Is Race a factor when finding a coach?
I write this article as a caucasian who has had some experience with racial prejudice in his day. I dated a girl in high school who was african american and i had some issues as a result. I was told repeatedly to leave her alone by members of all races who didn’t think it was smart for me to get involved in a mixed race relationship. I had to leave movies early because of some threats that I would receive during the movie and those threats mainly came from people of african american descent. I had an individual pour water in my gas tank and sand after that. This was only in a 1 year period of time. So I’ve seen how these things exist from all races…
Do I believe that race plays a part when selecting or finding a coach? Of course I believe it because sadly it is still a very real factor and especially when you are talking about the politics and money involved in college football. A Florida assistant coach spoke (or rather nodded) in agreement with the same thoughts as I’m sharing with you today. That coach(who is african american) hasn’t been given a head coaching opportunity and believes it has something to do with the fact that he has a white wife and that he is black himself. Of those things I don’t know of for sure and can only speculate but I know that is plays a factor in peoples minds because I’ve seen it. Nobody can tell me that a university ‘booster’ who provides funds and support for a program doesn’t have a say in what coach is hired. Maybe they don’t directly…but that pocketbook talks and that is what drives the sport of college football. MONEY.
Recently Charles Barkley spoke out on behalf of Turner Gill. Turner Gill was a QB at Nebraska while I was growing up and I emulated him in my backyard practicing the option pitch. He is now the head coach at Buffalo and in 3 short years has turned that program from one of the worst in the country to a team that actually reached a bowl game this year. They even beat Ball st. who was undefeated heading into that game. Charles Barkley said that Turner Gill was being discriminated against because he is black and has a white wife. Again, I don’t know if that is true but it is a factor. Gill hasn’t been hired on anywhere else yet. Urban Meyer went from Bowling Green to Utah to Florida in 5 short years. Turner Gill is still stuck in Buffalo while programs all over the country hire rookie coaches to take over their programs.
At a time with so many qualified african americans and at a time when nearly 70% of the players are african american I think it is time we just gave people opportunity who proved that they deserve it.
If only it were that simple…
