Melvin Spears has been named head coach offensive coordinator of the Alabama State Hornets, effectively setting the stage for his next head coaching job and a chance to once again transform the SWAC into his personal passing drill.
“I kind of backed into it,” Spears said. “Coach (Reggie) Barlow wanted to shuffle his staff and wanted to have a more vertical-type passing game. My name comes up anytime you hear that.”
Sources close to Alabama State University have disclosed to the HBCU Sports Blog one of the most obvious rumors in the history of black college sports: the Hornets 21-0 loss to Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic spells the end for Reggie Barlow’s tenure as head coach.
Reggie Barlow knows that his time as Alabama State head football coach are numbered. And with a terrible economy putting the squeeze on six-figure jobs throughout the country, why not pine for another gig before the ax drops?
“After talking with them, they told me that none of that was true, basically, and that they’re behind me,” said Barlow, who is 12-20 overall with only next Thursday’s Turkey Day Classic matchup with Tuskegee remaining in his third season.”Now, I understand that can change. And if they felt like the best way was for me to step back, I’m not so prideful that I couldn’t accept that. But as for right now, I feel comfortable in what I’ve heard from them.”
Pride has never fed anyone’s family, and it is a good look for Barlow to say he loves the program so much that he wants to be a part of turning it around. Either he has a really good agent, or the ASU administration is a lot craftier than we think they are.
Is Jackson State so bad, that if your squad loses to them, it’s apparently worth slashing the coaching staff’s tires?
At Alabama State, the fans might be classless enough to make this true.
He came in as a quarterback and got moved to receiver. Now, redshirt freshman John Andrews is giving it a go at cornerback for the Alabama State Hornets.
“John is blessed with athletic ability,” said {head coach} Reggie Barlow. “Maybe we can get something out of him at another position. He just wasn’t ready to contribute as a receiver.”
Think that I wouldn’t be transferring out of there on the first thing smoking?
There are such things as promises, even in college football. If he was recruited to be a quarterback and they found a greater need at receiver, than that’s acceptable. But to be bounced around from offense to defense, and likely having to learn complex techniques in a short amount of time is unreasonable.
Shame on ‘Bama State for giving this kid the run around. Even if he doesn’t mind it, there’s no reason to keep him on an island about how he can contribute to the success of the Hornets. Cut him if you must, but it’s better for him to know where he stands than to constantly be on the move.
