1994

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OF

Bridgman steps down ECCC head coach , assistants resign By A. Stacy Long ECCC. The Mendian Star "They (the resignations ) were mutually agreed upon," Reese Bridgman and two Smith said. "It was understood assistant coaches resigned · '111t we needed to see improve– their positions at East Central ment in the record of the team. Community College Tuesday. That was understood when Bridgman, the Warriors' tt q \\ent into thi!-1 year." head football coach for the !\ o minimum number of past three seasons, and assis- wins were needed, Smith said. tants Tommy Spillman and "There wa::; nothing quanti- Kelvin Lyon all stepped down. tative in that regard:' Smitl'l "It was a forced deal.~ :-aid. .. • Bridgman said Tuesday night. ECCC beat Southwest. 38~ "They put a clause into our 20, and East Mississippi, 17i contracts this year 10, to end the year. Jr\ that said we had to the Warriors' eightH show improvement. game, they lost tO "It didn't say we Jones, wh1ch wa! had to have a win- ranked fifth in the ning record, but we country, 36-29. • were better than last "We scorri.d year." he said. more points in our last "There wasn't much three games of th~ imp rovement but season than any other there was some, not East Central team iu only in the record, . three gameo - wHl1 but also in the statis- Br~dgman the exception of 1981 tics." - since 1982," Bridgman said\ The Warriors went 2-8 this "With that kind of stuff, wf season, winning their last two thought we were showinJ games. In Bridgman's three improvement." • years at ECCC, his teams Smith said he has enjoye~ were 4-25-1. working with Bridgman, Lyo~ "The president and I sat and Spillman. 1 • down and he said the board "Coach Bndgman and tht had decided to try to get a new other two assistants are ver.t football coach," Bridgman said. fine young men." Smith saicl "It was a surprise. I know in "We have quite a deal o}" this business nothing should respect for them. We wise be a smprise." them the best. We just wist.. East Central President. Dr. things could have turned ou1 Eddie M. Smith said the board better." : didn't act on the issue until Bridgman broke the news te Bridgman and his staff the team Tuesday afternoon. ' resigned on Tuesday. "I'd say they seemed fairly "The only action the board shocked," Bridgman said. ''l has had was when they really don't know what wa~ approved the resignations," known in the community, so 1 Smith said. "There was no offi- don't know if they knew cial action before today. It's an beforehand or not'' : administrative matter that is The coaches can stay on at presented to the board for ECCC until their contracts their approval." run out June 30. 1995. Smith said the resignations "I would rather go ahead were not forced upon and find a job." Bridgman said. Bridgman and his staff, which "Hopefully, we'll look arounCI have had one-year contracts and be able to stay on the co~ since taking over the reigns at lege level." t

APPEARED I N:

CARTHAG INIAN NESHOBA DEMOC' NEWTON RECORDj CLARION- LEDGEK

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