Football: Hip-hop icon Uncle Luke has problem with FAU’s search for next head coach

The artist named three candidates whom he felt were the program’s best options.

Photo+courtesy+of+Luther+Campbells+Facebook+page.

Photo courtesy of Luther Campbell’s Facebook page.

Christopher Libreros, Contributing Writer

Hip-hop icon and Miami native, Luther Campbell, better known by his stage name Uncle Luke, took to Twitter on Wednesday to voice his opinion on the state of Florida Atlantic’s football program following the dismissal of head coach Charlie Partridge on Sunday after three straight 3-9 seasons.

The former leader of rap group, 2 Live Crew, voiced his displeasure with FAU stemming from the university’s decision to hire a consulting firm to aid in the search of its next head coach.

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Campbell believes one of the reasons FAU has been unsuccessful is because it hires out-of-town, so-called big-name coaches that don’t have a strong local relationship in South Florida.

Campbell also gave his own suggestions for the head coaching position stating that “only three guys can turn that place around.”

That list includes the University of Florida’s associate head coach Randy Shannon, Florida State’s tight end coach Tim Brewster and University of Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal.

At the moment, Cristobal and head coach Nick Saban are making another bid at the national championship with the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Cristobal shined as the 2010 Sun Belt Coach of the Year during his time as head coach for the Florida International Panthers.

Cristobal was also named National Recruiter of the Year in 2015 for his efforts at Alabama.

Brewster, who was the tight end coach under three-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan, also had his own stint as head coach during his time at the University of Minnesota. He finished with only one winning season during his three-year stint.

Brewster’s current record as head coach is 15-30.

Randy Shannon is the Swiss Army Knife at Florida who currently serves as the Gators assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. In the three years as the head coach at the University of Miami, Shannon won more than he lost, boasting a 28-22 overall record.

Campbell, who takes pride in his hometown of Miami, co-founded an inner-city youth sports program named Liberty City Optimists, which gave opportunities to future NFL players such as Falcons running back Devonta Freeman.

“I love FAU football (and) want to see it win,” he said in a tweet has since been deleted. “Call me before you call that consulting firm and make a big mistake.”

Christopher Libreros is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @ChrisIsAirborne.