Ed Reed Posts Instagram DMs with Shannon Sharpe After Bethune-Cookman Controversy
Jan 26, 2023
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 03: Miami chief of staff Ed Reed stands on the field before the start of the college football game between the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and the University of Miami Hurricanes on September 3, 2022 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed shared a private exchange he had with fellow NFL legend Shannon Sharpe following his abrupt exit from Bethune-Cookman.
The Wildcats hired Reed to be their head football coach but didn't ratify his contract after he publicly criticized the conditions at the program.
During Undisputed on Wednesday, Sharpe said he thought Reed would've been a good coach at Bethune-Cookman but added Reed was wrong in being so outspoken with his frustrations.
Based on direct messages Reed shared on Instagram, Sharpe apologized if he had upset the nine-time Pro Bowler. Reed, however, didn't accept the olive branch.
Reed's departure sparked wider student protests at Bethune-Cookman over conditions at the school. Chris Vinel of the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported on complaints of mold in some dorm rooms, while other dorms lack hot water or air conditioning.
One student told Marie Edinger of Fox 35 Orlando said she had to be briefly hospitalized because the mold in her dorm was bad enough to aggravate her asthma.
Another student told Edinger she thought Reed was dismissed because Bethune-Cookman "wants to control the narrative and save face."
Interim president Dr. Lawrence Drake addressed Reed's tenure Tuesday and said in a letter university administrators believed "his behavior was not aligned with the traditions of our founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune."
Bethune-Cookman President: Ed Reed's Behavior Wasn't 'Aligned' with School's Values
Jan 24, 2023
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 02: Team Savage head coach Ed Reed during the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game on January 02, 2020 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After Bethune-Cookman students voiced their displeasure over the dismissal of Ed Reed as the school's head football coach, interim president Dr. Lawrence Drake released a letter on Tuesday addressing the situation.
"To close the chapter on Mr. Reed, he was a tremendous player. Still, as we continued to observe him, we felt that his behavior was not aligned with the traditions of our founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and the university," the letter read.
A letter from Bethune-Cookman interim president Dr. Lawrence Drake has been posted on the school's website regarding the Ed Reed situation following student protests on campus yesterday. pic.twitter.com/VI7sLRPGUC
On Monday, students engaged in an on-campus protest against the university's decision not to ratify Reed's contract despite naming him head coach on Dec. 27. The students called for the Board of Trustees' removal and also voiced their issues with the Florida university's facilities.
Bethune Cookman students are calling for the Board of Trustees' removal. They say campus facilities have many issues the school isn't addressing. Ed Reed spoke out and contract negotiations broke down, which was the "icing on the cake." @WFTVpic.twitter.com/mSrsUSik8l
Prior to his dismissal, Reed recorded a live stream on social media in which he heavily criticized the school's athletic facilities. The 44-year-old later apologized for his actions after receiving pushback for publicly airing out the university's deficiencies.
"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," he stated. "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."
After his 25-day tenure as head coach came to an end, Reed expressed his disappointment to no longer be in the position during a lengthy rant he posted on Instagram.
"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."
On Monday night, the Pro Football Hall of Famer revealed that he turned down an opportunity to replace Deion Sanders at Jackson State in order to accept the Bethune-Cookman job.
Ed Reed Says He Rejected Jackson State for Bethune-Cookman HC Job That Fell Through
Jan 24, 2023
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 23: Ed Reed looks on during the game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons on December 23, 2022 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
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.
Bethune-Cookman Students Protest over Ed Reed's Exit from HC Contract Talks
Jan 23, 2023
Former Baltimore Ravens player Ed Reed speaks at a ceremony to honor the 2012 Ravens who won Super Bowl XLVII during halftime of an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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 students are calling for the Board of Trustees' removal. They say campus facilities have many issues the school isn't addressing. Ed Reed spoke out and contract negotiations broke down, which was the "icing on the cake." @WFTVpic.twitter.com/mSrsUSik8l
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 Won't Become Bethune-Cookman HC, Says School Won't Ratify His Contract
Jan 21, 2023
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Former NLF player Ed Reed attends Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed announced Saturday that he will no longer become the head football coach at Bethune-Cookman University.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Reed wrote that Bethune-Cookman "won't be ratifying" the contract he agreed to with the university:
Reed noted that his contract included "provisions and resources best needed to support the student athletes," but Bethune-Cookman and his legal team were unable to finalize the deal.
The university had announced on Dec. 27 that the 44-year-old Reed would be its next head football coach, replacing Terry Sims.
Reed posted a video of himself addressing the Bethune-Cookman football team Saturday on Instagram. Reed included the following caption with the video: "I am NOT withdrawing my name as the Head Coach at Bethune Cookman. The administration and the AD are forcing me out. Thank you to all that supported me and my staff through this process. Good day and God bless."
Ed Reed was notified by Bethune-Cookman that he will no longer be the Head Coach.
His response was one of the most impassioned speeches Iāve ever heard & he states @DeionSanders was right. Reed clearly loves these kids.
Earlier this week, Reed went on Instagram Live and angrily criticized the facilities at Bethune-Cookman.
At one point, while upset that his office wasn't cleaned out prior to his arrival, Reed proclaimed, "I should leave. I'm not even under contract."
Reed would later apologize for his actions, noting that he was "encouraged" by the communication he had with athletic director Reggie Theus and the commitment to make improvements:
Bethune-Cookman is a historically black college/university (HBCU) located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the hope was that Reed could follow in the footsteps of what Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders did at Jackson State.
Before Sanders arrived as head coach at Jackson State in 2020, the Tigers hadn't had a winning record since 2013, but he led Jackson State to a 4-3 mark in 2020, followed by 11-2 and 12-1 seasons in 2021 and 2022, respectively, both of which yielded Southwestern Athletic Conference championships.
Sanders was able to land big-time recruits at Jackson State despite interest from elite FBS programs, and he parlayed that success into landing the head coaching job at the University of Colorado.
Bethune-Cookman is in a situation similar to that of Jackson State before Sanders' arrival. The Wildcats have struggled since joining the SWAC in 2021, finishing 2-9 in each of the past two seasons.
Reed was a nine-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team All-Pro, one-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and one-time Super Bowl champion in 12 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and Houston Texans, and he would have brought instant credibility to a downtrodden program.
Instead, Bethune-Cookman will turn its attention elsewhere in its attempt to go from cellar-dweller to contender in the SWAC.
Ed Reed Apologizes for Profane Videos Criticizing Bethune-Cookman Football Facilities
Jan 17, 2023
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: HOF Safety and former Miami Hurricane Ed Redd attends the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Hard Rock Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
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.
Bethune-Cookman Won't Play Sports During 2020-21 School Year Amid COVID-19
Oct 27, 2020
Bethune Cookman quarterback Devin Black hands off to running back Aaron Thompson (35) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Miami defeated Bethune Cookman 63-0. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Bethune-Cookman University announced Tuesday that it will not play sports during the 2020-21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
School PresidentĀ Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite released the following statement on the decision toĀ 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 theĀ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and is a historically black college/university (HBCU).
Per Medcalf, Bethune-Cookman isĀ 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 teamĀ 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 inĀ Daytona Beach, Florida, which is part ofĀ Volusia County. According to theĀ New York TimesĀ (h/t Medcalf), there have been 544 documented new cases of COVID-19 in Volusia County over the past week.
The MEAC hasĀ plans in placeĀ to play fall sports in the spring provided the COVID-19 landscape allows for it.
