The help wanted sign is still up for the Alcorn State head football coaching job.
The last 24 hours has featured a whirlwind of rumors and speculation surrounding the position.
It was initially reported Saturday by Football Scoop, an amateur football news website, that ASU was on the verge of naming Northern Colorado offensive coordinator Michael Armour head coach. That story was then picked up by several other news outlets hours later.
However, Alcorn officials, who originally said the school would make an announcement following this weekend’s commencement ceremonies, did not confirm those reports. In fact, an Alcorn spokesperson told the Natchez Democat Sunday “she didn’t know where that rumor came from” as no announcement was made regarding the head coach position.
It has been nearly three months since Alcorn State let go Melvin Spears who was placed on administrative leave in December before being fired in February. In Spears’ only season in Lorman, the Braves posted an abysmal 2-8 record (1-8 in the SWAC).
Spears was also subject of an investigation after Chris Perkins, the father of a one-time Alcorn player, claimed the coach threatened him and his son following a scholarship appeal hearing. Spears denied the report, however.
Prior to signing with Alcorn, Spears spent three years as head coach at Grambling State, winning a Southwestern Athletic Conference title in 2005 before being fired the following season and later winning a wrongful termination lawsuit against the school.
Armour is one of four finalists for the vacant job, including Todd McDaniel, Alcorn State’s defensive line coach and interim head coach; Fredrick Farrier and longtime collegiate defensive coordinator Jay Hopson.