[youtube uqB38qrBZcQ]
Mark Braboy
News Editor
Students have mixed opinions following a Monday press conference announcing Harold Jackson, an alum and former NFL and Big 12 Conference Coach, as the new Jackson State University head football coach.
The Hattiesburg, Miss. native, replaces Rick Comegy, who was let go Dec. 17 following an unsuccessful trip to the SWAC Championship game.
JSU students say they are anxious to see what Jackson can do with the program.
James Holloway, a music technology major from Memphis, Tenn. said, “I think it’s good that we have a guy that’s actually from the university. He does have experience and he has been known for working for a few NFL teams. Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about him because I’ve never see any of the teams he actually worked for play before, but I’m looking for it to be a pretty good season.”
Eldria Coleman, a freshman mass communications major from Carthage, Miss., said, “I felt that they made a bad choice because of the history that our coach has. He took us to four SWAC championships, and I don’t understand why they fired him. That’s good coaching to me. I don’t understand why they would do something like that to a person with such great experience.”
Jackson is a five time Pro Bowler who played for Jackson State in the 1960s as a wide receiver and played in the NFL for 16 years. After an illustrious career with many teams, he began coaching, starting with the New England Patriots in 1985 until 1989. Since then, he has coached for various NFL teams including the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with as well as collegiate teams at Benedict College and Baylor University. In 2011, Jackson returned to professional coaching with the Hartford Colonials of the UFL (United Football League) and then with the Sacramento Mountain Lions in 2012.
At the press conference, Jackson addressed several topics such as the players conditioning, the need to develop the players as athletes and citizens, whether or not the team can continue reaching the SWAC tournament and recruiting locally and statewide.
“We’re going to recruit Mississippi! We’re not going to go outside Mississippi until we saturate Jackson and the outer areas. We’re going do Mississippi first because this is our fan base. We want to put people in the stands. In order to put people in the stands, our players listen to you. If you’re behind us, we will win the games,” said Jackson.
When asked about his recruiting methods, he stated: “First thing is that I need to start building a relationship with the coaches and the high schools in the state of Mississippi. I want to go out and visit with them and then once you get that relationship I think we’ll be able to create some feedback to get the players into Jackson State.”
Jackson added that his vision for the team would be to have an offense that will be able to sell tickets and a defense that will be able to win championships.
“We’re going to make sure we’re disciplined on this football field because when you have a disciplined team, you are winning football. We’re going to be disciplined in the classroom and in competition level. If that don’t work, you won’t play for me,” said Jackson.
One of Jackson’s former NFL teammates, Rodney Phillips, who played with Los Angeles Rams, vouched for his coaching abilities and football knowledge.
“I’m very excited and I think he’s well qualified. I think he will generate a lot of excitement for the university, bring a lot of expertise, lot of know-how, and a lot of excitement to the program,” said Philips.
Current football player Michael Perkins, a wide receiver and red shirt junior from Valparaiso, Ind., focused his confidence on the team.
“Honestly as a player, there’s always going to confusion, especially when coaches are let go, but I trusted the school and that our Athletic Director would put the right person in place that could lead us back to the championship,” said Perkins.
He added: “I’m excited. Whenever you can bring back someone who played at Jackson State and knows about the history, and has played at the next level and knows how to compete at the next level you can’t ask for anything more. So as a player I’m excited to learn and see what he can bring to Jackson State and also what he can teach me as well.”
Jerlisha Gipson, a senior health care administration major from Pope, Miss., said, “I think there is more to the story about him (Comegy) getting fired, but I’m anxious to see what the new coach is going to do.”
Jerry Meakens, a senior criminal justice major from Vicksburg, Miss. said. “I just feel like they shouldn’t have fired Coach Comegy. I feel like part of it had to do with him (allegedly) not getting a long with alumni. So they could have talked to him and see how they could get the city involved because they wanted more money. They should have got all of them together to agree because his coaching skills were amazing.”
“I’m kind of iffy about all of it,” said Chuck Holmes, a senior computer engineering major from Atlanta, Ga.
At press time, it is unclear whether or not Jackson will rehire any of the coaching staff that were fired with Comegy, who led Jackson State to the last two Southwestern Athletic Conference championship games and had an overall record of 55-35 record in eight seasons at JSU.
