Post by Aggie One on Nov 30, 2004 11:15:03 GMT -5
Coach stays at FAMU, for now
School not extending Joe's contract, will cut budget for 2005
By Heath Smith
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Billy Joe said he plans to remain Florida A&M's head football coach despite FAMU athletic director Joseph Ramsey II's refusal to give him a contract extension.
Ramsey told Joe of the decision Monday during a meeting in which Ramsey also told Joe that cuts would be made to his recruiting budget and that he would have to delay the hiring of a defensive coordinator.
"He (Ramsey) has shut the program down from a financial standpoint," Joe said Monday afternoon. "There is no question it makes it extremely difficult to field a championship team. It could impact the program for the next three or four years. It's almost equivalent to the death penalty from the NCAA."
Ramsey said he is aware of how the decisions he has made could affect the future success of the football program, but he said they are necessary to get the athletic department from under its current financial problems, which include a $700,000 deficit.
"I have all the confidence in the world that we will get through this," Ramsey said. "I think it (the athletic department's financial problems) is something that could be cleared up next year.
"It is a matter of clearing up all the financial matters that we've been placed in. We are in a crisis situation and have to make drastic decisions about the budget."
Joe's contract runs until Dec.31, 2006, and he said he would like to stay at least through that contract, although he said he would listen to serious offers from other schools.
"Out of professional courtesy, I would listen to what they have to say, but at this particular time I'm a FAMUan," Joe said.
Ironically a potential suitor for Joe's services could be one of FAMU's 2005 opponents, Tennessee State, which recently fired James Reese as head coach.
"First and foremost I am a Rattler," Joe said. "I bleed Orange and Green. I have two years remaining on my contract and at this time, my decision is to remain a FAMUan."
FAMU administrators have mixed opinions on what these developments will have on the future of FAMU's football program, which up until this past season had been one of the most successful in Division I-AA.
The Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., a member of the board of trustees' Executive Committee and the chairman of the Student Affairs Committee, under which the athletic department falls, said he was concerned that these decisions will handicap the athletic program.
"The board will have to progressively and aggressively approach this matter," Holmes said. "I'm at a state of concern. It will be on my list to hear from Dr. Ramsey.
"Billy Joe has been cordial and professional and the community owes him a great deal of respect. We can't allow him to run the program without resources."
Holmes added that Ramsey does not have the authority to make decisions that could significantly impact the athletic program without first bringing it before the board.
Trustee Barney Bishop said that the athletic department's current financial struggles are the result of decisions made by former interim athletic director J.R.E. Lee III and that Joe and the football program should not have to pay for those decisions.
"We need to see what we can do to get the necessary dollars to put a first-class football team on the playing field," Bishop said. "We have all been remiss in not raising the dollars to get the football team out of this situation.
"The coach should at least have the minimum staff. To not have that would cut him at the knees. It would be absolutely ludicrous to go into the season without a defensive coordinator. I don't think it's a cross that Billy Joe should have to bear."
While Joe, Ramsey, Holmes and Bishop see not having money to recruit and not being able to hire a defensive coordinator as a negative for the future for FAMU's football program, outgoing FAMU president Fred Gainous believes the impact won't be as harsh as projected.
"I don't believe that (it will have a major negative impact)," Gainous said. "It's been done at so many other institutions. I don't for one second believe all the gloom and dome being forecasted. The decision has been made.
"I never heard of a defensive coordinator being so essential in recruiting. The head coach is the primary recruiter and the offensive coordinator recruits as well."
Gainous added that while Joe can't get a defensive coordinator immediately there is a chance he could be able to hire one before the start of the 2005 season.
Joe said he plans to take this latest hit from the administration in stride and move forward with his plans to prepare the Rattlers for the 2005 season.
"Today (Monday) I gave two coaches $1,000 to go to an all-star game in Mississippi," Joe said. "We will recruit via the phone and mailings, but we are going to have to spend money out of our own pocket to go out of town. We are still looking at getting the best players we can."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Heath A. Smith at (850) 599-2166 or hsmith@tallahassee.com.
School not extending Joe's contract, will cut budget for 2005
By Heath Smith
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Billy Joe said he plans to remain Florida A&M's head football coach despite FAMU athletic director Joseph Ramsey II's refusal to give him a contract extension.
Ramsey told Joe of the decision Monday during a meeting in which Ramsey also told Joe that cuts would be made to his recruiting budget and that he would have to delay the hiring of a defensive coordinator.
"He (Ramsey) has shut the program down from a financial standpoint," Joe said Monday afternoon. "There is no question it makes it extremely difficult to field a championship team. It could impact the program for the next three or four years. It's almost equivalent to the death penalty from the NCAA."
Ramsey said he is aware of how the decisions he has made could affect the future success of the football program, but he said they are necessary to get the athletic department from under its current financial problems, which include a $700,000 deficit.
"I have all the confidence in the world that we will get through this," Ramsey said. "I think it (the athletic department's financial problems) is something that could be cleared up next year.
"It is a matter of clearing up all the financial matters that we've been placed in. We are in a crisis situation and have to make drastic decisions about the budget."
Joe's contract runs until Dec.31, 2006, and he said he would like to stay at least through that contract, although he said he would listen to serious offers from other schools.
"Out of professional courtesy, I would listen to what they have to say, but at this particular time I'm a FAMUan," Joe said.
Ironically a potential suitor for Joe's services could be one of FAMU's 2005 opponents, Tennessee State, which recently fired James Reese as head coach.
"First and foremost I am a Rattler," Joe said. "I bleed Orange and Green. I have two years remaining on my contract and at this time, my decision is to remain a FAMUan."
FAMU administrators have mixed opinions on what these developments will have on the future of FAMU's football program, which up until this past season had been one of the most successful in Division I-AA.
The Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., a member of the board of trustees' Executive Committee and the chairman of the Student Affairs Committee, under which the athletic department falls, said he was concerned that these decisions will handicap the athletic program.
"The board will have to progressively and aggressively approach this matter," Holmes said. "I'm at a state of concern. It will be on my list to hear from Dr. Ramsey.
"Billy Joe has been cordial and professional and the community owes him a great deal of respect. We can't allow him to run the program without resources."
Holmes added that Ramsey does not have the authority to make decisions that could significantly impact the athletic program without first bringing it before the board.
Trustee Barney Bishop said that the athletic department's current financial struggles are the result of decisions made by former interim athletic director J.R.E. Lee III and that Joe and the football program should not have to pay for those decisions.
"We need to see what we can do to get the necessary dollars to put a first-class football team on the playing field," Bishop said. "We have all been remiss in not raising the dollars to get the football team out of this situation.
"The coach should at least have the minimum staff. To not have that would cut him at the knees. It would be absolutely ludicrous to go into the season without a defensive coordinator. I don't think it's a cross that Billy Joe should have to bear."
While Joe, Ramsey, Holmes and Bishop see not having money to recruit and not being able to hire a defensive coordinator as a negative for the future for FAMU's football program, outgoing FAMU president Fred Gainous believes the impact won't be as harsh as projected.
"I don't believe that (it will have a major negative impact)," Gainous said. "It's been done at so many other institutions. I don't for one second believe all the gloom and dome being forecasted. The decision has been made.
"I never heard of a defensive coordinator being so essential in recruiting. The head coach is the primary recruiter and the offensive coordinator recruits as well."
Gainous added that while Joe can't get a defensive coordinator immediately there is a chance he could be able to hire one before the start of the 2005 season.
Joe said he plans to take this latest hit from the administration in stride and move forward with his plans to prepare the Rattlers for the 2005 season.
"Today (Monday) I gave two coaches $1,000 to go to an all-star game in Mississippi," Joe said. "We will recruit via the phone and mailings, but we are going to have to spend money out of our own pocket to go out of town. We are still looking at getting the best players we can."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Heath A. Smith at (850) 599-2166 or hsmith@tallahassee.com.
