School Gets His Interview

[Aggie One]

Posted on Wed, Jul. 13, 2005

www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/sports/colleges/florida_am_university/12118489.htm

FAMU alum, former NFL coordinator interview

By Heath A. Smith

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


The way Kent Schoolfield sees it, Florida A&M's football program is like a made-for-TV movie and he wants to be the leading man.

"I think Denzel Washington should play my role, but they'd probably end up getting Cedric The Entertainer to play me," Schoolfield joked during a phone interview with the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday evening.

Schoolfield, the offensive coordinator at DivisionI-AA North Carolina A&T, was one of two coaches to interview Tuesday for FAMU's vacant head football coaching job.

Former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Alex Wood also came in for an interview Tuesday.

Division II Shaw coach Deondri Clark came interviewed Saturday.

The two remaining candidates, DivisionI-A Temple defensive line coach Rubin Carter and Division II Winston-Salem assistant coach Linwood S. Ferguson, could be interviewed as early as today and a new head coach could be named this week.

Schoolfield, 58, has already played a couple of roles at FAMU, first as a student-athlete (1965-1970), then as offensive coordinator under coach Ken Riley from 1988-1993.

Coming back to FAMU as head coach would be the final act in an interesting story, Schoolfield said.

"Certainly I figured I'd have a chance to come back at some point," Schoolfield said. "I still think FAMU is a highly regarded program. FAMU is the Mercedes Benz of black colleges."

Schoolfield and Wood met with administrators, including FAMU interim President Castell Bryant and interim Athletic Director E. Newton Jackson. They also spoke with the retained coaching staff and the players.

In a bit of irony, Schoolfield would replace the person who replaced him - if he gets the job. Former FAMU coach Billy Joe, who was fired last month, basically served as offensive coordinator as the architect of the Gulf Coast Offense.

Schoolfield, like Clark, said he'd be foolish to come in and make a lot of changes just before the start of fall preseason practice and said he's proved that he has the ability to adjust his offensive schemes to the talent that he has.

Schoolfield pointed out that during his first three seasons as DivisionII Fort Valley State's head football coach his teams mainly threw the ball, but he adapted to more of a running team as he was able to upgrade at running back.

"I have a plan A, B and C for whatever situation FAMU must face," Schoolfield said. "I'm just ready to get this thing going."

Noteworthy

Jackson attended a town hall meeting of about 50 students to discuss the athletic department's financial situation and the decision to cut men's golf, men's tennis and men's and women's swimming and diving for the upcoming season.

Jackson said the meeting, hosted by the school's student government association, was part of the process that needed to occur in order to request an increase in student-athletic fees.


Contact Heath A. Smith at [phone] or [e-mail].

[Bornthrilla]

BDF members: see comments I posted in private forum about this.

[Aggie One]

Rattlers interview last two hopefuls

Jackson: Coach may be chosen in next week

By Heath A. Smith

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


Howard University Sports Information Director Edward Hill was excited to learn last week that Rubin Carter was a finalist for Florida A&M's vacant head football coaching position.

Carter, currently the defensive-line coach at Division I-A Temple, was the defensive coordinator at Howard (1989-1993) and later was the defensive-line coach at nearby Division I-A Maryland University (1997-1998)

"Man, I used to love going over to watch him coach the players," Hill recalled. "He was just so intense. He's a good coach."

Carter plans to bring the same intensity that caught Hill's attention to FAMU if he is hired.

Carter and Division II Winston-Salem University assistant coach Linwood S. Ferguson came in for their interviews Wednesday, making them the last of the five finalists to be interviewed.

Ferguson was the last candidate interviewed, and his tight travel schedule didn't allow him time to talk to the media before he had to catch his plane.

FAMU interim Athletic Director E. Newton Jackson said a new head coach could be named within a week.

Carter, 52, is one of two finalists with coaching experience in the NFL, having served as defensive-line coach with the New York Jets (2001-2003), the Washington Redskins (1999-2000) and the Denver Broncos (1987-1988).

Going from the plush surroundings of the NFL to Division I-AA can be quite a culture shock, but Carter did it once before - going from the Broncos to Howard - so going from I-A Temple to FAMU won't take a lot of getting used to.

"Certainly when you have less resources you have to be more efficient and more effective," said Carter, who helped Howard's defense to a No.1 ranking in Division I-AA against the run and pass in 1989. "I see great potential here."

Carter said he got a first-hand look at FAMU's potential when the Rattlers traveled to Philadelphia last season to play Temple.

"Prior to playing the game I have to admit we were a little bit nervous," Carter said. "They played hard and had talent at the skill positions. That turned out to be a critical game for us."

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Contact Heath A. Smith at [phone] or [e-mail].