Stephen Wesley to Play for Terry Bowden

From the Polk County Ledger (never thought I would type THAT):

The senior defensive end from Bartow High School was dismissed from the Hurricanes football team last month and made sure his message about his time at Miami was loud and clear Monday.

"If I had a chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't play for coach (Randy) Shannon," he said in a phone interview with The Ledger.

Internet reports have said Wesley was released because of reasons ranging from academic issues to the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder being out of shape.

Wesley was quick to dismiss those as well.

 "That came down (to) a decision from coach Shannon personally. It was nobody else."

Wesley didn't go into detail about Shannon's reasons.

"I didn't get in any trouble at all. I didn't have any off-the-field issues when I've been down there," Wesley said. "It was really a personal issue between coach Shannon (and I). I guess he had a personal issue dealing with me. For what reason, I don't know."

"It didn't have anything to do with that," he continued. "That came down (to) a decision from coach Shannon personally. It was nobody else."

Wesley didn't go into detail about Shannon's reasons.

"I didn't get in any trouble at all. I didn't have any off-the-field issues when I've been down there," Wesley said. "It was really a personal issue between coach Shannon (and I). I guess he had a personal issue dealing with me. For what reason, I don't know."

"When all of this happened, certain coaches on my team, they were mad about what happened and they were mad about coach Shannon releasing me," he said. "Players on the team also were mad about coach Shannon releasing me. That should really let you know ... whether or not it was a good choice or a bad choice."

Wesley hasn't been sitting around stewing about the decision. It took him about two weeks to find a new home at North Alabama with coach Terry Bowden, son of former FSU great Bobby Bowden and the former head coach at Auburn.

"He had just called me one day and he told me, 'I have a full scholarship here waiting for you if you want to be a part of a team,' " Wesley said.

Wesley had a different tune about what he thinks of his new coach.

"Coach Bowden, he's a player's coach," the 22-year-old said. "He's one of those type of coaches where it's easy for you to approach and talk to about any certain situations. He's always talking and always communicating with us."

"When all of this happened, certain coaches on my team, they were mad about what happened and they were mad about coach Shannon releasing me," he said. "Players on the team also were mad about coach Shannon releasing me. That should really let you know ... whether or not it was a good choice or a bad choice."

Wesley hasn't been sitting around stewing about the decision. It took him about two weeks to find a new home at North Alabama with coach Terry Bowden, son of former FSU great Bobby Bowden and the former head coach at Auburn.

"He had just called me one day and he told me, 'I have a full scholarship here waiting for you if you want to be a part of a team,' " Wesley said.

Wesley had a different tune about what he thinks of his new coach.

"Coach Bowden, he's a player's coach," the 22-year-old said. "He's one of those type of coaches where it's easy for you to approach and talk to about any certain situations. He's always talking and always communicating with us."