The Shame of SU Athletics

Man, what has this university come to? I have heard of people messing over their own before, but I have never seen it to this extent.
We must have the lamest and most insensible athletic department in NCAA Division I.
Well, let me be a bit more specific; the most insensible football coach and athletic director in division one sports.
I was told that two weekends ago, there was a track meet set up as a fundraiser for the men and women’s track teams to travel to a regional championship later this season at Ohio State University. SU football head coach Pete Richardson changed his football practice time from its regular time to an earlier time infringing on the fundraiser that was already underway.
Fernandez Griffin, Richardson’s administrative assistant, who obviously does not know the meaning of his title, had the participating track teams and coordinators leave the stadium in a most unprofessional manner.
I was also informed that “Bumpy” had also cursed Ms. Williams, the event coordinator and a woman who is quite his elder, and used language that wouldn’t be fit for most cable programs in front of parents, coaches and even some children. If so, surely, this is not the way that a secretary should act.
Where is the professionalism?
Afterwards, the money then had to be returned to the parents and schools. This event was forecasted to bring in approximately $6200. This is a major loss to this program that is already under-funded.
Incidents like this create bad relationships between the University and the community. It further affects the relationship between the track program and the public that supports the team. In addition, all of this was done under-handedly while head track coach Johnny Thomas and the team were away representing Southern at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas.
It makes me think that the athletic director and football staff has little or no respect for the track program, if indeed S.U. athletic director Floyd Kerr allowed this. The athletic director had agreed to the track fundraiser before the event and still gave permission to the football coach and his clueless administrative assistant to change the team’s practice time. So, to me it seems that their change in practice times was preplanned. Insensible huh? Very much so insensible and very unprofessional!
Every year just after the end of football season, Pete Richardson puts away his “Let’s just win The Classic” mentality and gets the new perspective of improving his team to be the best thing since sliced bread. Sorry Pete, but it isn’t going to happen.
I don’t want to take anything away from the football team-you guys play your hearts out and despite the fact that to are led by a coach who thinks that his sport is the only one that exist, you all handle your business.
Though Richardson does know football, he still makes selfish decisions that affect other teams in SU Athletics. Not only has he messed over the team that he coaches, he also has affected the SU track team. It ‘s quite possible that we are the only school where the football coach does not want his athletes to run track. It is a known fact among athletes that football players that run track during the off-season do better during the football season, but that little bit of information must have not come across old Pete’s desk.
It’s a shame that one individual can mess over so many people with no remorse. He has denied some football players the chance to participate in the track program. This is quite unfortunate.
Hold on a minute, I guess that it is a little wrong to blame old Peetie Boy, for everything. He has to answer to someone too. Kerr, head of the athletic department, allows Richardson and his staff to run amuck, as they feel fit.
All of the major decisions have to go through Kerr, so why does he allow things that have gone on to go on? Oh, I know the answer to that! Because football brings in large amounts of money during the fall, he feels that he should pay all of the attention to this program. While the spring sports bring in the championships, let’s give the football program the power to do what they want even if it isn’t in season. Last time that I checked, the football team hasn’t won a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship since 1999. While baseball head coach Roger Cador and the baseball team has won SWAC six of the last seven years, the tennis team won SWAC last year, Thomas has lead his cross-country teams to two conference championships and his men’s track team to five consecutive championships. So where’s the love? The track program had to cut two track meets because the athletic department “said” that they don’t have any more money. Yeah right!
I have never seen Kerr at a tennis or track meet that wasn’t a championship. I bet you this, not a home football game goes by that he does not sit up in that sky-box wooing alumni for funds and watches that 2.5 million dollar scoreboard while Richardson was faced with a near-blowout against Division II Miles College (SU did put out the win in the final minutes).
I guess he is just scratching Richardson’s back- that is how the system works.
Again, I say that it is a real shame these are our own people, messing over their own athletes with no remorse. Furthermore, these are the ones that are supposed to have the best interest of the students in mind. Yeah right!
Well, I will tell you this- enough is enough! There are other sports that keep this university’s legacy afloat while football is in the rebuilding stage. It is time that the university acknowledges it. For the sports that do not get their recognition, this is our call for help.
Southern University System Board of Supervisors, Chancellor Jackson and all applicable, we are asking for you help. Please get involved!