Saturday, December 20, 2014

Message to FAMU President: Pick a Winner for Rattler Football

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a few days, Florida A&M University President Dr. Elmira Mangum will make one of the most important decisions of her career in the selection of the Rattlers new head football coach. This won't be nuclear science, but it’s an important decision.

We all have our opinions on who from the pool of eight (now six) should be selected.

I have one thought on this matter -- pick a winner!

Like you, I have two choices. But I am ready to financially support any choice that Dr. Mangum makes. At the end of the day, that's all that really matters and that's what true Rattlers do.
 
What we have observed so far is no one cares about Florida A&M's bureaucratic selection process, established to save Kellen Winslow's job. Winslow is gone. So are two winners -- Willie Simmons (PVAMU) and Latrell Scott (Norfolk State).

Simmons had the North Florida connections and Scott is just a darn good coach that will make NSU a FCS powerhouse.
 
Playing it political correct is not always the best policy. We just watched the most successful, young head football coach since Jake Gaither (Brian Jenkins) leave a tiny, Florida private school for Alabama State. Are you kidding me?  Really!
 
So the short list now consists of: Charlie Weatherbie, EJ Junior, Tony Samuels, Corey Fuller, Joker Phillips and Mark Orlando. No disrespect intended for all of these highly qualified candidates, but two stand above the crowd in my view.
 
Dr. Mangum, if you have time to read this blog, please consider my choices in this order: (1) Mark Orlando (2) Joe "Joker" Phillips, Jr.
 
Mark Orlando
  • Can successfully recruit Tallahassee, the Big Bend and Florida talent
  • Strong offensive coordinator/QB Coach
  • Won FCS National Championship at FAMU in 1978, on Rudy Hubbard's staff
  • Salary won't bust athletic department budget for FY 2015
  • Understands the challenges of running a successful HBCU football program
  • Ready to step up to HC position
  • Will sign Cory Fuller on as defensive coordinator
  • Will build an exciting championship program and satisfy the Rattlers stakeholders
Joker Phillips
  • Strong Florida recruiter with connections
  • Marque name in HBCU community
  • Last salary at Florida was $260,000 as WR and recruiting coordinator
  • Phillips signed on as Kentucky's HC for $11M over 5 years. Need an opportunity to prove his failure at Kentucky was a fluke
  • FAMU is perfect for what Phillips needs right now -- a marque brand to re-build his coaching career.
Just pick a winner, Dr. Mangum. Go with your instincts! No, your motherly instincts that didn't want to fire Earl Holmes during homecoming week.

(beepbeep) 

From the Mailbag 12/20/14:

carlishamckissic@ymail.com says...
 
Here are some items, I feel, which were left out for Joker Phillips.

-Although Wikipedia has his first name listed as "Joseph", it's just "Joe".
-Randall Cobb (enough said there)
-He has been on the following teams' coaching staff: Kentucky, Notre Dame, Minnesota, South Carolina and Florida.
-He is ranked by ESPN as one of the top football recruiters

Thank you in advance for considering my cousin as one of your top picks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope to one day wear FAMU colors!

Sent from my iPhone

No comments: