Billy Joe Cleared by the NCAA

[Aggie One]

Posted on Sun, Oct. 16, 2005


NCAA clears Joe of FAMU allegations

By Heath A. Smith

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

While Florida A&M University's football team struggled in a lopsided 49-3 loss at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent South Carolina State on Saturday, former Rattlers coach Billy Joe won a big one against his former employer.

The NCAA Infractions Committee cleared Joe of all the allegations leveled against him by the university, both Joe and his attorney, Donald Jackson, said. The university accused Joe of violating NCAA rules regarding practice times and voluntary workouts in its self-report to the NCAA.

FAMU Interim President Castell Bryant did not return messages left on her cell phone Saturday. The school's interim athletic director, E. Newton Jackson, would not comment specifically on Joe's case.

"What we've done so far is deal with select allegations," Jackson said. "We're unable to discuss anything until the entire hearing is complete."

The committee is expected to release its findings in about six to eight weeks.

Joe, FAMU's coach from 1994-2004, and Donald Jackson were informed of the committee's ruling Saturday morning in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"This was a total victory," Jackson told the Tallahassee Democrat on Saturday in a telephone interview. "His (Joe's) credibility and legacy have been restored."

The committee's decision clears the way for Joe and his attorney to seek the remaining two years of compensation left on his contract - $270,000.

"The next step is that they owe him $270,000," Jackson said. "We will deal with that first thing Monday morning, if not sooner."

Newton Jackson fired Joe and two of his assistants in July, citing their involvement in possible NCAA violations. Jackson said initially that Joe had not committed any major violations, but he said his program had committed enough secondary violations to equal a major violation.

There is a provision in Joe's contract that allowed the university to fire him without compensation if he committed any major violations.

Donald Jackson said that if FAMU did not offer a settlement by Monday, he would begin the process of seeking legal recourse to recover Joe's compensation from the university.

"The first thing I did after hearing the verdict was call my wife, and then I cried like a 5-month-old baby," Joe said. "Then I went to his room and cried like a 65-year-old man.

"I'm extremely pleased to be exonerated and vindicated of these charges that were conjured up. I'm extremely disappointed in Dr.Castell Bryant and the private investigator, Michael Buckner, to let this case get this far."

Joe said he would like to avoid any more legal action.

"I offered FAMU an olive branch during the board of trustees' meeting, so it would not have to go this far," Joe said. "FAMU needs to step up to the plate and give me the balance of my contract."


Billy Joe's contract with FAMU

1. The terms of this contract commence January 3, 1994 through December 31, 2006.

2. Current base salary for January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003 is $135,000.00.

3. The Head Coach will receive a minimum cost-of-living increase of 10% if the team wins 75% of games played or 15% if 80% of games are won during the current year. The Assistant Coaches will be considered for a minimum cost-of-living increase of 2%. The Assistant Coaches increase will be based upon the recommendation from the Head Coach with final approval from the Athletic Director.

4. The Head Coach will be guaranteed $10,000.00 for the Billy Joe Show. Net revenues after expenses will be split 50/50 between the Head Coach and the Athletic Department. If payment is not made within 40 days of February 1, Athletics agrees to pay all applicable interest.

5. Head Coach will receive a $5,000 bonus if 80% of scheduled games are won or MEAC Championship. Assistant Coaches will receive $2,000.

6. Head Coach will receive a $2,000 bonus and the Assistant Coaches will receive a $750 bonus for each round won in post-season play. For a loss in post-season play, all coaches will receive 50% of stated bonus. Head Coach will receive $1,000 bonus for a loss in post-season play and Assistant Coaches will receive a $375 bonus for a loss.

7. Contract will be extended an additional year if team wins nine games during the current year.

8. Net revenue generated via Football Camp will be retained by the Head Coach as long as the summer camp is operated in accordance with the NCAA and FAMU Department of Athletics' guidelines. The Athletic Department will receive 20% of net revenues above $10,000 from the summer camp.

9. The Football Program will receive a $100,000 recruiting budget. Effective 03/04 academic year and through the end of this contract December 31, 2006, and a total of $20,000 will be allowed for a personal account.

10. The Head Coach is responsible for all facets of the football program with administrative approval. The scheduling aspect is still the responsibility of the Director of Athletics with input from the Head Football Coach.

11. In case of non-renewal, Head Coach will be re-assigned to another position that is mutually agreed upon by Head Coach and Athletic Director with salary level remaining the same.

12. The Head Coach will be given the sole opportunity to prioritize the programmatic concerns to be implemented with a maximum of $37,500 budget increase per fiscal year.

13. Contract will be immediately canceled if the Head Coach is involved in any major NCAA violations. Also, if Assistant Coaches are involved in any major NCAA violations, their contract will be immediately cancelled as well.


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

[Bigboy]

Since Billy Joe has been cleared, do any of you think that A&T should or should not look at seriously considering hiring him if and when Small is sent packing?

[Maxell]

Nope. No retreads.

[AggieGroove]

^^^^^ Agree!

[AggieBorn]

Why in the world would we do that? True, Billy Joe won some games but his way of running a program is not what we want. If he has escaped all infractions then he's a lucky son of gun. Some of the Rattler Faithful have said for years that Joe was going to kill them at some point, and this was when he was stomping teams in the ground. They knew that the wrath was forthcoming but could not justify his firing at the time.

[Brandmasta]

If we hire Joe, we might as well have hired LC Cole a few years back.

[accokeekaggie]

Our infrastructure is sound enough to keep him clean. Everything he asked of famu - put your money where your mouth is for football - is a given at A&T. We have the facilities, support, and a Chancellor who LOVES his football and would welcome some "Ws". It can't possibly hurt to get a little octane in our offense. Joe has done a good job developing QBs too. Something we despirately need. If he's interested, I say give him a fair and honest shot, meaning give him a chance to recruit and grow his type of team, preferably with some Florida speed. In the BCC game, our Aggies - all of them - looked like they were running in sand with old school leg weights on, whereas the wildcats - all of them - looked to glide as quickly and gracefully as speed skaters. If he wants to wear the beautiful blue and gold since he no longer has to wear that ugly green and orange, I say "Welcome to the fold" We can teach him to say "AGGIE PRIDE!!!" along the way.

[Freeze]

Yall have got to be kidding. This idea is more than a joke.

[DOOMS]

I would be for it, buttttt

1. Joe's old

2. He hasn't beaten BCC in years

3. Even though last year he was playing a I-A schedule, he was still getting trounced by the I-AAs he was playing

4. He is terrible at developing qbs. All his qbs that were worth a damn were transfers. The only one he brought in as a freshman was Quinn Gray. And he wasn't anything to write home about.

[Bigboy]

There is no guarantee that the next coach that we bring in will be worth a dam. All you can do is look at their pass record, which may look good on paper. In the end it's going to come down to what kind of talent he can bring in here. Some people felt that Bill Hayes could not coach worth a dam, but he could recruit talent. We just have to hope and pray that the next coach will get the job done. I sure hope so because I am ready to see some good Aggie football for a change.

[ecograd]

Please!!! No more recycling of MEAC coaches! Todd has connections...I hope she uses them to bring in someone from a program with a track record of success...maybe an assistant from the ACC who's looking for an opportunity, for a chance to show the world what he can do. Sure, someone like that will probably move on to bigger things in 5 or 10 years, but think of where our program will at that point; and, with our newly developed record of success, think of the up and coming great coaches who would jump at the chance to come to the "T".

[Bigboy]

None of that will matter if whoever we bring in can't recruit talented players, which we have very few of at the present. I don't care if we bring them in from the ACC, Big Ten or anywhere else, that still does not guarantee that they will be successful here at A&T. No matter who the next coach may be, he has to be able to recognize and recruit talented players right here in N. Carolina.

[ecograd]

Recruiting talented players is a given, and I don't think that is the main point of the issue here. We already have many talented players I think (sans QB), but they are not being coached and/or motivated to perform at their best. I stand by what I've said, we need for Todd to use her connections to bring in someone primed for success, period!

[da heretic]

Well put, Econgrad.