Kately making bear tracks from California to Baltimore

Photo: Morgan State forward Marquise Kately is third in scoring for the Bears, averaging 12.6 points per game.

Even more than 3,000 miles from home, Marquise Kately couldn’t be more comfortable playing at Morgan State.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound forward from San Francisco is one of three Bears players with ties to California, lured to Baltimore by Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman, who spent four seasons coaching at the University of California in the 1990s.

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Back on the sidelines after decade in exile

Photo: Morgan State University Head Basketball Coach Todd Bozeman

Forty-one games into the second chapter of Bozeman's coaching career, it's difficult to gauge where he's headed and how swiftly he's moving. Will he lift Morgan State out of the basketball wilderness and land another high-profile job? Will he orchestrate another transcendent moment, as he did in guiding Cal past Duke in the 1993 NCAA Tournament? And will he avoid another headline-grabbing scandal?

The answers to those questions require time, but this much is certain: Bozeman returns to Northern California this week, to coach locally for the first time since his meteoric rise at Cal ended in shame and exile. His Morgan State Bears play Niagara on Friday night in the Cable Car Classic, after host Santa Clara meets Denver.

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Savannah State selects Wells as head football coach

Photo: Robert Wells, SSU Head Football Coach

by beepbeep, MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street

Savannah State University announced this afternoon that it has selected Robert "Robby" Wells as the Tigers new football coach. Wells becomes the ninth head football coach at the university in the past 13 years and the 21st head football coach in school history.

Mr. Wells is 39 years old and is SSU first white head football coach hired in the 93 year program history.

He was selected from four finalists and 68 applicants to replace Theo Lemon, who was fired after two seasons for not winning enough with a 3-18 record. Lemon had only one recruiting class and 23 scholarships for a 1-AA program allotted 63 by the NCAA.

Wells has no prior head coaching experience at the collegiate level.

He has served one year as the the general manager for the American Indoor Arena Football League Augusta Spartans team in 2006. He claims to be an 18 year veteran of the coaching profession.

Coach Wells completed his first year (2007) as the defensive coordinator/linebacker coach at Benedict College, a NCAA Division II school in Columbia, S.C. in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Benedict College finished the season with a 2-9 record and ranked near the bottom in the ten team conference in most defensive statistical categories, allowing 24.2 points per game (8th) and giving up 326.7 yards per game (7th).

Prior to his one year with the Augusta Spartans, he served as the defensive coordinator at South Carolina State University for four years (2002-2005) under Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough. With Wells orchestrating the defense, the Bulldogs were ranked near the top statistically among all Division I-AA teams and led the nation in pass defense efficiency in 2003.

Wells told the South Carolina Times and Democrat newspaper on January 6, 2006, "Buddy and I sat down (after the season) and decided it was best that I move on," Wells said. "I agreed with him. It was time for me and I though it was time to move on." The two worked together at the University of South Carolina when Pough was the running backs’ coach and Wells served as a graduate assistant, under Lou Holtz.

He is a 1990 graduate of Furman University and was a member of the Paladins’ 1988 I-AA national championship team where he played wide receiver and fullback. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Furman in health and physical education, and a master’s degree in adult education, University of South Carolina in 2000.

Wells also coached at the high school level at Murray (S.C.) High School (head coach) 1995-97; and at Greer (S.C.) High School (assistant coach) 1990-95.

Savannah State University went 1-9 in 2007 and the institution is under NCAA probation through May 18, 2009. The previous coach and staff were not responsible for the NCAA three year probation, which was issued one month after Theo Lemon was hired.

The NCAA probation includes a finding of unethical conduct against a former assistant coach, several recruiting violations, impermissible summer workouts with football prospects before their initial full-time enrollment and several prospects' receipt of impermissible benefits, including free housing. There were also findings against the institution for lack of institutional control and failure to monitor its athletics program.

This was the second major infractions case against Savannah State University in recent years. In 1998, the Division II Committee on Infractions also ruled that there was a lack of institutional control. It was found in both NCAA cases against SSU that institutional staff members misunderstood NCAA rules and the institution did not have an adequate compliance program in place to monitor the activities of the coaching staff.

Wells was selected over finalists Raymond Gross, Kent Schoolfield and Rubin Carter.

One has to question what the SSU administrators were thinking when they made this selection, as it is a real butt scratcher. It is difficult to see what strengths, if any, Coach Wells brings to this difficult situation.

Savannah State is in desperate need of financial support from its alumni; a winning football program; satisfactory completion of NCAA probation; conference affiliation; more than 24 scholarships allotted to the football program; an increase in home attendance for five home games from 3,710 average; and payment of realistic scaled 1-AA head and assistant coaches salaries.

The handwriting is on the wall--there are going to be some very difficult days ahead for Savannah State University football program with this hire, in light of the fact the program has been historically underfunded and the product on the field is not competitive in 1-AA.

Wells is not a proven football program builder and will be unable to succeed in this environment lacking the appropriate recruitment skills, coaching abilities and funding. This is not the best situation for an on-the-job training head coach, especially one that wasn't a standout player in college or known as a great recruiter of 1-AA talent.

Here are the overview of the other finalists that weighed in on the SSU administration final decision.

Raymond Gross is currently the quarterbacks coach at 1-AA Bethune Cookman University (1999-2002, 2005-Present) and has served as the offensive coordinator at Division II Clark Atlanta University (2001-2004) before returning to BCU. He was an All-American Quarterback at Georgia Southern University and lead the Eagles to the 1989 1-AA National Championship with a 15-0 record under legendary coach Erk Russell. He won a second 1-AA National Championship with GSU in 1990 under Coach Tim Stovers. He is a member of the GSU Hall of Fame, and played professional football as a starting quarterback calling the signals for the Ravenna Chiefs of the Italian Football League.

Gross graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1993 with a degree in Commercial Recreation. He later earned his Master's Degree in Education from Cambridge College in 1999.

Kent Schoolfield is a 32 year coaching veteran with extensive Division II, I-AA and IA experience. Schoolfield’s most notable success occurred at Division II Fort Valley State. In six seasons as a head coach (1997-2002), Schoolfield compiled a 48-21 record and advanced to the NCAA playoffs three times. Schoolfield was named SIAC Coach of the Year in 2001 and has been honored twice by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., as its Coach of the Year.

Schoolfield has served as the offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T State University (2005) and 1-AA James Madison University. He has held coaching positions at Temple, Pittsburgh, New Mexico State, Florida A&M and N.C. A&T. His most successful stint as an assistant came during his time under legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. He spent five seasons at Florida State, his recruiting skills helped to make the Seminoles an elite Division I program. He is currently serving his second stint as the wide receivers coach at Division III Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Schoolfield is an inductee in the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame and played professional football for the New England Patriots. He earned a B.S. in History and an M.S. in Education from Florida A&M University.

Rubin Carter has a career record (2004-2007) of 16-17 (6-5, 7-4, 3-8) at Florida A&M University where he served as the Rattlers head coach. Carter was hired two weeks before Spring practice in 2004. He was somewhat successful in reshaping the Rattlers program and had two very strong recruiting classes with topnotch student athletes. He was responsible for leading the Rattlers program from under NCAA probation, operating with a reduction of scholarships from the previous administration infractions. Carter was not responsible for FAMU being placed on NCAA probation.

Prior to FAMU, Carter served as the Defensive Line Coach at Temple University (2004); the New York Jets' Defensive Line Coach for three seasons (2001 to 2003; and the Washington Redskins' Defensive Line Coach for two seasons (1999-2000).

Carter first coached in the NFL with Denver under Dan Reeves from 1987-88, directing the Broncos defensive line while also assisting with strength and conditioning.

Carter also coached at the collegiate level for nine years:
He was Defensive Coordinator and Strength & Conditioning Coach at Howard University from 1989 to 1993, leading the Bison defense to a number one national ranking in Division I-AA in total defense (220 yards per game) and scoring defense (10.5 points per game) in 1989.

He went on to serve as Defensive Line and Strength & Conditioning Coach at San Jose State in 1995 and 1996. Carter's last position at the collegiate level prior to Temple, was at Maryland, where he instructed the defensive line from 1997-98.

Carter began his coaching career after playing 12 seasons (1975-86) at defensive tackle in the NFL with Denver. He was part of five AFC West Championship teams as a key member of the Broncos famed "Orange Crush" defense and played in two Super Bowls (1978, 1987). Upon his retirement, he had played in more games (152) than any other nose tackle in NFL history. Carter was drafted in the fifth round by Denver in the 1975 draft out of University of Miami, Florida, where he was a Kodak, UPI and AP All-American as a senior in addition to being named the MVP of the Hula Bowl.

Carter holds the distinction of being the first African-American to be cited as an All-American on the Hurricanes' defensive line. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1975 and was inducted into the University of Miami's Hall of Fame in 1992.

Good luck Tigers!!

Savannah State University head coach finalists announced

Compiled by beepbeep

Former Florida A&M University head football coach Rubin Carter has been named among the four finalists for the Savannah State University head football coaching vacancy.

In addition to Rubin Carter, Raymond Gross, Robby Wells and FAMUan Kent Schoolfield were invited to the campus yesterday by SSU vice president for administration Claud Flythe to continue the interview process. President Earl Yarbrough will make the selection tomorrow.

The final selection will be announced Saturday before a 2:00 p.m. basketball game at Tiger Arena with High Point University with the coach being introduced to the fans. This will be the ninth head coach for Savannah State in the past 13 years.

The football program is currently under NCAA probation until May 19, 2009 for violations in recruiting, playing and practice seasons, financial aid, ethical conduct and institutional control.

Theo Lemon and his eight assistants were fired on November 30 after a two season record of 3-18, with only 24 scholarship players at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA) level. Lemon was not responsible for the school being placed on NCAA probation.

Savannah State currently plays as a FCS Independent having been denied membership into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2006. The position previously paid $65,000 annually, but the school has indicated that the new coach will earn more, but Flythe has not stated publicly what that amount will be. The scholarships will also be increased, but Flythe did not disclose the number that would be allotted.

National signing day for student athletes is February 6, 2008.

Savannah State is reporting that 68 candidates submitted applications on December 14. The announcement for the job was issued on December 1, with selection to be made on December 22.

Bios:

1. Rubin Carter (Fired November 20, 2007 after compiling a 3-8 record, 16-17 record in three seasons; paid $135,000 annually with 2 years remaining on contract).
http://thefamurattlers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/carter_rubin00.html

2. Kent Schoolfield - Inductee in FAMU Hall of Fame. Assistant coach (wide receivers) at Capital University, a Division III school in Columbus, Ohio. He spent the 2005 season as the offensive coordinator at North Carolina A&T. He coached at Capital in 2003 and 2004. Prior to that, Schoolfield was the head coach at Fort Valley State and guided the Wildcats to three Division II playoff appearances in six seasons.
http://www.ncataggies.com/Football/profiles/schoolfield_kent.htm

3. Ramond Gross - Inductee in Georgia Southern University Athletic Hall of Fame; currently Assistant Coach - Quarterbacks at Bethune Cookman University (2nd year).
http://bccathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gross_raymond00.html

4. Robby Wells - Assistant coach at Benedict College, a Division II school in Columbia, S.C. Wells is the Tigers' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
http://www.benedict.edu/exec_admin/athletics/football/staff/bc-football-staff.html

Florida A & M coaching search focus on goals

by beepbeep, MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street

The Florida A&M University coaching search hit a snag a few days ago but there was no real damage other than to the egos of a few Rattlers that were in a premature braggadocios mood with colleagues. A few had to eat crow as Grambling State University head coach Rod Broadway decided to accept a matching offer from the Tigers administration and remain in his present position at the institution.

Notwithstanding this unforeseen detour, the FAMU administration is moving forward in a stealth hiring mode as it is in the best interests of all the parties involved.

This sends the message to the most serious prospects that their identity will be protected by Florida A&M University from the national press and their current employers. This is very important for some prospects who may not want to be rejected for the position and have their names broadcast world-wide by the press and bloggers.

What can we can learn from the recent Rod Broadway and Pete Adrian hiring serenades?

First, overzealous Rattler fans and message board bloggers do not select head football coaches at major institutions like Florida A&M University and/or Norfolk State University.

As the president and his dedicated staff are engaged in contract negotiations with prospective new employees of the university, there is no need for public involvement on these matters. Sensitive personnel matters should be handled under a cloak of confidentiality until the deal is completed and the contract approved by the Board of Trustees. Then, it becomes public information and available for scrutiny.

Secondly, university experts must stay cognizant of the current market conditions for competent and productive football coaches that can fulfill the requirements of the FAMU head coaching position. The income levels within the marketplace for good football coaches has increased more than 32 percent for the MEAC conference in the past six months. Successful experienced coaches are becoming more difficult to procure and competent athletic directors and major supporters are willing to play the "match game" with any suitor that is in pursuit of their winning head football coach.

That was the strategy successfully implemented by Grambling State and Norfolk State athletic directors when FAMU and University of Rhode Island, respectively set forth to hire away their head football coach. Even when your hiring process starts with multiple candidates, you eventually get down to serious negotiations with only one or two candidates like Broadway, and at that point the key advantage lies within the hands of the prospect. He has exactly what you want and is smart to work both ends of the deal with the current and future employer.

The prospect has two methods to maximize his market value and lower performance expectations and standards--negotiate better terms with his current employer using FAMU's best and final contract offer as the mechanism or introducing a third suitor to the process, i.e., the Duke University interview. FAMU had no option but to move on as the candidate was only attempting to better his current situation without the lateral transfer of employment.

FAMU has not screw up the hiring process as some grossly misinformed individuals have alleged. In the very best of situations, every negotiation will not yield a successful contract unless there are parties on each side committed to make the deal happen.

Broadway certainly played his hand well dealing from a slight position of strength due to his prior knowledge and relationship with Ammons. The timing of the perfunctory courtesy interview extended by Duke University played a small part in undermining FAMU’s actions with Broadway as it gave him more leverage to seek additional powers beyond the ordinary scope given to head football coaches, like control over scheduling and staffing.

The final turn in the negotiations came when Grambling State athletics director Troy Mathieu decided to match the monetary aspects of FAMU’s best and final offer to keep Broadway at GSU. This sizable increase in base salary and job security made the decision for Broadway and his designated agent, a no-brainer.

Even the slowest thinking mugs in the Blog sphere and message boards understand that when all is equal, there is no reason to jump ship when there is a possibility you might fall in the water and drown.

"Nobody listened," Broadway said. "Everybody had me doing this and doing that. They all had their own opinion. I've said all along that I think this is a good situation. You can win here." Yessiree! Broadway is entirely correct. You can win at Grambling State and he will win and keep his fans happy with a traditional diet of classic victories, West Division titles and an occasional SWAC championship title.

Likewise, Pete Adrian contract is being financially upgraded by his athletic director after he initiated an interview for the head coaching vacancy at the University of Rhode Island.

Norfolk State athletic director Marty Miller said he is in the process of finalizing a new contract for Adrian, which would increase his salary to at least the middle of the MEAC scale, which reaches $175,000. Miller said he anticipates having the contract complete by the holidays. "We need to at least bring him up to where the average is," Miller said. Adrian base salary was at $102,300 and he signed a two year contract extension in September 2007.

Former FAMU coach Rubin Carter base salary was $135,000, which is far below today's MEAC average. Carter and his assistant coaches dismissal were justified by substandard football performance which included cruel and unusual punishment for passionate Rattler fans for a period of three long years.

The business and educational performance standards for the FAMU head football coach and staff positions are far above what has been acceptable in the past. President Ammons rightfully so, has a lucrative financial package designed to procure the type of head football coach that will achieve his academic standards, performance goals and economic objectives.

Let us take a brief moment and bring Rattler fans forward on the present state of the coaching economy, as it impacts FAMU.

There is no debate that Florida A&M University is the premier brand in HBCU sports and academics--not Grambling State.

The average base salary paid to MEAC coaches is now at $175,000 annually, which is greater than the SWAC, Colonial, Gateway, Big South, Southern, Southland, NEC, Pioneer and the lower tier of Division I-A, which include ten universities that are members of the Mid-American and Sunbelt conferences. We are sure that some MEAC'ers still believe the other conferences ice is colder, but the salary and the annual attendance data does not support those allegations.

In the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Southern University's Pete Richardson and Rod Broadway (revised deal) are now earning $200,000 to $210,000 annually with incentives. The SWAC teams do not compete nor participate in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the national championship. Their West and East Division title holders play the latest conference championship game of the season on ESPN Classic to showcase their conference two best teams.

Florida A&M has demonstrated with the recent Broadway negotiations that our new coach will probably be at the upper level of the salary scale for the top 10 percent of FCS football coaches. The days of the $135,000 head football coach in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is now history at FAMU, NCA&T, SCSU, DSU, NSU, MSU, HU and Hampton.

The action by Ammons opens a lot more doors to high profile, high quality coaches with both Division I and NFL coordinator experience, non-BCS coordinators and assistant head coaches, FCS head coaches and talented coordinators, D-1A mid-major head coaches and Division II championship playoff seasoned head coaches. And let us not forget the 25 approved minority coaches/coordinators on the Black Coaches Association list. This pool of potential head coaches is vast.

For example, here is where the new salary range can reach and the quality of the people it can touch. Our purpose is not to suggest names or individuals for the coaching search process but to demonstrate where the dividing line has been moved by the FAMU president. This may give some a clearer understanding of the expected outcome of the FAMU hiring process.

a. Mark Farley, seven year head coach at University of Northern Iowa. This team was ranked #1 for six weeks in 2007 and was the #1 seed going into the FCS playoffs. UNI was 11-0 for the regular season. Farley base salary is $159,000, plus additional income from radio and TV, winning season ($14,500) for a total package of $173,500.

Athletic director Rick Hartzell is currently attempting to raise salary to $200,000 to avoid a raid by another FCS or FBC university for Farley services.

b. Turner Gill, University of Buffalo ($191,000) Division I-A Mid-American Conference. Interviewed for University of Nebraska head coaching position.

c. Shane Montgomery, Miami of Ohio ($144,000) Div. I-A, MAC.

d. Doug Martin, Kent State ($170,000) Div. I-A, MAC.

e. Brady Hoke, Ball State ($170,000) Div. I-A, MAC.

f. Steve Roberts, Arkansas State ($171,000) Div. I-A Sun Belt

g. David Elson, Western Kentucky ($180,000) Division I-A Independent

h. Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green ($181,000) MAC

i. Jeff Genyk, Eastern Michigan ($196,000) MAC

j. Ricky Bustle, La. Lafayette ($196,000) Sun Belt

k. Charlie Weatherbie, La. Monroe ($205,000) Sun Belt

You may review most of the above coaches contracts at this link,as the information is public record: (see: http://coacheshotseat.com/SalariesContracts.htm ).

Rattlers fans could better serve our cause if we do not fall into the trap encouraged by local newspapers on playing the game called "Guess who the next coach will be." This is a senseless game that may increase hits on a website, but is becoming an annoyance to the individuals named; their respective alums and fans at their present institutions; and projects Florida A&M University in a negative light.

As Mr. Broadway stated in his remarks to the press in the aftermath, "Nobody listened and everybody had me doing this and doing that. They all had their own opinion."

And we are all guilty of this type of conjecture.

Public silence is very beneficial to the selection and negotiation process and MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street will await the official announcement from the FAMU president when the process is completed. There are no deadlines, so do what you gotta do, Mr. President. We support your efforts and understand the challenges involved.

Wishing each of you and your families a Merry Christmas and a happy and successful new year. Let us all pray that our Military Troops return home safely!

MEAC/SWAC Clip Board: Do not blame the MEAC officials

by beepbeep

FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - If you watched the national championship game last evening, let us be the first to tell you that your eyes were not lying to your brain. Appalachian State University Mountaineers are a top 15 Division I-A club, although they play at the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) level. The final score of 49-21 does not quantify how thoroughly the University of Delaware was beaten by Appalachian State. The Mountaineers were so superior in speed, play calling and defense, that Delaware had no answers for ASU's superiority.

No need to blame the MEAC officials, as they called an outstanding game and only missed one call, which was corrected by the re-play official after review. The replay booth awarded Delaware a touchdown on Flacco's 39-yard pass to Mark Duncan at the right edge of the end zone with 1:46 left in the second quarter. Officials on the field had not called a touchdown; they only called pass interference. The replay official decided Mark Duncan had either come down in bounds or been forced out by the ASU defender. This was a gift touchdown given by the Southeastern Conference official controlling the re-play evaluations.

Re-plays are not used in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games nor FCS games other than the championship game. The officials made the adaptation very nicely. However, it was priceless to have one of the MEAC officials announce that "Delaware State" calls a timeout before the half, which was met with booing from the UD fans.

The ESPN announcers were awful as usual and were upset with the officials because they were all prepared to heavily tout UD quarterback Joe Flacco as the second coming of Joe Montana or Peyton Manning. How silly is it to say that Flacco will be drafted in the NFL second round--in a college championship game, when there is no factual evidence that Flacco will be drafted at all from the 1-AA level.

Why do these announcers feel compelled to hype any player for that matter when the stats show ASU sophomore Armanti Edwards was the top quarterback on the field with one NCAA national championship to his credit. Serves them right for not be objective in calling the game as it developed on the field.

The 6-0, 175 pound Edwards won the national championship as a freshman and has repeated that performance this season, completing 67 percent of his passes (148/222, 17 TDs 7INT) for 1948 yards and rushed for 1588 yards (237CAR, 6.7 ypc., 21 TDs). No other player in the FCS has played at his level the past two championship seasons in the division.

Edwards quarterbacked ASU to a 34-32 upset of #5 ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor before 110,000 hostile Michigan fans, completing 74 percent of his passes (17/23, 227 yards/3TDs/2 INT)and 17 rushes/62 yards, one TD. No doubt, Armanti Edwards is the best quarterback in the division and has an opportunity to win four national championships before his college career is over.

ASU senior quarterback Trey Elder could have been a starter for any other FCS team but was content to be Edwards backup for the past two season.

Delaware, blame the MEAC officials all you want but give credit to 68 year old head coach Jerry Moore and his staff for assembling this three-peat championship team that can beat most of the teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision with only 63 scholarship players. In lieu of looking for excuses, let us all use Appalachian State on field performance as the standard that all FCS teams should be striving to achieve with our student athletes. UD was simply outclassed by a superior team that plays to their full potential each game, especially when a championship is at stake.

Incompetents blame subordinates. Let us not blame the officials for University of Delaware being outclassed by the most successful dynasty in NCAA 1-AA football history. The Blue Hens were beat-down by more powerful offensive and defensive lines that handled their business. Appalachian State was clearly the superior football program on this night.


Delaware State University, Al Lavan was second in balloting for the Eddie Robinson award, which goes to the Coach of the Year for the Football Championship Subdivision. DSU ended the season at 10-2, won the MEAC title and made the first round of the FCS Playoffs. The Hornets lost 44-7 to University of Delaware.

Northern Iowa head coach Mark Farley was named the 21st winner of the Eddie Robinson Award. The Panthers were 11-0 in the regular season and held the No. 1 ranking in the Sports Network Top 25 poll for six weeks. The Panthers grabbed attention in the second week of the season when they dominated an FBS opponent, Iowa State, by a 24-13count on the way to a 4-0 non-conference start.

Former Florida A&M University offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bob Cole has been hired in the same titled positions at the University of Wyoming. Cole served two years under fired FAMU coach Rubin Carter and will work for Cowboys head football coach Joe Glenn. Wyoming is in the FBC subdivision and finished last season with a 5-7 overall, 2-6 record in the Mountain West Conference. Cole’s salary will be $123,480 per year for two years.

The Southwestern Athletic conference championship game is scheduled today at 1:00 pm from Birmingham, Alabama Legion Field. Expect 8-3 Grambling State University Tigers to beat 7-4 Jackson State University Tigers in this battle for television exposure and more program income. GSU defeated JSU 30-20 on their home field on October 20.

There is more excitement anticipating the announcement on Monday that Grambling State head coach Rod Broadway is accepting the offer to head Florida A&M University storied football program. Expect GSU to win this one for Broadway.

MEAC/SWAC Clip Board: NSU Adrian considering CAA - Rhode Island Rams

by beepbeep, MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) 2007 Coach of the year Pete Adrian interviewed on December 12, for the head coaching position at Colonial Athletic Conference member University of Rhode Island. The Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) Rams were 3-8 this past season, marking their sixth consecutive losing season.

Adrian is one of four candidates for the position, along with Darren Rizzi, an associate head coach at Rutgers; Maine coach Jack Cosgrove; and Robert Talley, head coach at Stonehill College.

Former URI head coach Tim Stowers was fired after an eight year term on November 19, with one year remaining on his contract. He posted a 33-57 record during his tenure with the Rams and had only one winning season in 2001.

University of Rhode Island paid Stovers $196,027 in 2006.

The Rams home facility, Meade Stadium was constructed in 1928 and seats approximately 5,180 fans. Yes, that is no typo--5,180 maximum capacity.

Photo: URI Meade Stadium

Coach Adrian has been at Norfolk State for three years posting records of 4-7, 4-7 and 8-3 for the Spartans. He currently earns $102,750 (base pay) and just signed a contract extension on September 13, 2007, that presumed would keep him at NSU until 2010. Adrian had a record of 9-14 at the time the contract extension was executed with NSU athletics director Marty L. Miller.

Adrian current career record for the Spartans is 16-17 (.484), but he is a finalist for the 2007 Eddie Robinson Award given to the top Division I-AA coach, for his 8-3 breakout season.

NSU home facility, William "Dick" Price Stadium has a seating capacity of 30,000 and was built in 1997. It is recognized as one of the largest sports and entertainment venues in the Hampton Roads region and one of the 10 largest Division I FCS football stadiums in terms of capacity. Dick Price Stadium is also one of the best facilities in the MEAC along with the football facilities at North Carolina A&T State University and South Carolina State University.

The Spartans was tops in historical black college and university (HBCU) football for accumulated home attendance in 2007. The Spartans are ranked #7 of 119 schools in the total Division I Football Championship Subdivision, with 103,320 accumulated attendance for six home games. NSU average game attendance was 17,220 and the Spartans had two home games with Virginia State University and Hampton University that had 26,970 (#19) and 27,756 (#16) in attendance, respectively.

Norfolk State's first game in history with a football bowl championship team--Rutgers University on September 15, had 43,712 in attendance. This game's attendance was greater than the Scarlett Knights games against FBC foes, West Virginia (43,620), Pittsburgh (43,531), Navy (43,514) and Buffalo (43,091). The Spartans were beat by Rutgers 59-0, but earned $250,000 for this money game. NSU will play University of Kentucky in Lexington in 2008 for the same fee.

For comparison purposes, University of Rhode Island had an accumulated home attendance of 17,181 for five total home games in 2007. Their average home game attendance was 3,436, for a ranking of #98 of 119 FCS programs. This was worst than Howard University (#96) and Savannah State University (#94) home attendance for the past season.

So, what would make Adrian talk with Rhode Island about its vacancy when he is on the verge of building a powerhouse at Norfolk State with the very best facilities, great fan support and a tremendous recruiting area in Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach? It is no accident that Norfolk State had a school record ten Spartans named to either the first or second-team All-MEAC squads. He was also only one win from the MEAC championship and the automatic berth to the NCAA FCS playoffs.

It is all about the money!

Under Adrian current contract, he can earn a maximum of $147,750 with performance bonuses, for winning the MEAC title and FCS national championship.

Rhode Island is offering a base of $155,300 and up to $196,027 if targeted performace incentives are met. URI has shown unusual patience for just one winning season in eight years. The 59 year old coach has experienced success with the Rams as an assistant coach in the 1980's winning three Yankee Conference championships and making the NCAA playoffs. Adrian salary is at or slightly above the average for the MEAC and SWAC conferences and based on his career winning record at NSU.

We wish Coach Adrian the best of success at Rhode Island, if the position is offered. If more money is his focus--go to Rhode Island with their tiny stadium, little fan support and history of being a loser in the Colonial Athletic Conference. He can change the latter two by just building a winner. The stadium expansion will take some time.

Our advice to Marty Miller--let him go!

The nature of the coaching business today is a contract does not really obligate the coach to fulfill it, if more money is offered elsewhere. No one will blame him for jumping for the money and the opportunity to move up to a perceived difficult conference.

NSU fans love Spartan football and average 17,220 in home attendance in 2007 to lead MEAC & SWAC.

Expect more Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference athletic directors to be contacted more frequently in the future about their head coaches for lateral coaching opportunities in the FCS. Both conferences currently are at the bottom in average head coaches salary compared to others, especially programs seeking an instant winner, like University of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island's former coach had a strong resume in FCS coaching circles. He served previously as an assistant coach at Temple; and head coach at Georgia Southern for six years, winning the NCAA I-AA national championship in 1990. Stovers career record is 84-80, but he was unable to compete in the CAA with the Rams facing a difficult schedule of six playoffs teams and one I-A team. Adrian will have the same difficulties as Stovers. But, one winning season can be a stepping stone to a mid-level FBC position and the increased earnings.

Adrian is just the start of this migration of HBCU coaches as other FCS conferences and FBC teams begin to value the coaching talent and experience that exists in the MEAC and the SWAC. Transitioning programs will be willing to pay more for that proven talent of winning head football coaches. Expect more lateral transfers in the near future as MEAC and SWAC coaches prove themselves as builders of financially successful programs.

Imagine that! The MEAC and SWAC are now proving grounds and career launching pads for new head coaches with the opportunity to step up to more lucrative positions in the FCS and FBS coaching ranks--and that's the way it should be for all. Just win, ba-by!

NOTICE: 7:35 PM - Norfolk State University football coach Pete Adrian announced on Thursday evening that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the head coaching position at the University of Rhode Island and will remain with the Spartans.

NSU athletic director Marty L. Miller said he is in the process of finalizing a new contract for Adrian, which would increase his salary to at least the middle of the MEAC scale, which reaches $175,000. He anticipates having the contract complete by the holidays.

Spartan Nation can now relax until the Spartans record goes under .500 next season...

Photo: Norfolk State William "Dick" Price Football Stadium