Post by DOOMS on Oct 28, 2008 9:01:31 GMT -5
In October, 1996, the Bethune-Cookman College (now University) Wildcats paid a visit to Aggie Stadium for A&T’s homecoming. They were defeated 73-7 on their way to their umpteenth losing season in a row. A month or so later, the defensive coordinator from that team was named head coach. His name? Alvin Wyatt. Why in the world would they promote this man to head coach a mere month after he gave up 73 points to a team that only passed the ball like three times and only won seven games themselves?
Because he loved Cookman unconditionally and would not break the bank.
The only reason Wyatt was even around campus was because once he left the NFL he went back to Daytona Beach with nothing and asked the president of BCU for a job. The president liked Wyatt and promised him he would have a job at BCC for as long as he wanted. Wyatt was made defensive coordinator of the football team and had up and down years. If you are familiar with the history of BCU you know he had more down years than up. He also was eventually made head coach of the women’s basketball team (where he had up and down years), did groundskeeping, dorm r.a. work, etc. Eventually he made his way back to d-coordinator when his former head coach, Cy McLairen (who was also just hanging around campus) was given the head job again. When Cy’s old butt retired a few years later, Alvin got the job. Why?
Because he loved Cookman unconditionally and would not break the bank.
Why would you promote a d-coordinator that gave up 73 points the year before? I mean, look at Wyatt. The man is, well, a character. Point blank. He dresses like a pimp. He kinda acts like one. He looks like Steve Harvey. The gold chains, the outfits he designs himself, the shades… But he has so much charisma it doesn’t make sense. He fights for his players. And he loves Bethune-Cookman. They promoted him, paid him only the small sum he asked for, and put the money they saved into the program. His first year they went 4-7 (including beating us only one year after we beat they 73-7). The second year he’s got like nine wins. It’s a formula for success that we can follow. They gave him great assistants and paid them well (half of them now coach Norfolk State, if you haven’t noticed). They paid enough to convince Rusty Russell (of around four or so division I-AA national championship rings and son of Erk Russell) to come to Daytona as defensive coordinator. Granted, he ain’t stay, but the fact that they even got him to listen says something. How many coordinators from multiple I-AA championship teams are even looking to take the same position at an HBCU? How do you say zero in French? That shows that Cookman rewards their assistants handsomely.
They don’t have to worry about Wyatt ever leaving. They don’t have to offer him huge raises, just give him little things to help him recruit or whatever. He ain’t the smartest coach. He might be the best looking (I can’t believe that cat is 60). But he is full of charisma and makes those kids want to fight for him and BCU as much as he fights for them. He holds them responsible. He has fire. As much as George Small loved and loves A&T, he didn’t have that fire. Lee Fobbs didn’t have the fire and I ain’t so sure he had the love. George Ragsdale’s got it. I believe that George Ragsdale loves A&T enough to be willing to take less pay than all those “glamorous” candidates floating around out there in order to get only the best assistants here to help him teach these kids basic fundamentals and to make us A&T again.
There is not one kid playing for us that has a clue what being A&T truly means. The swagger. The attitude. The knowledge that people hate you simply because you are better than them. Wheels knows. Most of us on here know. Rags definitely knows.
George Ragsdale is our Alvin Wyatt.
Because he loves A&T unconditionally and will not break the bank.
Several years ago, I sat near Coach Rags at Aggie Stadium when we played Jackson State. I was complaining about how black college coaches didn’t know anything and we needed to hire a dude from a pwc conference. Coach Rags stood up and asked why couldn’t he be head coach. He had a desire to do the job in his eyes right there. I honestly believe that he would have gone down on the sidelines, punched Coach Hayes directly in his chest, and taken the job for free. He loves A&T that much. If you love A&T you don’t do things like sign contracts to be head coach and offensive coordinator for way too much money. Coach Small took less money to get (what he thought were and what Morgan is showing are) good coordinators. Coach Hayes was vastly underpaid as well. We all know the types of things he did to bring the program up to par and for which he was never truly rewarded. They loved A&T.
Rags loves A&T at least as much and most likely even more. In all the wishlists I’ve seen and all the conversations I’ve had I have not seen nor head one name mentioned that has the level of love to come here as a part-time volunteer running back coach just to help out as Rags did in Small’s first season. I wouldn’t even do that. I gots bills to pay. Ask yourself, do you love A&T enough to do something like that?
Crickets.
Silence.
Coach Rags, here’s to you! I sincerely believe that you love A&T enough to bring us back to our rightful place and beyond, I believe that you wouldn’t dare demand a crazy salary like your predecessor, I believe that you know quality assistants when you see them, I believe that you have only the best interests of our alma mater and your kids at heart, and I hope you get the chance to prove it for the next umpteen years.
Tomorrow’s history lesson will have to do with why black folks eat chitlins.
Because he loved Cookman unconditionally and would not break the bank.
The only reason Wyatt was even around campus was because once he left the NFL he went back to Daytona Beach with nothing and asked the president of BCU for a job. The president liked Wyatt and promised him he would have a job at BCC for as long as he wanted. Wyatt was made defensive coordinator of the football team and had up and down years. If you are familiar with the history of BCU you know he had more down years than up. He also was eventually made head coach of the women’s basketball team (where he had up and down years), did groundskeeping, dorm r.a. work, etc. Eventually he made his way back to d-coordinator when his former head coach, Cy McLairen (who was also just hanging around campus) was given the head job again. When Cy’s old butt retired a few years later, Alvin got the job. Why?
Because he loved Cookman unconditionally and would not break the bank.
Why would you promote a d-coordinator that gave up 73 points the year before? I mean, look at Wyatt. The man is, well, a character. Point blank. He dresses like a pimp. He kinda acts like one. He looks like Steve Harvey. The gold chains, the outfits he designs himself, the shades… But he has so much charisma it doesn’t make sense. He fights for his players. And he loves Bethune-Cookman. They promoted him, paid him only the small sum he asked for, and put the money they saved into the program. His first year they went 4-7 (including beating us only one year after we beat they 73-7). The second year he’s got like nine wins. It’s a formula for success that we can follow. They gave him great assistants and paid them well (half of them now coach Norfolk State, if you haven’t noticed). They paid enough to convince Rusty Russell (of around four or so division I-AA national championship rings and son of Erk Russell) to come to Daytona as defensive coordinator. Granted, he ain’t stay, but the fact that they even got him to listen says something. How many coordinators from multiple I-AA championship teams are even looking to take the same position at an HBCU? How do you say zero in French? That shows that Cookman rewards their assistants handsomely.
They don’t have to worry about Wyatt ever leaving. They don’t have to offer him huge raises, just give him little things to help him recruit or whatever. He ain’t the smartest coach. He might be the best looking (I can’t believe that cat is 60). But he is full of charisma and makes those kids want to fight for him and BCU as much as he fights for them. He holds them responsible. He has fire. As much as George Small loved and loves A&T, he didn’t have that fire. Lee Fobbs didn’t have the fire and I ain’t so sure he had the love. George Ragsdale’s got it. I believe that George Ragsdale loves A&T enough to be willing to take less pay than all those “glamorous” candidates floating around out there in order to get only the best assistants here to help him teach these kids basic fundamentals and to make us A&T again.
There is not one kid playing for us that has a clue what being A&T truly means. The swagger. The attitude. The knowledge that people hate you simply because you are better than them. Wheels knows. Most of us on here know. Rags definitely knows.
George Ragsdale is our Alvin Wyatt.
Because he loves A&T unconditionally and will not break the bank.
Several years ago, I sat near Coach Rags at Aggie Stadium when we played Jackson State. I was complaining about how black college coaches didn’t know anything and we needed to hire a dude from a pwc conference. Coach Rags stood up and asked why couldn’t he be head coach. He had a desire to do the job in his eyes right there. I honestly believe that he would have gone down on the sidelines, punched Coach Hayes directly in his chest, and taken the job for free. He loves A&T that much. If you love A&T you don’t do things like sign contracts to be head coach and offensive coordinator for way too much money. Coach Small took less money to get (what he thought were and what Morgan is showing are) good coordinators. Coach Hayes was vastly underpaid as well. We all know the types of things he did to bring the program up to par and for which he was never truly rewarded. They loved A&T.
Rags loves A&T at least as much and most likely even more. In all the wishlists I’ve seen and all the conversations I’ve had I have not seen nor head one name mentioned that has the level of love to come here as a part-time volunteer running back coach just to help out as Rags did in Small’s first season. I wouldn’t even do that. I gots bills to pay. Ask yourself, do you love A&T enough to do something like that?
Crickets.
Silence.
Coach Rags, here’s to you! I sincerely believe that you love A&T enough to bring us back to our rightful place and beyond, I believe that you wouldn’t dare demand a crazy salary like your predecessor, I believe that you know quality assistants when you see them, I believe that you have only the best interests of our alma mater and your kids at heart, and I hope you get the chance to prove it for the next umpteen years.
Tomorrow’s history lesson will have to do with why black folks eat chitlins.