I was going to let you all know my thoughts on the whole basketball season, but after listening to calls from fans all over the country, I knew that head coach Ben Jobe needed someone to talk to about this dismal season.
I figured that he must have a journal or something, because you know how we fans can become turncoats when we start losing. So this is what I would imagine an entry would be like. Read on:
February 7
Dear Journal,
It’s me, Ben again and woe is me. We’ve lost another one and now our record is 4-13 and the fans are getting impatient and I know that damned girl from The DIGEST is going to write something about me.
They say that I am too old to coach, but if Dave Whitney can do it at Alcorn State, then so can I. Oh, but wait, he won the SWAC, I didn’t even get a chance to go. I bet they had fun in Birmingham.
I brought in new assistant coaches, but I am the coach, so what they say really doesn’t matter. They are here as window dressing.
I want so much for Victor Tarver to be the focal point of the team. I want the other players to try and get him the ball and provide him that open shot as much as possible. I know that he has been under a lot of scrutiny later, and I really don’t think people understand the position between the rock and the hard place that he has been placed. But if he is to be our leader, and I allow him to keep hogging the ball, then he has to make baskets or else the fans will place all blame on him (like they do to me).
But why give the rest of the team the ball? The hell with the fact that I have three players over 6’8″, that is not important. They are supposed to block out and rebound. Who cares that Cipriano, Campbell and Jeffries are three of the best rebounders and scorers in the SWAC? Sometimes I am just blinded as to what to do with so much talent?
I am so distraught over the reasons why I am here in the first place. I tried to validate my return to Southern. After all, I walked out on Southern my first go-round and they called me back! I know that people are talking. I know that the fans adored Tommy Green, but so what, for what I am getting paid-it really doesn’t matter.
I wonder if my contract will be cut? Should I retire? Am I really in hot water? Some say yes. But it’s rumored that I might get three more years. Some tell me to go home in the evening after work and I don’t think they want me back in the morning.
Oh well, the heck with Southern’s fans. They have too many expectations anyway. Always wanting to be the best. Some say that (President) Tarver didn’t bring me here to win, he brought me in to clean up a mess. The heck with the rest, I have my pride.
But it was someone’s pride that brought me back, and ironically it may be someone’s pride that is going to get me fired or contractually retired.
Oh journal, please tell me what to do!
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Let’s take a look at a page in Ben’s Jobe’s journal
February 7, 2003
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