What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
BENEDICT GETS
ITS MAN: Veteran assistant coach John Hendrick was named last
week as Benedict College's third football coach since the program
was restarted in 1997. The former Mississippi State assistant coach assumes
the reins from Tony Felder who was reassigned last month after the
conclusion of a disappointing 2-9 season. Hendrick said he made the decision
swiftly following his interview with school president Dr. David Swinton
and athletics director Willie Washington and upon learning of the
school's aggressive plans to upgrade facilities. Shortly after Hendrick's
visit, Washington and Swinton received calls from head coaches, Bob Stoops
of Oklahoma, Jackie Sherrill of Mississippi State and Lou Holtz of South
Carolina. Each urged the school to make the hire. Hendrick brings 21 years
of coaching experience, primarily at the Division I level, to his new position.
In addition to Mississippi State, Hendrick has made stops at Temple, Kansas
State, LSU, Texas A&M, Southern, Delaware State and Pittsburgh.
"Losing is a habit and winning is a habit," said Hendrick, "so
the first thing we have to do is we have to instill in the players some
winning habits. Hendrick turned down a chance to interview for the head
coaching job at Jackson State where he was listed as one of three
finalists earlier in the week. As for his coaching staff, Hendrick said
linebacker coach Gray Reynolds has been retained from Felder's staff.
He plans to fill the remaining spots in the coming weeks.
DECISION SOON: Officials at Jackson State interviewed former Fort Valley State head coach Kent Schoolfield and JSU grad Robert Bell on Thursday and added interviews with Alcorn State offensive coordinator John McKenzie and former Alcorn State defensive coordinator Mario Kirksey on Friday in their quest to fill the school's head coaching vacancy. JSU Athletic Director Roy Culberson said over the weekend that the committee overseeing the selection had made its recommendation and a press conference should be called early this week to name the new coach.
JACKSON STATE, AGAIN: For the 13th time in 25 years, Jackson State tops list of NCAA Div. I-AA schools in home football attendance. The Tigers drew 94,765 fans to four home dates this year, an average of 23,691, more than 3,000 more than any other team in the Division. That number is down from last year's national leading average of 27,172 achieved in five home games. Five black colleges finished in the top ten nationally, with Southern fourth with an average of 18,293 for five home games. Other black colleges in the top ten are Florida A&M (5th, 18,048 avg.), North Carolina A&T (7th, 16,798 avg.) and Alcorn State (9th, 15,675).
| I-AA ATTENDANCE LEADERS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Name | Total | Avg Attendance |
1 |
Jackson St. | 94765 |
23691 |
2 |
Delaware | 121545 |
20258 |
3 |
Montana | 152354 |
19044 |
4 |
Southern U. | 91467 |
18293 |
5 |
Florida A&M | 90239 |
18048 |
6 |
Youngstown St. | 103046 |
17174 |
7 |
N.C. A&T | 83988 |
16798 |
8 |
McNeese St. | 130575 |
16322 |
9 |
Alcorn St. | 47026 |
15675 |
10 |
Citadel | 93494` |
15675 |
17 |
Alabama St. | 59397 |
12284 |
18 |
Grambling | 44430 |
11879 |
19 |
Tennessee St. | 54872 |
11108 |
22 |
Hampton | 62278 |
10758 |
28 |
Bethune-Cookman | 29369 |
9916 |
32 |
Morris Brown | 46370 |
9291 |
36 |
South Carolina St. | 50977 |
8496 |
39 |
Prairie View | 8307 |
8391 |
56 |
Norfolk State | 34830 |
6966 |
58 |
Alabama A&M | 32624 |
6525 |
67 |
Mississippi Valley | 30295 |
6059 |
68 |
Morgan State | 30274 |
6055 |
75 |
Howard | 34409 |
5735 |
77 |
Ark.-Pine Bluff | 28139 |
5628 |
82 |
Savannah State | 19830 |
4958 |
83 |
Texas Southern | 23461 |
4692 |
87 |
Delaware State | 24905 |
4151 |
© 2002 Azeez Communications, Inc.