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Alcorn State head football coach fired
Published Thursday, December 11, 2008
LORMAN — Ernest Jones confirmed early Thursday afternoon that he has been fired as head coach of Alcorn State University’s football team.
Jones said Alcorn State’s attorneys notified his attorneys of his release.
He has not been personally notified by anyone at the university, he said.
"I plan to be the head football coach at Alcorn State University, and I want to be the head coach at Alcorn State University," Jones said Thursday. "I just, I can't even get my thoughts together right now."
Attorney Wayne Ferrell told the Associated Press Thursday the firing was detailed in a letter he received from the university. He said he could not go into detail about the allegations in the letter, but he called them frivolous.
Jones had filed a lawsuit against Alcorn President George Ross and Athletic Director Darren Hamilton earlier this week, alleging the university had committed a breach of contract in firing seven of his assistant football coaches the day after Thanksgiving.
Those seven coaches were reinstated by Ross on Monday.
Alcorn went 2-10 this season, but lost six games by a touchdown or less and four games in the final minute in Jones’ first year as head coach.
Comments
Posted by dransom (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jones, it is obvious that they do not want you their. Just leave and find you another job. It would have been better if you resigned rather than getting fired. This can only hurt the university, the program and the student-athletes.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This just gets crazier and crazier by the moment!!! This is much better than All My Children or General Hospital! Now let me see if I got this straight. Alcorn up and fired basically all of the assistants, reinstated them about 3 days later, then Jones' attorney now states that Jones has been fired via a letter to him? Wow. Priceless.
Posted by jaquan32 (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you teach4peace, this is a soap opera in the making. What in the h e double hockey sticks is going on at the reservation.
Posted by ATL_ALUMNI (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is Alcorn business!!! IF you REALLY don't know then your opinions are just that!! I think they know how to handle university business!!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ugh, with this being a message board for commenting on a story, we ARE aware that the posts here are OPINION and NOT fact unless proven otherwise. We come here to make our opinions about stories known. What's your point?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HA!!! You go Teach!!
Posted by dog8 (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ATL_ALUMNI- why do all you Alcornites always play the "you don't know what's really going on" card. The simple fact is that your school looks stupid. The circus in Lorman is embarrassing.
Last I checked, Alcorn was a state supported school, and they should offer some sort of explanation behind some of this madness to the public.
I hate to come across as rude, but you guys are showing why you have been losers for so long.
Posted by OKBraveFan (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"ATL_ALUMNI- why do all you Alcornites always play the "you don't know what's really going on" card. The simple fact is that your school looks stupid. The circus in Lorman is embarrassing.
Last I checked, Alcorn was a state supported school, and they should offer some sort of explanation behind some of this madness to the public.
I hate to come across as rude, but you guys are showing why you have been losers for so long."
The only thing that would be embarassing is if the coach and his coaching did something illegal to get fired. ASU was the first to do many things as a HBCU athletic program we do not need outsiders help in this matter. We lead others follow in the SWAC and among other HBCU's athletic programs. ATL_ALUMNI is right on point the things every school is worried about Alcorn as usual.
Posted by cali_blue (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach Jones back your bags and head to Itta Bena,the Valley will welcome you with open arms.Totten had 7 years to prove himself to be a good coach.You should have been given a chance,one year is not enough.
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I told you.......
Posted by Bone (anonymous) on December 12, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree this is Alcorn business but, something is not right. From what I heard (gossip) Jones was fired because he embezzles monies from the university, not because of the record for the season. Now for his assistants (gossip again) I was told they also brought baby formula and pampers, etc., with federal monies. When it all said and done, EMBEZZLMENT is going to be the nature of the firing.
Posted by CONCERNED_FRIEND (anonymous) on December 12, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a very difficult situation for the University to be in. If you want to fix it with the least amount of risk, you might consider asking your alunmi Dr. Joseph E. Thomas, Jr. for some help in this. He is brilliant at working on these types of problems, minimizing exposure & risk while gaining the maximum benefit for the outcome. He has had conversations with both the University President and Coach Jones. I'd bet he could help you all to come to an agreement that would be best for all concerned.
Posted by IraqiBravesFan (anonymous) on December 13, 2008 at 3:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Teach, This type of stuff should be talked about. State supported school or not, but what's most interesting to me. There has never been a first year coach that didn't have the interim tag attached to his name fired. So every now and then family business gets out in the street. Alcorn is no different, but after it is all said and done their will be a coach on the staff name McNair and it wont be Steve. Because there is no way coach Jones and the AD will co-exist at Alcorn after this mess....
Posted by downbytheriver (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I posted this on another story here, but the fact remains..most of the rumors is just that-RUMORS. For the record, anything that is in public is fair game for somments, good, bad and ugly!
I hope when all is said and done, regardless of the outcome, Jones and asst's are long gone from this mess. They were within their right to sue, I guess no matter what..not everyone can run a business, right AD Hamilton?
How bout you need to get your STORIES straight! Every story that has come out about this with reference to the AD, is lies, inconsistent, and BS. If you gonna lie, at least keep up with what you sayin!
**posted on another story in here:
Lawsuits are out of hand, but in this instance, I concur with Jones and the lawsuit.
You all just don't know, but somethin stinkin up at the reservation and it ain't Jones. AD needs to go.
This has NOTHING to do with how Jones coached. Not anything to do with the coach and asst's. stealing money or any other far fetched, reaching out for rumors.
In fact when Jones got there, he cleaned house a bit, some players were let go, and he and staff laid down expectations of what is expected of the football players. He was excited and brought his enthusiasm to the players. He gave them hope and something to look forward to, gave them enough push to work harder.
IN FACT, even the returning players said they had NEVER had conditioning and work outs as hard as Jones had them going! He let them know what he expected, those who wanted to believe in his "process" stayed and worked their asses off, those that didn't, quit/were let go.
This was ONLY the first yr for these coaches at this school, so naturally they should have been given TIME to get the program together.
Moreover, these coaches have families and need to feed their families.
The asst's. are on contract until 31 Dec! AD giving them notice that they were fired was wrong, and going behind the HC back was wrong.
And I hope the rumors about the McNairs having anything to do with this, is just that -rumors. What did Fred McNair coach, high school football? A player in the league does NOT = a good coach. In fact VERY FEW players in the league could truly be considered a GOOD COACH. the players from the league would have to have been STUDIOUS of the game, for example-Peyton Manning, someone who STUDIES the game of football. ( Not a Peyton fan, just making a point).
I'm tellin you, alums, boosters, you all need to get some straight answers, and get yourselves HEARD!
Oh and for the rumor bout Jones throwing his stuff on the field in the snow...BS. There was no snow on the ground over there AT ALL!
What an embarassment to the University and the football program!
You all done really set yourselves back now! Good Job AD, and whoever else is on his nutz!
Posted by ATL_ALUMNI (anonymous) on December 15, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unlike "other" schools, ASU will continue to RIGHT!! Rebuilding or not, you will do what your supposed to do!!! If im not mistaking, ASU had the highest graduation rate among student-athletes for MS, second in the nation!! Something evidently was being handled the right way, even though the programs are rebuilding...Some of you other may need to do the same! Dog8 and Teach, tell that to that other school who continues to the WORST among student-athletes in NCAA!
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