days ahead in professional basketball.
by beepbeep
