Skip to main content

Business as usual: SWAC features 4 new coaches

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Mississippi Valley’s Rick Comegy joked with his new players during Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Days earlier this summer, seemingly oblivious that his previous employer and players were sitting just a few feet away.

It didn’t take long for the former Jackson State coach, who was scooped up by the Delta Devils during the offseason after the Tigers fired him, to get comfortable in his new surroundings.

The scene could have been a little awkward. But in the turbulent world of SWAC football, it really didn’t seem that strange.

Four of the SWAC’s 10 coaches are new this season and Alabama State’s Reggie Barlow — who is entering just his eighth season with the Hornets — is now the league’s longest tenured.

“I feel accepted and at home and revitalized,” the 60-year-old Comegy said about his new job at Mississippi Valley. “New challenges do that for me. It always seems likes God’s putting me somewhere I’ve got to build. I guess that’s what I’m meant to do.”

One reason the SWAC became famous was because of coaching legends like Eddie Robinson (Grambling), Marino Casem (Alcorn State) and W.C. Gorden (Jackson State). All of them are in The College Football Hall of Fame.

But strong coaching leadership in today’s SWAC is difficult to find.

“It’s hard, because the SWAC has such a great history in football and the expectations are always so high,” SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said. “So when you’re not reaching those expectations, or if your athletic director thinks you’re not reaching those expectations or president doesn’t think so … things change. So I’m not surprised by any turnover.”

Winning helps job security, of course. But even that’s not a foolproof way to stay employed.

Comegy was fired just weeks after leading Jackson State to a fourth SWAC championship game in eight seasons. The Tigers lost to Southern University.

He was replaced by Harold Jackson, a 68-year-old who played for Jackson State in the 1960s and has had a lengthy coaching career as an assistant.

“You never know what’s going on at the top,” Comegy said. “I don’t know if it’s impatience because you never know what the plan is. You’ve just got to deal with whatever comes down. Accept whatever comes down and in my case, find a new love.”

Sharp said Comegy’s firing sent shockwaves through the league.

“You don’t know the criteria now,” Sharp said. “What do I have to do to keep my job? I’m not sure.”

The impatience isn’t just limited to Jackson State.

Alabama A&M fired Anthony Jones after 12 seasons, when the Bulldogs went 4-8 in 2013.

He’s the second winningest coach in Bulldogs history with an 83-57 record that included the last of his five division titles in 2011.

A&M replaced Jones with longtime college assistant and former Grambling State offensive coordinator James Spady, who brings the pistol offense from Nevada.

Grambling’s Broderick Fobbs is the league’s fourth new head coach. He’ll be asked to win football games and also heal wounds from a difficult season in 2013, which included a player boycott after team members voiced their displeasure for the program’s coaching staff, administration and facilities.

Barlow said it typically takes coaches four years to get a program where they want it. The school’s patience paid off after he inherited a program saddled with NCAA sanctions and started his tenure with three straight losing seasons.

Since then, they’ve reeled off four consecutive winning records for the first time since 1967-70. Alabama State is favored to win the East Division this year.

“The thing about football is they love you when you’re winning and when you’re not winning, they’re not going to love you,” Barlow said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. You look at from the great Eddie Robinson to when he was at Grambling, Doug Williams. Even when you do win, look at Comegy.”

“They played for a championship. Sometimes people have to remove their personal feelings about a person and just judge them on what they do as a coach. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.”

_____

AP Sports Writer John Zenor in Birmingham, Alabama, contributed to this story.

_____

Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote