Gainous now against move to I-A football


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b8sball17

b8sball17

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Posted on Sat, Jan. 31, 2004

Gainous now against move to I-A football
Column by Randy Beard
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Clearing my mind and notebook while wondering how good Georgia Tech would be if Chris Bosh had stuck around another year:

? Wisdom rules: Finally, voices of reason that should reverberate from Lee Hall to Gaither Gym on the campus of Florida A&M. Although we're still awaiting the official proclamation, the Rattlers' football program suddenly appears to be headed in the right direction again.

Talk about your reversal of field.

FAMU President Fred Gainous sent an e-mail to the college's board of trustees Thursday with a recommendation that the decision to move up to NCAA Division I-A needs to be delayed.

Gainous cited other campus issues and academic programs that need to be addressed before the college tackles a costly upgrade in football. His decision was seconded Friday by one trustee, Rev. R.B. Holmes. Holmes also wants Gainous to rescind the decision of interim athletic director J.R.E. Lee to pull out of the MEAC in all sports. The school has until March 15 to tell the conference its intentions.

Holmes said that before the school moves up to major college football, it needs to first develop a master plan to upgrade athletic facilities and increase booster support. "I think a 7- to 10-year master plan will get us there," said Holmes. "We have had some missteps. It's time to take a deep breath and reconsider this thing and do what is best for the universities, and really, black college football."

FAMU coach Billy Joe has to have mixed feelings. The decision to move up from I-AA last summer cost him several transfers. With National Signing Day on Wednesday, Joe now has to wonder how many recruits might reconsider if the Rattlers aren't a Division I-A program.

But Joe at least has to be encouraged that someone else finally has realized that a stronger financial commitment needs to be made to FAMU athletics.

While Gainous is busy seizing control, he should finally hire a permanent athletic director. Replacing Lee would help soothe those strained relationships with other MEAC schools.
 
Gainous says UBC can't pay FAMU

Memo to trustees is first step toward ending deal
By Heath A. Smith
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M President Fred Gainous has taken the first step toward severing the school's relationship with Peggy Dodson and her Urban Broadcasting Company.

Gainous told FAMU's Board of Trustees in a memo sent Thursday that UBC, which broadcast six of the school's football games this past season, was unlikely to generate any revenue for the athletic department based on an incomplete financial statement he received from Dodson.
 



I hate to say this - well really I dont - but I told ya'll this thang was shaky. They have basically created a mess all for nothing, but im sure they will be aiight. Welcome back.
 
I hope that a D1AA schedule can be put in place at this late date and the MEAC accepts FAMU back.:goof: :goof: :goof:
I hope that they can recruit a decent class of football players after all of this and fire Corbin and Lee.
 
Originally posted by Butch Wms.
I hope that a D1AA schedule can be put in place at this late date and the MEAC accepts FAMU back.:goof: :goof: :goof:
I hope that they can recruit a decent class of football players after all of this and fire Corbin and Lee.
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They don't have to put a D1AA schedule in place, just play the one they have than get their act together for the following year after kissing much butt.
 
blue,

That would depend on if anybody drops them.

Established I-As may already have a I-AA on their sked and don't want another.

New I-As (FAU, FIU) may need a I-A in that schedule slot.
 
Originally posted by PNeck019
blue,

That would depend on if anybody drops them.

Established I-As may already have a I-AA on their sked and don't want another.

New I-As (FAU, FIU) may need a I-A in that schedule slot.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm, then they may be up the creek without a paddle.
 
Its really ugly over here in T town. A big meeting is scheduled in the FAMU athletics department for Wednesday Morning. The Athletic Director is the Chairman of the FAMU BOT's boy, all the way back to birth. He don't report to the president and the BOT chairman is saying he ain't going nowhere. We don't know what to expect.

As for a IA or IAA schedule. We are in the dark. Everything has gone south overnight!
 
,,,, oooh LORD!!!

,,, this is awful,,, just awful i say. i'm sick. just absolutely sick i tell ya,, :sick: i'm worse off den Bush wit all the left-wing liberals piling on about "SO WHERE DA WMDs AT??!!!!!!" :rolleyes: this is just a horrible development. MAN,,, c'mon FAM,, lets get through this! :bawling: :bawling: :bawling:

sincerely, still a staunch hardcore believer in HBCU Div I-AA moving to Div I-A.
 
With all do respect to the MEAC. I hope the SWAC commissioner and SWAC presidents seriously entertain talks with Florida A & M University's president in regards to possible opportunities as far as membership.

More than anything just do not leave any stone unturn!!
 
Interesting.

Originally posted by Jafus (Thinker)
With all do respect to the MEAC. I hope the SWAC commissioner and SWAC presidents seriously entertain talks with Florida A & M University's president in regards to possible opportunities as far as membership.

More than anything just do not leave any stone unturn!!
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,,, wow,,,, now that would be very interesting. I think FAMU would be pre-disposed to going back to the MEAC,,, but man,, that would REALLY be some visionary leadership if the SWAC brass could pull that off. very interesting.

I doubt if that will gain traction in the SWAC in general,,, but to humor you, just think if visionary SWAC leadership was working around the clock right now to pull TN state away from the OVC and FAMU into the SWAC making the SWAC a 12 team conference still with the SCG in tack. that would be a major coupe for the SWAC. thank GOD the SWAC ain't pursuing that though.

sincerely, an SIAC/MEAC grad.

:)
 
Originally posted by b8sball17
Posted on Sat, Jan. 31, 2004

Gainous now against move to I-A football
Column by Randy Beard
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Holmes said that before the school moves up to major college football, it needs to first develop a master plan to upgrade athletic facilities and increase booster support. "I think a 7- to 10-year master plan will get us there," said Holmes.
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Correct me if I am wrong but didn't some of us on this board say the same thing before FAMU offically made this move?

:smh: I find this entire situation very embarrassing.
 
That's correct TSU/Bama

I first became of aware of this in Detroit back in Sept while talking with FAMU alums. They were not sold or happy with the proposed move.
 



dooooh,,,

uugh! deez mugz are killing me. :( oooh i'm siiiiiiick. C'MON FAMU!! YA CAN'T IMPLODE LIKE THIS WITH ALL THE NAYSAYERs CIRCLING OVERHEAD LIKE TURKEY VULTURES!!!!! IF YOU DON'T SUCCEED, WE'LL NEVER HEAR THE END OF THIS FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS!!!!!! this is like professional football leagues (XFL, World League, USFL, Canadian League, the Birmingham Americans league,, etc) folding in Birmingham!!! Now anytime somebody in Birmingham says, "hey, lets bring pro ____ to Birmingham" it's BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE to make happen. Same with HBCUs going to Division I-A if FAMU makes an about-face on its move. I'M SICK!!!! :mad:
 
Well, I can't speak for anyone else, only for myself. I have never said that FAMU's move to division should not happen. All I have said is that they should:

HAVE A SOLID GAME PLAN.

From the looks of things, this has not been the case. I just hope they can weather this storm.
 
Re: dooooh,,,

Originally posted by Bartram
uugh! deez mugz are killing me. :( oooh i'm siiiiiiick. C'MON FAMU!! YA CAN'T IMPLODE LIKE THIS WITH ALL THE NAYSAYERs CIRCLING OVERHEAD LIKE TURKEY VULTURES!!!!! IF YOU DON'T SUCCEED, WE'LL NEVER HEAR THE END OF THIS FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS!!!!!! this is like professional football leagues (XFL, World League, USFL, Canadian League, the Birmingham Americans league,, etc) folding in Birmingham!!! Now anytime somebody in Birmingham says, "hey, lets bring pro ____ to Birmingham" it's BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE to make happen. Same with HBCUs going to Division I-A if FAMU makes an about-face on its move. I'M SICK!!!! :mad:
Click to expand...

I think an HBCU, with the right plan, can make a successful run at this. I'm still hoping FAMU can get it together and succeed. Time will tell.
 
Originally posted by TSU/BAMA
HAVE A SOLID GAME PLAN.
From the looks of things, this has not been the case. I just hope they can weather this storm.
Click to expand...
:shame: (man, i hope this is not true.)

doooooooh,,,, i feel like when i got a tore up stomach and got to go to the bathroom FAST. where's my imodium AD,, someone pass the imodium i say. just sick. :vomit:

siiiiiiiiiiigh. come on FAMU, say it ain't so. :whine:
 
I am not going to pile on FAMU at least not now. True, I thought that a few folks in the FAMU leadership were not thinking about the school's overall best interest. I hope that the Rattler leadership can get things together.
 
Re: ,,,, oooh LORD!!!

Originally posted by Bartram
,,, this is awful,,, just awful i say. i'm sick. just absolutely sick i tell ya,, :sick: i'm worse off den Bush wit all the left-wing liberals piling on about "SO WHERE DA WMDs AT??!!!!!!" :rolleyes: this is just a horrible development. MAN,,, c'mon FAM,, lets get through this! :bawling: :bawling: :bawling:

sincerely, still a staunch hardcore believer in HBCU Div I-AA moving to Div I-A.
Click to expand...

Jafus you know i have respectfully disagreed with you on some things and it was no big deal, but on this........HELL NO!!!
 
Posted on Sun, Feb. 01, 2004

FAMU trustees question Lee's moves, leadership
By Randy Beard
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

When J.R.E. Lee used a sports information press release in early January to defend the direction in which he has been leading the Florida A&M athletics department, it amounted to another misstep by the Rattlers' interim athletic director, according to several members of the school's board of trustees.

"I'm concerned about his inability to correctly predict what the lay of the land is going to be over the near horizon," trustee Barney Bishop told the Tallahassee Democrat Saturday. "We're told that we've got schools wanting to compete with us when they don't. We've announced a stadium deal that we don't have. We've got optimistic (financial) numbers that (Lee) hasn't met. You just have a litany now of things that have happened that make me think this person is not appropriate to lead our athletic department."

Randy Hanna added that it has become increasingly apparent that too many decisions in the past six months regarding the athletics department have been made without first seeking the input of President Fred Gainous or the full board of trustees.

"We need to send the message to the university, our alumni, our supporters that we are moving forward to improve the athletic program," Hanna said. "In order to do that we have to make sure we have a consistent message, and we've not had that consistent message to this point."

That message became more clouded this week after Gainous sent two e-mails to the trustees. In one of the two memos obtained by the Democrat, Gainous confirmed that a deal with the Urban Broadcasting Company, which Lee negotiated, had failed to generate promised income. In another e-mail, also sent Thursday, Gainous recommended that the trustees reconsider the school's application to move up to NCAA Division I-A football at their Feb.10 meeting.

It was just seven months ago that Gainous asked the trustees to endorse the I-A move.

Two other trustees, Rev. R.B. Holmes and vice chairman Bill Jennings each said Friday that they would join Bishop and Hanna in supporting Gainous' recommendation to return to I-AA football. Holmes and Bishop also want Gainous to inform the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference of FAMU's desire to remain a member in all sports.

"We've seen the UBC contract fall apart. As you know, some of us supported it because we thought that was a tremendous financial opportunity," Holmes said. "Well, it didn't happen and we need to take a step back ... When we do this thing again, we'll make sure all of the significant parties are involved in the decisions - trustees, the legal team, the president's office, the alumni, the boosters. We have to do a better job of networking and bringing significant players along."

All of the trustees who were contacted by the Democrat believe FAMU eventually can make a successful transition to Division I-A if facilities are upgraded, conference affiliation is secured and financial support from boosters is strengthened.

The school already has bond money set aside by the state to improve facilities - $14 million for Bragg Stadium and $15 million for a new physical education building/teaching gymnasium - but FAMU officials are still studying options to repay the additional debt that will come with those projects.

Gainous' latest position on the I-A move comes three weeks after the Jan.10 open letter Lee sent to FAMU alumni and friends. In that release, Lee stated: "I want to assure everyone that I remain committed to this move and I'm absolutely convinced that this move is the right thing to do for Florida A&M football."

Distributed to state media outlets as part of a sports information release, Lee again proclaimed that the broadcasting deal with UBC would pay FAMU "a minimum of $1.5 million by June 30." He also announced that the school's move to I-A football had increased interest in the program and had led to offers of a $20 million naming-rights deal for Bragg Stadium and a possible "in-kind gift of a Cessna Citation aircraft for travel and recruiting."

The trustees have yet to receive evidence that any of those gifts are forthcoming, according to Bishop.

Bishop said that he endorsed the move to Division I-A last June because the application already had been made to the NCAA before a presentation was made to the trustees.

"I made the motion to accept it because I felt like they were hanging out there on it, and the decision already had been made," Bishop said. "I felt confident that if the president already had decided to do it, that it was the right thing, and I wanted to show support for the administration."

But in subsequent board meetings, including one in which Lee made a presentation about projected athletic department revenue, Bishop and Hanna each cautioned Lee about overestimating gate receipts and other revenue sources.

"I told him twice I really felt very strongly that he needed to take a very conservative approach," Bishop said.

Hanna also asked Lee to back up his financial projections. "There were a lot of questions that weren't answered to my satisfaction," Hanna said.

"I've lost confidence in the athletic director's ability to direct this program," Bishop said. "I'm going to be fully supportive of the delay to move to I-A because I don't think it has been properly planned by the athletic department ... I think the athletic director has led us down a primrose path that is not primrose anymore. I feel like I've been misled.

"I think it is time for a change, the sooner the better."

Hanna said he didn't want to comment on a personnel matter, but was relieved to see Gainous taking an active role in athletic department decisions. He said Gainous is in the process of developing a long-range strategic plan for athletics.

"That's what we told him to do at the last board meeting, that's what needed to be done, and I think this is what you see him doing," said Hanna.
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Jafus:

First the travel cost is isn't worth it but mainly it's the attitude of alot of the fans there in Tallahassee.

I've been to many SWAC road games and not have I ever encounter the experience of not feeling safe and knowing that the security their wasn't going to do diddly for you.

I remember right before Pete stop playing Billy Joe that on two occasions when we got to the stadium to take our seats famu fans were already sitting in them and basically dared anyone from SU to take then back.

Several people went to get help from security and all I have to say about that is.....smh!

Not to mention the arrogant and unsportsman like approach Billy Joe has with the coaches. That same attitude is reflected in the band director in that he take the postion that schools should have to pay them to show up and play for their football games.

We don't need that type of attitude infecting the SWAC, it's that same attitude that has landed them in the poistion that they're in now.

While I don't wish anything bad for the rattlers, neither do I wish to see them become a member of the SWAC unless some serious changes are made.
 
Bluedog:

I have had the same experiences at Mumford! And I repeat a SWAC coach's comments "Somebody is going to get hurt".

Were' dazed and confused right know, But we ain't that confused!

Go SWAC!
 
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