DAHILL
Well-Known Member
Stillman rolls past short-handed Miles College
Monday, September 01, 2008
MIKE PERRIN
News staff writer
full article@http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/122025697233140.xml&coll=2
The Billy Joe Era at Miles College that was launched with such hope two weeks before Christmas got off to a dismal start on Sunday night at Legion Field.
The Golden Bears played without more than half their roster in a 38-12 loss to Stillman College before a crowd of 25,370.
Joe said he found out on Saturday that he would be able to dress only 40 of his 85-man roster for the Labor Day Golden Classic due to concerns the Miles administration raised about eligibility issues.
"In my 31 years as a head coach," Joe said, "I've never, ever been confronted with that issue before. I thought our guys played a great game with their hands tied behind their backs.
"We had to change our special teams around, our offense, our defense. We were very, very, very - how many `verys' can I use? - short."
The new coaching staff held meetings with their players until late Saturday evening, making changes in the game plan.
"It's amazing that we had almost a whole summer camp of wasted time because we had to change everything around overnight," Joe said. "We had almost all new faces who had never been in there. Yesterday afternoon, I only had four offensive linemen who could play."
The Bears had to switch to a three-man defensive front, Joe said, because of a lack of defensive linemen and then teach the scheme overnight.
Miles Athletics Director Augustus James said the administration wanted to err on the side of caution so as not to jeopardize the season.
"We just want to be sure," he said. "We had some questions, so we had to hold them out. It was an in-house situation and there were a few questions with the (NCAA) Clearinghouse. I think it was the best thing for us to do."
Monday, September 01, 2008
MIKE PERRIN
News staff writer
full article@http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/122025697233140.xml&coll=2
The Billy Joe Era at Miles College that was launched with such hope two weeks before Christmas got off to a dismal start on Sunday night at Legion Field.
The Golden Bears played without more than half their roster in a 38-12 loss to Stillman College before a crowd of 25,370.
Joe said he found out on Saturday that he would be able to dress only 40 of his 85-man roster for the Labor Day Golden Classic due to concerns the Miles administration raised about eligibility issues.
"In my 31 years as a head coach," Joe said, "I've never, ever been confronted with that issue before. I thought our guys played a great game with their hands tied behind their backs.
"We had to change our special teams around, our offense, our defense. We were very, very, very - how many `verys' can I use? - short."
The new coaching staff held meetings with their players until late Saturday evening, making changes in the game plan.
"It's amazing that we had almost a whole summer camp of wasted time because we had to change everything around overnight," Joe said. "We had almost all new faces who had never been in there. Yesterday afternoon, I only had four offensive linemen who could play."
The Bears had to switch to a three-man defensive front, Joe said, because of a lack of defensive linemen and then teach the scheme overnight.
Miles Athletics Director Augustus James said the administration wanted to err on the side of caution so as not to jeopardize the season.
"We just want to be sure," he said. "We had some questions, so we had to hold them out. It was an in-house situation and there were a few questions with the (NCAA) Clearinghouse. I think it was the best thing for us to do."