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Collins in awkward spot at MEAC lunch
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Published: October 8, 2009
Bobby Collins, Winston-Salem State's men's basketball coach, said he felt like a stranger in a strange land at Tuesday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference media luncheon.
Surrounded by fellow coaches, including some he has coached against for 15 years, Collins said he felt uneasy. "Some of them don't want to make eye contact with me just because of what's happened," Collins said, referring to WSSU's decision to stay in Division II.
Nonetheless, WSSU will still play a full Division I MEAC schedule this coming season before returning to the CIAA.
"It's really strange because there are so many scenarios," Collins said. "What angle do I take? I have to be optimistic about the season because I like my team. My team likes each other, and I'm just going to coach to the best of my ability."
A college-basketball season can be filled with pitfalls and adversity, but other coaches say that the Rams will have more distractions than normal.
Todd Bozeman of Morgan State, who led his team to the MEAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth last season, said: "Yeah, its tough. The one thing that I can say and I've told him is, ‘You've got a job.' "
Bozeman, who spent several years out of the college game, is back doing what he loves and grateful for every opportunity.
"He's auditioning every night," Bozeman said of Collins, who is in his final year of his contract.
When Chancellor Donald Reaves met with all WSSU athletes Sept. 11, the entire basketball team stood up and walked out of the meeting when Reaves announced that the transition to Division I would end. The players wanted to show unity, but Collins got them to return to the meeting.
"I know my guys are still disappointed," Collins said. "I've told them, if you say that you are worthwhile and deserve to play in Division I, then go out and prove it. That's something that we can drive home to them in every game -- prove that you belong in Division I."
Coach Jerry Eaves of N.C. A&T said he doesn't envy the position Collins is in.
"I just feel for the whole situation," Eaves said. "And I don't know the inner workings nor am I making any judgments, but I just know the players there were looking forward to being a Division I program."
In 2006-07, Collins first season and WSSU's first year of transition to Division I, the Rams played just six home games compiling the worst record in school history (5-24), and spent the rest of the season playing money games on the road.
"All those years of hard work in playing all those money games and going through the transition and not having a chance to be full Division I is a tough deal for them," Eaves said.
The Rams will open practice Oct. 17, and Collins, optimistic by nature, will have to stay that way though the season. He hasn't had any players transfer, and he expects a full team for the first practice.
"We're Division I this year," Collins said, "and I'll keep reminding them of that all season."
Note: The "Meet the Rams" fan fest will be at 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Gaines Center with the men's and women's teams. Admission will be free.
jdell@wsjournal.com.
727-4081
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