MikeInRoch
04-25-2005, 11:55 AM
Remember Ronnie Jones, the former Bills special teams coach who was responsible for one of the worst special teams units in NFL history?
The folks at West Texas A & M University would like to forget all about him. Jones was forced to resign as head coach last week after an investigation uncovered the fact he was running a pyramid scheme out of his office. Jones reportedly was exerting undue influence on student-athletes and employees by soliciting memberships in his marketing venture.
Jones also violated university and athletic office policies by using university computer equipment and network systems to access and download unethical and inappropriate materials.
It’s not as if the West Texas A&M football program will miss Jones. The Buffaloes were 5-27 in Jones’ three seasons, including a 2-8 mark last season.
Jones was an assistant with the Bills during the Wade Phillips era. It was Phillips’ refusal to fire Jones that led owner Ralph Wilson to fire Jones.
The statement issued by Russell C. Long, the university’s president, indicates West Texas A&M isn’t shedding any tears over Jones’ departure.
“While this is a disappointing situation, it was not an agonizing decision. Agony is what we went through in early November as we evaluated the 2004 football season. At that time, we elected to continue Coach Jones’ employment and to give him another opportunity. So clearly, this is not about his team’s performance on the football field. This is about something much more important; it’s about character and integrity. This is about being a positive role model and the responsibility the athletic department and the University have to its students, its faculty and staff, and to our fans and boosters. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously.”
I wonder if Jones was on the phone with Phillips, now the defensive coordinator for the Chargers, looking for a job. Or at least soliciting Wade for a membership in his marketing venture.
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/story.asp?id=1789
The folks at West Texas A & M University would like to forget all about him. Jones was forced to resign as head coach last week after an investigation uncovered the fact he was running a pyramid scheme out of his office. Jones reportedly was exerting undue influence on student-athletes and employees by soliciting memberships in his marketing venture.
Jones also violated university and athletic office policies by using university computer equipment and network systems to access and download unethical and inappropriate materials.
It’s not as if the West Texas A&M football program will miss Jones. The Buffaloes were 5-27 in Jones’ three seasons, including a 2-8 mark last season.
Jones was an assistant with the Bills during the Wade Phillips era. It was Phillips’ refusal to fire Jones that led owner Ralph Wilson to fire Jones.
The statement issued by Russell C. Long, the university’s president, indicates West Texas A&M isn’t shedding any tears over Jones’ departure.
“While this is a disappointing situation, it was not an agonizing decision. Agony is what we went through in early November as we evaluated the 2004 football season. At that time, we elected to continue Coach Jones’ employment and to give him another opportunity. So clearly, this is not about his team’s performance on the football field. This is about something much more important; it’s about character and integrity. This is about being a positive role model and the responsibility the athletic department and the University have to its students, its faculty and staff, and to our fans and boosters. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously.”
I wonder if Jones was on the phone with Phillips, now the defensive coordinator for the Chargers, looking for a job. Or at least soliciting Wade for a membership in his marketing venture.
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/story.asp?id=1789