Former Miami football stars Ederrgin James and Ed Reed sat down for a podcast episode, and Reed’s brief stint at an HBCU was a topic of discussion.
Reed, the Hall of Fame safety, attempted to clear the air about his short stint as the coach-in-waiting at Bethune-Cookman University. He did so with his former Miami football teammate and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer on the “Create The Life Podcast.”
“I was to be the coach – I was never the coach,” Reed said of the few weeks in late 2022/early 2023. “I never signed a contract. I never got fired like everybody said.”
Reed talked about how he planned to get his program running. He said he realized that football culture involves ‘farming’ – meaning that some players will leave the program with success. He said it was something he was prepared for, and was ready to prepare his players for.
“I told those kids – if someone come there and get you from Power Five – man go! I want you to go!”
Ed Reed claims there was an agenda amongst the administration at the Daytona, FL-based HBCU, claiming that there were ‘moles’ enlisted to report back to higher ups. He also spoke about the president of the school at the time being gone to a different school, and interjected that the would take that university down as well.
“They recycle bad coaches. They just put ‘em somewhere else,” Reed said. “They recycle bad administrations and put them somewhere else and they do the same stuff,” Reed told Ederrgin James.
Edgerrin James’ son is a running back at an HBCU. Eden James is headed into his third season as a running back at Howard University. James explained his approach to having his son play at an HBCU after having gone the Power Five route.
“It’s different – but you have to go into it with the mindset and the purpose. Because if you don’t stand on purpose and the reason why you’re here – you’re going to find all the negatives. But we’re committed to being an example or being where we can make things better – but also – not shortchanging ourself.”
The two former Miami teammates talked about people who were planning on investing in the school, and the surrounding area, during Reed’s short stint.
“I was actually going to purchase a building on the campus because you were there,” James said. “I was actually looking forward to supporting the situation…”
Bethune-Cookman officials eventually rescinded the offer for Ed Reed, ultimately hiring Ray Woodie Jr. as head coach.