Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

UPDATE**TRCC Board wants more local athletes

Posted Saturday, February 28, 2009, at 6:36 PM

UPDATE**We now have a link for this meeting.

You can visit trcc.edu, scroll down to the bottom of the page under "News & Video" and click on the TRCC Trustees meet. Note, you must have Windows Media Player.

Interesting news item on the front of today's DAR from reporter Tim Krakowiak. Here's a shorter version:

Steve Cookson, board chair, opened the discussion Thursday, stating that he feels more area residents will be encouraged to come to college sporting events if there is more local talent.

The men's basketball team, for example, has two players from in district, three more from throughout Missouri, six from other states and three international players on full scholarships.

"People like to see their grandsons and nephews play ball," agreed Bill Hollida Sr., board vice chair. "I'm not interested in seeing Africa come play here."

The current Raiders' foreigners in fact are from Nigeria, the Caribbean and Spain.

Many colleges across the nation are partnering with schools overseas to create exchange programs so that students can gain a worldly perspective, said Joe Rozman, Three Rivers president. He argued that it is a positive thing to expose students to athletes from overseas.

"I come from a military background and I have been tremendously enriched by foreign cultures in other countries," stated Rozman.

Cookson responded that he supports foreign exchange programs but he thinks the college's constituents would simply prefer area citizens to be given more of the scholarship opportunities.

Board secretary Marion Tibbs questioned whether community colleges that Three Rivers competes with have recruiting restrictions on the coaching staff, beyond the guidelines provided by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Other states do, Cookson replied, but he was unable to provide information about athletic scholarships at other junior colleges in the immediate region.

Three Rivers features in-district players Allan Spencer (Poplar Bluff) and Adam Carpenter (Doniphan) while Nick Niemczyk (Bell City), David Prater (South Iron) and Jamarcus Williams (Charleston) are also from Southeast Missouri.

Aloysius Henry is from St. Lucia, Caribbean and Jeff Shelton is from Spain. Ehimen Orukpe, a redshirt freshman, is from Lagos, Nigeria.

Other Region XVI teams average 3.3 players from the state and 2.0 international players:

Mineral Area has four from Missouri (red shirt freshman Jake Coleman is from Potosi) and one international.

MSU-West Plains has no players from Missouri and three international players (Russia, Virgin Islands and Croatia)

Moberly features five from Missouri (one from Moberly and two from Columbia) and two international players.

State Fair has four from Missouri (Raytown being the closest) and two international players.

Also, the University of Missouri features four state players and no international players this season while Southeast Missouri State features three Missouri players but none from Southeast Missouri.

Southeast Missouri State fans always want to see more local players on the roster but should the next coach, or any coach for that matter, be made to have a certain amount of players from certain places? Does this handcuff a coach and make recruiting even harder?

I'm working on a column for Sunday on this subject, feel free to comment...

Will post highlights from tonight's Poplar Bluff-Charleston game later.

Comments

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That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. "I don't want to see Africa play"? Was this guy still wearing his hood when he said that?

-- Posted by rediar on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 11:02 PM
I think to many this would seem like a backwards frame of mind. The world around us has became increasingly intertwined and globalized. However, I have met a lot more international students coming here than I have ever known local students going overseas. Who is really reaping the benefit here? It can't just be a one way street. That goes the same for college sports. Their are plenty of benefits that come with recruiting local talent.

-- Posted by stl_dynasty03 on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 11:08 PM
I think it definantly is a good discussion. I know states like Mississippi and Kansas have restrictions on the number of out-of-area and out of state athletic scholarships they can give out so it is not necessarily a new idea. While it would be unrealistic to rely soley on talent from the immediate area, I do believe in trying to recruit players who live closer to the region. It helps to not only excite the fan base and provide great opportunities for local kids to have their education paid for, but also strengthens the community itself. How many foreign players come back to live in the Poplar Bluff area and contribute to the community? Now when it comes to the local kids who get scholarships and play at TRCC, numerous of them have came back and made the area their home. Just go to the TRCC mens basketball website and look at the "Where are they now" page. There are several local (within 100 mile radius of PB) former players who are making positive impacts in the community, yet no foreign player outside of Okon has ever returned. Just a few examples are Mike Owens (middle school principal at Poplar Bluff), Brock Littles (Real Estate agent in Poplar Bluff), Mark Kiehne (Cape Middle School Principal), Brian Foster (Water Patrol in Eminence), Corey Johnson (Asst. Basketball coach at Jackson), and Dusty Dinkins (Head Basketball coach at South Iron. Another thing that occurs when you bring in foreign players to a Junior College, is that oftentimes they are not eligible to play right away because they either don't have the credits or their credits did not transfer to allow them to be eligible. They then have to sit out one or two semesters before they are ever able to play. I know that happened with Adebayo and Yomi as well as a few others. I always wondered how they were able to pay to live in Poplar Bluff and attend college. Do they have to pay their own way or are they on scholarship while they are ineligible to play? Brian, maybe you can find out the answer to that question for us.

-- Posted by Crash Davis on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, at 2:32 AM
Coach Bess, I'm sorry you have to deal with idiots!

-- Posted by M Irvin on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, at 4:52 AM
The comment about "Africa" could by itself result in terrible consequences for TRCC & the community as a whole. Such talk makes us look like we're stuck again back in the pre-civil war 19th century. What if North Carolina and other colleges had the same opinion regarding talent from Missouri and other far-away states?

-- Posted by semo7178 on Sun, Feb 22, 2009, at 8:32 AM
It's a shame that someone like Gene Bess has to deal with people like this. I have never heard anyone complain that TRCC does not have enough local talent. As far as the Africa comment...what a dumb thing to say. I hope for his sake he was taken out of context. If not, then he's a complete moron. As for Mr Cookson, if area residents are expressing this opinion that he states that they are, why aren't we hearing from them? They need to stand up and be heard at the next of Board of Trustees meeting.

-- Posted by life long semo native on Wed, Feb 25, 2009, at 3:18 PM
Anyone who thinks all those NJCAA banners hanging in the gym would be there without players from outside the area is out of touch with reality. Distance is relative! If Mr. Cookson applied his formula to himself, he would have returned to the Advance/Stoddard County area after his H.S. school career. Yet, he had no trouble going to where the best job opportunity (in his eyes) was. One needs only to examine his (Cookson's) career path to see his hypocrisy.

I cannot think of a single college (including Jr. college) who doesn't boast of the geographical diversity of their student body. So, it seems ludicrous to suddenly apply a different strategy to athletics!

-- Posted by semo7178 on Sun, Mar 1, 2009, at 8:46 AM
Steve Cookson has had an ongoing feud with Gene Bess for quite sometime and is simply trying to exert some control over the basketball program. He can't stand it that Bess doesn't cower down to him and the other members of the board. Cookson and the rest of the TRCC board just need to leave them alone and let them do what they do best; build a perrenial basketball dynasty. Keep up the good work Coach Bess. Go Raiders!

-- Posted by cubs-lose on Sun, Mar 1, 2009, at 9:11 PM
Is this the same Steve Cookson that has been in and out of trouble with MSHSAA at Naylor because they cannot seem to follow the rules. And He's allowed to be in this position to challenge how Coach Bess runs his program? You'd think they had better things to do in the bluff!

-- Posted by whitey11 on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 1:05 AM
Just watched the video. The comment is made at 1:27:47. Bill Hollida said exactly what was reported.

-- Posted by Chief 'Broom on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 10:27 AM
I suggest very strongly that TRCC take a long hard look at the leadership being provided by Steve Cookson! If he is truly serious about his "concerns" and "wishes," he needs to inform Gene Bess "point-blank," Cookson would rather be 10-15 with local talent, as opposed to compiling the W-L records with which Coach Bess has "spoiled" our area.

If the number of people in the seats is the only concern, just eliminate basketball and hold beauty pageants each weekend, and limit the participants to "local" contestants; that will fill the gym for sure, and obviously make the gentleman from the "Ozark Foothills Conference" very happy!

SHAME ON MR. COOKSON FOR WASTING SO MUCH TIME ON THIS MATTER!

-- Posted by semo7178 on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 8:44 PM
Geez, people are really getting upset over a 10 minute discussion during a board meeting. I watched the meeting online to see what all the fuss is about and I just don't get it. It seems like everyone is overreacting just a little bit too much about this topic. Apparently this wasn't even something that was meant to be voted on, only discussed. Although the conversation seemed to shift towards the mens basketball team, I think it began as a look at the entire athletic program. I know in the past the baseball team and the women's basketball team has had foreign players. Makes me wonder if the men's program did not have any foreign players but the other programs still did, if people would get this upset.

Like I stated in my previous post I think it is a good discussion topic. Whether eliminating foreign players from being able to receive athletic scholarships all together is the best thing to do or not, I don't know. There are questions I have about how ineligible foreign players have their tuition and apartment fees paid for that I would like to know the answers to. What I do know is that talking about it is not going to hurt. It's a good way to not only evaluate the situation, but also gauge people's opinions on the matter.

I agree it would be hard to field a nationally competitive team with only players from the immediate area, but I don't think you have to have foreign players to do it. Up until Adebayo came to town, I don't ever remember any foreign players playing at TRCC. Those previous teams had a good mix of local players and players from nearby states. This community college is more engrained with its local area than any other juco in their region. A lot of that has to do with the success of the basketball program, but just as much has to do with utilizing good local players. I remember when I was younger going to Raider games and watching Anthony Rodebush, Corey Johnson, and Brock Littles light it up in front of a packed Bess Activity Center. And it was probably no coincidence that there were a lot of people from Van Buren, Clearwater, and Doniphan who came to every home game. Had TRCC built its tradition on only using foreign player or even just players from Chicago or New York, I seriously doubt that people would care as much about the program even if it had the same success.

-- Posted by Crash Davis on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 10:41 PM
Just one of the many positives with regard to Gene Bess has been his ability to remain relevant. When mention is made of being competitive years ago without foreign players, the same can be said for much of TRCC's opponents. Those who really know the nature of competitive sports should realize coaches and players have to match the commitment by the opposition.

As an example, decades ago, practices for many H.S. teams were limited to P.E. classes during the school day. Next came after-school practices, and today's game has evolved into many players playing AAU ball and/or attending camps throughout the summer!

This is not to endorse "win at any cost," but those who know Gene Bess should count their blessings for a true gentleman who has built and maintained a high-profile program, and done so with the utmost integrity!

Some comments during these blogs almost suggest extra consideration for athletic scholarships should be given to local athletes who might plan to return to the area!

-- Posted by semo7178 on Tue, Mar 3, 2009, at 1:09 AM
This person is a complete idiot. It's this type of mentality that gives Southeast Mo. a bad reputation. "I don't want to see Africa Play", come on TRCC put the srews to this nut bag ! Remove Cookson and leave the Best J.C. basketball coach in history alone.

-- Posted by Kdub102002 on Tue, Mar 3, 2009, at 12:44 PM
I love these topics when it comes to fans in the local area. One correction Shelton is from Ohio/NC his father is military and stationed in Spain so he is am American, just not local. I hope coach Bess continues to bring talent in from around the world. He has a great program and he teaches life lessons and thats more than just basketball to these kids who dont see or know this type of dicipline. Look around at the whole person concept of some of these players and then wonder why they are not wearing a Three Rivers Jersey.

-- Posted by 3rivvfan on Wed, Mar 18, 2009, at 5:18 AM
This may be blown out of proportion, but I agree with semo7178, I can here a coach recruiting a kid against TRCC and sharing that quote to paint a picture of TRCC and Poplar Bluff that is not very inviting.

I am a BB fan with no real connection to the Raiders except that I recognize a quality coach and a quality program when I see one. Over the last 20 years I have been to Union, Forest Park, Meramec, Flo Valley, Hillsboro, and Park Hills just to watch the Raiders when they are in the St Louis area.

I would think true fans would to love see this

quality program in action.

To be honest with you I have always been impressed that Coach Bess is able to fit as many local kids into his program as he does.

-- Posted by hoopsfan23 on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 8:50 PM

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