MEAC Football

Prior to his contract breakdown with Bethune-Cookman, Ed Reed says he had another offer on the table to coach at an HBCU.

Reed told Roland Martin that he turned down the opportunity to replace Deion Sanders as head coach at Jackson State in order to accept the position at Bethune-Cookman. Reed said Sanders called him personally to advocate for him taking the position.

Reed also mentioned the opening at Grambling State before his representative explained that he accepted the Bethune-Cookman position for a variety of reasons, including the school's location in South Florida.

Bethune-Cookman hired Reed on Dec. 27 to replace Terry Sims, who coached the Wildcats for seven seasons. The team is coming off a 2-9 campaign, which included a 2-6 record in the SWAC.

Things took a turn when Reed revealed that the university chose not to ratify his contract, ending his tenure after just 25 days. The Pro Football Hall of Famer had openly criticized the conditions of the school's athletic facilities, and he vociferously expressed his displeasure over his dismissal in a video posted to his Instagram.

While Reed was addressing the Bethune-Cookman players, Sanders FaceTimed him and praised him despite the unfortunate ending to his time with the team.

"I know what you feeling. I know what you going through. You've got to understand that God has a time and a place for you, my brother," Sanders told Reed. "I know your heart. I know everything that's going on inside of you. I know you like a book. And I know how you feel about them kids, and I know you do not want to leave those kids."

Sanders departed Jackson State to accept the head coaching position at Colorado in December. He coached the Tigers to a 27-6 record, including back-to-back undefeated seasons in SWAC play.

In hindsight, Reed would have been better served joining an established team like Jackson State instead of a rebuilding program.

After Ed Reed's exit as head football coach of Bethune-Cookman following a breakdown in contract negotiations, he still has the support of the university's student body.

Per WESH2 in Orlando, students engaged in a protest that "spilled out on to the street in front of campus" on Monday in favor of resuming contract talks with Reed, with many of them reportedly shouting "board of trustees has to go."

Nick Papantonis of WFTV reported that in addition to the student's displeasure with the university's handling of Reed's contract discussions, there are other issues they feel the school needs to address:

Bethune-Cookman hired Reed as head coach on Dec. 27. He replaced Terry Sims, who coached the Wildcats for seven seasons, including a 2-9 record in 2022 with a 2-6 record in the SWAC.

However, the Pro Football Hall of Famer lasted just 25 days in the position, as Bethune-Cookman chose not to ratify his contract. Prior to learning of the decision, Reed recorded a live stream in which he chastised the conditions of the school's athletic facilities. After his dismissal, he posted a fiery rant on Instagram, blasting the school's administration for not honoring their agreement.

"My vision is probably moving too fast for a lot of people," Reed said in the video. "I'm not withdrawing my name as they say. They don't want me here. They do not want me because I tell the truth. It hurts. This hurt because people don't care about these kids like I do, and they should be the ones leaving, not me, because I don't want to."

The 44-year-old later apologized for his criticism of the school's facilities and also expressed his disappointment to not be joining the school.

WESH noted that an online petition has been started by Bethune-Cookman students supporting Reed.

Ed Reed has issued an apology for his profanity-laced criticism of the conditions of Bethune-Cookman's football facilities in a series of Instagram Live videos.

Reed, who agreed to become Bethune-Cookman's head football coach last month, apologized for his "lack of professionalism" in being critical of what he saw:

"I(n) regards to my social media and comments about the University, staff and other institutions, I would like to sincerely apologize to all BCU staff, students and alumni for my lack of professionalism. My language and tone were unacceptable as a father, coach and leader. My passion for our culture, betterment and bringing our foundation up got the best of me and I fell victim while engaging with antagonists on social media as well. I am fully aware of the hard working folks at our school who are also fighting to make things better and more financially sound. I am encouraged from my communication with my AD and our administration and understand it's a work in progress. My passion is about getting and doing better and that goes for me too."

In the videos, released Sunday, a frustrated Reed declares he "don't trust nobody" while being upset that his office wasn't cleaned out prior to his arrival, he and members of the team had to pick up trash around the campus, and a fence had a hole big enough to drive a golf cart through.

"Do something about it, man," he exclaimed. "Come help us clean this s--t up! ... I should leave. I'm not even under contract."

Bethune-Cookman announced an agreement in principle with Reed to make him head football coach Dec. 27. He spent the previous three years working at his alma mater, the University of Miami, in the football department.

The Wildcats are looking for a turnaround after going a combined 4-18 in the previous two seasons with Terry Sims as head coach. He went 34-21 in his first five seasons.

This will be Reed's first stint as a coach at the college level. He worked as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills in 2016.

Reed is regarded as one of the best safeties in NFL history. He played 12 seasons from 2002 to 2013, spending the first 11 years with the Baltimore Ravens. The 44-year-old was a nine-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro, won the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year award and won a Super Bowl during the 2012 season.

He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

South Carolina football will face South Carolina State two days earlier in an attempt to avoid Hurricane Ian, according to Alex Scarborough of ESPN.

The game was initially scheduled for Saturday at noon E.T., but it will now be played on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

"Due to the potential impact of the hurricane on Columbia and the surrounding area, it is in the best interest of safety to play the game on Thursday rather than Saturday afternoon," South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said in a statement.

Hurricane Ian is projected to make landfall in Tampa Bay, Florida, on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with 2.5 million people in Florida already under evacuation orders, per ABC News.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved from their practice facility on Tuesday and will spend time at the Miami Dolphins' facility in South Florida. The Buccaneers are set to host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, but the game could be moved if necessary.

The storm could travel up the coast after making landfall, with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division urging residents to monitor the situation.

The University of South Carolina is looking to avoid any complications later in the week by adjusting its schedule against the in-state opponent.

"Based on the current forecast and expected weather conditions as well as information from our campus, state and local law enforcement agencies, at this time, the University is confident in our ability to host the game on Thursday at Williams-Brice Stadium."

South Carolina is 2-2 so far this season, losing both of its SEC games but easily beating Georgia State and Charlotte in the nonconference slate. South Carolina State in 1-2 to begin the year, with the Bulldogs preparing to play their fourth straight road game to open 2022.

Even at full strength, the Florida A&M Rattlers figured to have their hands full during Saturday's matchup against the ACC's North Carolina Tar Heels, but they reportedly will be far from it.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, a FAMU spokesperson said the program will be down 20 players because of eligibility issues. What's more, it will have just eight eligible offensive linemen.

Competing without 20 players will be a daunting task for the Rattlers, and the idea of canceling the game surely came to mind for some.

Thamel shared a statement from head coach Willie Simmons suggesting university leadership may have talked the players into playing:

David Hale of ESPN pointed out canceling would mean the program would have to forfeit the payout it will receive from North Carolina, face a cancellation penalty and lose any travel fees it has already paid—approximately one-tenth of its annual athletics budget.

C.L. Brown of the Charlotte Observer noted North Carolina will pay FAMU $450,000 for the game. What's more, Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown pushed for the Rattlers to bring their famed marching band.

"The Marching 100s is one of the best bands ever—it may be the best," Brown said. "They've played at the Grammys, they've played at a Super Bowl, and they're gonna play in pregame by themselves and then with our band, and then the same at halftime. So everybody needs to get there early. And make sure we honor the Marching 100 and enjoy and appreciate their band."

Florida A&M impressed last season at 9-3, finishing strong after a 1-2 start. Saturday's game represented an opportunity for it to make a statement on a national stage, especially after head coach and quarterbacks coach Willie Simmons named former Hawaii and Vanderbilt quarterback Jeremy Moussa as the Rattlers' starter.

As for the Tar Heels, they are looking to bounce back from a 6-7 season and perhaps win double-digit games for just the second time since the 1997 season.

They will need to win if they plan on doing that since they will still have to face Notre Dame, Miami, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and North Carolina State.

Bethune-Cookman University announced Tuesday that it will not play sports during the 2020-21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

School President Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite released the following statement on the decision to HBCU Gameday (h/t ESPN's Myron Medcalf):

"B-CU will forgo all spring athletic competition, including football and men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and track and field. The recent spike in COVID-19 positivity rates in the state, across Volusia County [Florida] and on our campus provides clear and unambiguous evidence, in our view, that now is simply not the time to resume athletic competition."

Bethune-Cookman competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and is a historically black college/university (HBCU).

Per Medcalf, Bethune-Cookman is the first known Division I school to cancel its entire sports slate for the 2020-21 campaign.

Bethune-Cookman football has won eight MEAC championships, including four in a row from 2012 to 2015. The Wildcats also reached the FCS playoffs five times, posting an 0-5 record. The team has posted a winning record in each of the past three seasons and nine of the past 10, including a 7-4 mark in 2019.

The men's basketball team hasn't been as successful, as the Wildcats have never reached the NCAA tournament since the MEAC became a Division I conference in 1980.

Bethune-Cookman made three Division II NCAA tournament fields before then and has won the MEAC regular-season crown twice (2011 and 2018), but it has yet to win the conference tournament. The Wildcats finished 16-14 last season.

The Bethune-Cookman women's basketball team won the MEAC regular-season title in 2016, 2017 and 2020, and reached the NCAA tournament for the first and only time in 2019. The Wildcats went 23-6 last season, but they were upset by Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC tournament.

Bethune-Cookman is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, which is part of Volusia County. According to the New York Times (h/t Medcalf), there have been 544 documented new cases of COVID-19 in Volusia County over the past week.

The MEAC has plans in place to play fall sports in the spring provided the COVID-19 landscape allows for it.

Norfolk State defensive lineman Nicholas Jerome Ackies was shot and killed Friday night, according to Ryan Murphy and Lee Tolliver of The Virginian-Pilot.

Ackies, a freshman, was 18.

According to Murphy and Tolliver, Norfolk State announced former football player Jaquan Anderson, 22, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

"This is such a tragic situation," Norfolk State athletic director Marty Miller said in a statement, per Murphy and Tolliver. "Our prayers are with Nick's family during this very difficult time."

Anderson is reportedly being held in jail without bond.

Norfolk State defensive back Dy-Shawn Simpkins Jr., who enrolled at Norfolk State in January, was shot and killed in June in East Orange, New Jersey.

NC Central senior Quentin Atkinson made both the biggest catch and the biggest mistake of his college career in the same play.

The NC Central Eagles faced off against the Grambling State Tigers in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Saturday. Atkinson caught a 39-yard pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter, landing a potentially game-saving TD for the Eagles. 

Atkinson then tossed off his helmet and ran about the sidelines, celebrating his catch. 

This didn't sit well with the refs, who tossed a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, thus moving the extra-point attempt back 15 yards. 

Grambling State then blocked Brandon McLaren's kick, and the game ended 10-9. 

We're betting Atkinson wishes he pulled back on his celebration just a bit. 

[Twitter]

Joe Thomas Sr. rushed for three yards on a historic handoff for South Carolina State.

The 55-year-old, whose son plays linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, became the oldest player to ever participate in an NCAA Division I game.

Thomas has been with the team for years, but he never suited up until Saturday, when the Bulldogs took senior day to a new level by giving him a memorable carry.

[Mike Uva]