Jackson State ousts Bell

When Jackson State’s football team faces Alabama A&M Saturday in Normal, Ala., James Bell will not be on the bus.
Bell was fired Monday after the Tigers (2-5 overall, 2-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) suffered three consecutive losing seasons. Quarterbacks coach Daryl Jones will succeed Bell, 47, and serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season, but a national search has been started.
JSU Athletic Director Roy Culberson said the 8-23 record Bell culminated was not the only reason the coach was terminated.
“Well, my entire coaching staff is evaluated after each season on different things, so it’s not just a conglomeration of ‘W’s’ and ‘L’s.'”
Culberson said despite pressure from outside sources, firing Bell was not easy.
“Of course it was a difficult decision,” Culberson said. “It’s a difficult decision to terminate anyone. It was a professional decision to improve the betterment of our football program.”
Starting his first year, Bell was swimming upstream as the Tigers’ coach. After he replaced Robert Hughes in 2002, Bell immediately faced opposition when he changed the Tigers’ offensive philosophy to make it “more balanced,” he said in an interview.
After Bell was given the responsibility to “revive” the Tigers after Hughes led them through three 7-4 seasons, Bell became the recipient of a team full of talent, including standout quarterback Robert Kent. In two seasons, Kent threw over 5,600 yards, but conflict began when Bell decided not to rely on Jackson State’s passing game so much.
An online petition was started and 758 people logged on to www.bellgottogo.com to announce their frustration with a losing Tigers’ program and denounce the hiring of Bell. The Web site is no longer active, since the petitioners have gotten their wish.
Culberson said a “trickle-down” effect has been caused by the termination.
“It’s just as if you were in a family,” Culberson said. “He was still well-liked by the players, coaching staff and others.”
Hilliard Jackson, Ph.D., president of Jackson State’s national alumni association, said Bell’s departure was long overdue.
“At Jackson State University, we have a history and tradition of winning and that was not happening under Bell,” Hilliard said. “Therefore a change had to be made.”
In addition to Bell’s on-field problems, Lackey said the slack in fan attendance at home games and the strong disapproval from alumni throughout the nation contributed to the coach’s off-field dilemmas.
“We had some plans that depended on a lot of fans being at the game, such as car giveaways,” Lackey said. He said Ford Motor Company donated a car to Jackson State’s alumni association. But the low attendance almost held up the giveaway.
“There was no one to sell tickets to at the game,” Lackey said. “We were counting on the stadium having 25,000 to 35,000 fans a game and we were getting less, much less. Plus we have 47 alumni chapters in 17 states and we go around and talk about recruiting and academics, but everyone wants to know about football.”
Jackson State’s winless woes extended to four games after they lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 64-36 on Oct. 29.
The lack of support for Bell’s leadership was evident in the crowds, or lack thereof. Less than 3,000 people showed up at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, which holds a comfortable capacity of 60,492.
Culberson said a seven-person search committee was established Wednesday and a national search for Jackson State’s next permanent coach has already begun.
“We’re looking for any qualified and experienced coaches who can fulfill the mission of our football program,” Culberson said. “We are looking to hire someone as soon as possible.”