SEC coaching pioneer Sylvester Croom resigns

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University’s Sylvester Croom announced Saturday that he was officially resigning as the head football coach. The sudden decision to resign comes to some but not all after the schools' most lopsided performance a 45-0 drubbing last Friday by #25 Ole Miss in the famed "Egg Bowl".

"Five years ago, Mississippi State gave me the unprecedented opportunity to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference and to build a program based upon a strong foundation," Croom said. "I believe the foundation has been set for those goals to be reached under the leadership of someone else, and it was my decision to resign."

The former Alabama star was an assistant at his alma mater from 1977-86, then spent 17seasons as an assistant in the NFL. Last season after the Bulldogs posted an 8-5 record and won the Liberty Bowl over UCF, Coach Croom was awarded the prestigious SEC Coach of the year award. However, in our win now or go home era of college and professional sports the expectations of fans, boosters and alumni can and most often does lead to quality coaches being shown the door.

The weight of a 4-8 record this season and a 21-38 record overall during his tenure proved to be too much for the SEC's first African American head coach endure. His players were alerted of his decision to resign via text message from the school's officials but many felt that he would not return next season and some defended the coach after the horrible defeat on Friday.

"I think it is unfair," wide receiver Delmon Robinson said of the criticism. "It's all about the players. We've got to win and we've got to go out there and execute coach's plays." (Dallasmorningnews.com)

Mississippi State will begin its search for a new head football coach immediately. All current assistant football coaches remain under contract and will continue performing their duties until the new head coach is hired. Kudos to the MSU organization and administration for breaking down racial barriers in the south by hiring Coach Croom five years ago then, allowing him the dignity of resigning quietly. Although, he will no longer be their coach his impact on the players and the MSU family will not be forgotten.

“Coach Croom instilled in our football program a level of academic commitment, good sportsmanship, and good citizenship that represents our institution well,” Interim President Dr. Roy H. Ruby said. “The Mississippi State family wishes only the best for Coach Croom and his family.” (Mstateathletics.com)

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVE...

DALLAS,Texas - Duty, Honor, Country. Veterans Day 2008 is significant to for many reasons. This year our country elected the first African-American a Democrat from Illinois Barack Obama president. Yet on a day reserved long ago to honor those American patriots that have served this great country, our brave servicemen and women are still valiantly fighting two wars on terror on foreign soil paying the ultimate price for our freedoms.



In Nov 1919, President Thomas Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov 11 the first commemoration of Armistice Day. On Oct 8, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed HR-7786, changing Armistice Day to Veteran's Day (Richland Chronicle)

Today, marks the 2021st day since President Bush's "mission accomplished" declaration but still we are no closer to finding Osama Bin Laden or the real culprit's behind 9/11 nor ending war on terror in America or the world. Hopefully, with the historic electoral college landslide presidential election, real change will finally arrive in Washington and we will find a way to end the war in Iraq victoriously while regaining our foothold in Afghanistan to root out Bin Laden, bring peace to the Middle East and bring our troops home!

I recently had the privilege of taking my son to visit the Vietnam Memorial in historic Fair Park.
I could not help but feel a special sense of pride watching him absorb a little of the historical significance of Veteran's Day while reflecting in the memorial's reflecting pool. Those of us who have served share a special bond that will never be broken. I wanted to take this moment to say thank you my brothers and sisters in arms and wish them and their families well during and throughout the holiday season. Your sacrifice and dedication to duty, honor, and country will be grossly under repaid but never forgotten.

Photos by: Reggie "Lockdawg" Lockhart

The Silent Assassin (pancreatic cancer)

Last week two more well known successful African-American men died within days of each other, NFL Hall of Fame player and executive Eugene “Gene” Upshaw (63) and actor Julius J. Carry III (56). Sadly both men were stricken with pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading killer in the United States which has taken the lives of over 34,000 Americans this year alone.

Eugene Upshaw, a prominent face of the NFL embodied the toughness of the league. An organization where triumph over adverse situations and the “never give up” creed is emphasized and ingrained into the players from the time they were toddlers.




Like the players that he vigorously represented, Gene was a man without many visible weaknesses if any; and his tough as nails persona was needed as he served as Executive Director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) for 25 years after his stellar playing career ended.



"In both careers (as a player and NFLPA executive director), if you hit him in the head, he could hit you back twice as hard," Tagliabue said. "But he didn't always do so. He was very tough but also a good listener. He never lost sight of the interests of the game and the big picture."


Julius was a tough man that found his passion for acting early on in life. When he landed the memorable role of “Sho-Nuff” the Shogun of Harlem in Berry Gordy’s cult classic The Last Dragon, the character professed to be the “baddest mofo, lowdown around this town” and Julius mastered the role and persona on screen like no other man could.




However, his mother the Rev Helen Carry, said Mr. Carry was "really a gentle soul.” She saw his most memorable role as a morality play of good vs. evil. "There's something deep inside of people, and if they can grab a hold of that they have mastery over evil," she said.


Though both men were tough and had overcome many adversities in their lives to reach their successful plateaus, they were no match against the “silent assassin” pancreatic cancer. So, what is pancreatic cancer? Who’s at risk? What are the treatment options?


Pancreatic Cancer:

No one knows the exact causes of pancreatic cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one person gets pancreatic cancer and another does not. However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious. No one can "catch" cancer from another person.
Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop pancreatic cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.

Studies have found the following risk factors:
• Age -- The likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age. Most pancreatic cancers occur in people over the age of 60.
• Smoking -- Cigarette smokers are two or three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop pancreatic cancer.
• Diabetes -- Pancreatic cancer occurs more often in people who have diabetes than in people who do not.
• Being male -- More men than women are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Being African American -- African Americans are more likely than Asians, Hispanics, or whites to get pancreatic cancer.
• Family history -- The risk for developing pancreatic cancer triples if a person's mother, father, sister, or brother had the disease. Also, a family history of colon or ovarian cancer increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Chronic pancreatitis -- Chronic pancreatitis is a painful condition of the pancreas. Some evidence suggests that chronic pancreatitis may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is sometimes called a "silent disease" because early pancreatic cancer often does not cause symptoms. But, as the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
• Pain in the upper abdomen or upper back
• Yellow skin and eyes, and dark urine from jaundice
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss

Other studies suggest that exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace or a diet high in fat may increase the chance of getting pancreatic cancer. Most people with known risk factors do not get pancreatic cancer. On the other hand, many who do get the disease have none of these factors. People who think they may be at risk for pancreatic cancer should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.

The only real defense against this killer is early diagnosis and the key to your defense is maintaining a good relationship with your doctor.

For more information about pancreatic cancer go to: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/pancreatic