Post by krazykev on Sept 26, 2006 5:11:55 GMT -5
By Rob Daniels
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO -- Thomas Lavigne resigned as defensive coordinator at N.C. A&T after two games to attend to personal issues stemming from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, coach Lee Fobbs said Monday.
Fobbs said Lavigne left last week before the Aggies' game at Louisiana-Lafayette because it became impossible for the coach to manage the reconstruction of his mother's home and other logistical matters from 800 miles away. The Big Easy held a revival celebration with the New Orleans Saints' return to the Superdome on "Monday Night Football," but recovery from the events of 13 months ago continues at varying rates across the city.
"People think they know what happened in New Orleans, but they really don't," said Fobbs, a native of Monroe, La., in the northeast part of the state. "When Tom first came here (in February), he had a bed and a chair left. That's it.
"He was trying to salvage what he could. He said, 'I'm trying to deal with a personal problem, and I don't want to take away from what you're doing here.' Mutually, we felt he needed to go and take care of those personal matters."
Asked to describe the work of Lavigne, with whom he played at Grambling in 1969-72, Fobbs said, "I was pleased with the guy."
Fobbs said Lavigne's mother lived in -- and hopes to return to -- the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, one of the areas most ravaged by Katrina.
Lavigne has been replaced as coordinator by Demetrius Adams, who will retain his duties as defensive line coach. The move means both of A&T's coordinators occupy additional positions. Fobbs acts as his own offensive coordinator.
At least in football terms, Adams' job is every bit as difficult as Lavigne's was. The Aggies are young and in need of time in the weight room, and they are falling to injuries at an alarming rate. In Saturday's loss at Division I-A Louisiana-Lafayette, defensive lineman Tyre Glasper suffered a broken leg that ended his season. Brandon Long, perhaps the Aggies' best linebacker, aggravated a knee strain and will miss three or four games.
Linebacker Davion Hemphill, another of the few experienced defenders, missed the game with a recurring shoulder ailment. His availability for Saturday's game at Norfolk State will be determined later this week.
"It's definitely a challenge, but just like the kids, I'm up for a challenge," said Adams, a Southern Mississippi grad who was defensive coordinator at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas last season. "The kids are eager to learn and to do different things."
Fobbs repeated that the basic defensive principles instilled in spring practice will remain.
"We're not going to change the philosophy," he said. "We believe in it."
The improvement won't necessarily be immediate. The Aggies (0-3) rank 115th out of 116 NCAA Division I-AA teams in rushing defense, 115th in scoring defense and 92nd in total defense.
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO -- Thomas Lavigne resigned as defensive coordinator at N.C. A&T after two games to attend to personal issues stemming from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, coach Lee Fobbs said Monday.
Fobbs said Lavigne left last week before the Aggies' game at Louisiana-Lafayette because it became impossible for the coach to manage the reconstruction of his mother's home and other logistical matters from 800 miles away. The Big Easy held a revival celebration with the New Orleans Saints' return to the Superdome on "Monday Night Football," but recovery from the events of 13 months ago continues at varying rates across the city.
"People think they know what happened in New Orleans, but they really don't," said Fobbs, a native of Monroe, La., in the northeast part of the state. "When Tom first came here (in February), he had a bed and a chair left. That's it.
"He was trying to salvage what he could. He said, 'I'm trying to deal with a personal problem, and I don't want to take away from what you're doing here.' Mutually, we felt he needed to go and take care of those personal matters."
Asked to describe the work of Lavigne, with whom he played at Grambling in 1969-72, Fobbs said, "I was pleased with the guy."
Fobbs said Lavigne's mother lived in -- and hopes to return to -- the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, one of the areas most ravaged by Katrina.
Lavigne has been replaced as coordinator by Demetrius Adams, who will retain his duties as defensive line coach. The move means both of A&T's coordinators occupy additional positions. Fobbs acts as his own offensive coordinator.
At least in football terms, Adams' job is every bit as difficult as Lavigne's was. The Aggies are young and in need of time in the weight room, and they are falling to injuries at an alarming rate. In Saturday's loss at Division I-A Louisiana-Lafayette, defensive lineman Tyre Glasper suffered a broken leg that ended his season. Brandon Long, perhaps the Aggies' best linebacker, aggravated a knee strain and will miss three or four games.
Linebacker Davion Hemphill, another of the few experienced defenders, missed the game with a recurring shoulder ailment. His availability for Saturday's game at Norfolk State will be determined later this week.
"It's definitely a challenge, but just like the kids, I'm up for a challenge," said Adams, a Southern Mississippi grad who was defensive coordinator at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas last season. "The kids are eager to learn and to do different things."
Fobbs repeated that the basic defensive principles instilled in spring practice will remain.
"We're not going to change the philosophy," he said. "We believe in it."
The improvement won't necessarily be immediate. The Aggies (0-3) rank 115th out of 116 NCAA Division I-AA teams in rushing defense, 115th in scoring defense and 92nd in total defense.
