JSU assistant goes global

JSU assistant basketball coach Mike Smith is headed overseas later this week to help entertain the troops.
The News Star of Monroe, La., reported in Sunday's editions Smith will be among several coaches going to Kuwait on a goodwill trip.
He'll be joining UL-Monroe head coach Orlando Early, VMI coach Duggar Baucom, Murray State's Billy Kennedy and Pittsburgh women’s head coach Agnus Berenato, the paper said.
College coaches across the country were approached in the spring about making a trip to entertain our troops in Afghanistan in August, the paper said, but when that the dates were the same as the national elections there, the trip was canceled.
“The army said it wouldn’t be a good idea to go to Afghanistan during their elections,” Early told the News Star. “A lot of times in those countries, it’s an uneasy period during their elections. Instead, they still have troops in Kuwait and would like for us to still come.
“I’m very excited about it. It’s a once in a lifetime deal. Those guys over there are fighting for our country. If I can do anything to help, I would like to lend a helping hand — try to lift some spirits.”