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Just another idiot playing the race card.

smoss | 05/17/08, 10:17 AM

More likely his sub .500 coaching record a poor recruiting is what is holding him back.

KRB | 05/17/08, 11:21 AM

At one time that might have been the case but today I'd have to think that blacks not getting college HC jobs is not quite as simple as the Ol' Boys Network as Tyrone points out. Now, as Ty said it's in place in certain places and I can believe that. Are there other black assistant coaches are complaining they are not being given the chance? I'd also love to hear what other "factors" Tyrone thinks are the problem. One thing is for sure, Tyrone can never blame the ol boy's network for his dismal coaching.

The Warden | 05/17/08, 11:31 AM

Are Grambling, Southern, Texas Southern, Prairie View and other predominantly Black schools going to have to interview a White coach every time they have an opening, as well?

How about we point to a couple of deserving Black coaches who have been stiffed on jobs they should have had as evidence of discrimination instead of general innuendo about a vast White Man Conspiracy? This is simply not productive and I am disappointed in Ty for such a generalization.

Do I believe he got screwed at Notre Dame? Yes. Was it because of color or because Charlie Weiss was available and perceived as a savior for a program that was struggling under Willingham? I really don't know, but in light of the Irish holding onto Weiss in light of his woes with the program, maybe race played a part.

Racisim exists. But it isn't just coming from White America. But let's look at evidence of specific, documented situations to fix it. As long as the giant, unspecified innuendo exists, it will never go away.

localboy54 | 05/17/08, 11:43 AM

When he is fired at Washington will there be the same "racism" accusations that there were at Notre Dame...?

Gariboy | 05/17/08, 11:45 AM

this is so true. Why all the black college players and only about a handful of black college coaches. Same thing with women's basketball`

e2dag | 05/17/08, 12:44 PM

There is a good ol boy system. Hands down one of the most raciest leagues in all of sports.

Hank Hill | 05/17/08, 12:46 PM

e2dag and Hank,

Name 3 deserving Black coaches who didn't get a job for which they should have been hired. Vast White Conspiracy doesn't work any more.

localboy54 | 05/17/08, 12:53 PM

Name 3 deserving Black coaches who didn't get a job for which they should have been hired. Vast White Conspiracy doesn't work any more.

localboy54 | 05/17/08, 12:53 PM

I dont know, theres no black coachs that have been given a chanch

Hank Hill | 05/17/08, 01:11 PM

When will the blacks stand on their own feet and stop blameing whitey. When will you stop looking at skin color and at the person.

thunderdragon | 05/17/08, 01:15 PM

Never Thunderdragon .. never.

vikings526 | 05/17/08, 01:21 PM

When are we going to get beyond this "$hi7"? No, there is no better word for it. As a black man, I've always felt that if I take a job (any job) and I perform well, then that may open up an opportunity for some other "minority" regardless of the prevalent circumstances. In this, I do more for equal opportunity than any mandate. Of course there are always going to be cases where it doesn't matter how good you are, people just aren't going to want to have you around. I for one will not give another person the responsibility for my failure unless the evidence is conclusive and verifiable. Anything outside of this is going to be viewed as conjecture whether it's true or not. My point is, all of this race baiting in our country is stupid and it's time we all start looking past it. As it was once said, "You can't hold me down on the bottom of the barrel unless you're willing to stay down there with me". Literally or figuratively.

'Nuff said.

Vocal Point | 05/17/08, 01:26 PM

There still is a Good ol' boy network & there always will be. "They're good enough to play, but not good enough to coach." There will always be some fool like the one in WV when they asked him about Obama, that's too dumb or lazy to find out information on his own. My attitude is, let the good 'ol boys keep their teams, just be man or woman enough to say it. Then they'll see as players of all colors refuse to play for their universities. Stop being cowards & admit it aloud. There are plenty of exceptional coaches at HBCUs that aren't even contacted for D1 coaching positions.

CanofOil...FanNation Judge | 05/17/08, 01:34 PM

"Racisim exists. But it isn't just coming from White America."
localboy54, it's not possible to consider this statement with any merit when the fact is that the majority (whites) in America who benefit from systematic racism designed in America long ago, cannot be victims of racism. The majority is the beneficiary of the racism - not the victims of it. That is why only the minorities in America can be the victims of racism. This is a truth that is very very hard for some in White America to accept and I'll likely be lambasted here for saying. But it is the truth. Of course, whites can be victims of hatred, and/or ignorance coming from anyone - but cannot be not victims of racism. One of the dumbest terms invented by White America, "reverse racism" still has many of us fooled.

With that said, I agree with every word Willingham said. By the way, I think at least some here would agree this country has been run by the same type of network for the last seven years and change - but that's a whole 'nother deal.

EastCoastKeith | 05/17/08, 01:57 PM

I dont know, theres no black coachs that have been given a chanch

Hank Hill | 05/17/08, 01:11 PM


Who is this article about?

localboy54 | 05/17/08, 02:30 PM

East Coast-

I grew up in Hawaii and have been the victim of racism and discrimination. I overcame them and fit in wonderfully, so don't preach to me about "Whitey can't understand."

Your Good Old Boy argument falls apart in considering the coaching ranks in the NFL, MLB and NBA. Let's get past the skin and into merit. Vocal Point hit it on the head.

localboy54 | 05/17/08, 02:33 PM

There CERTAINLY IS agood ol' boy system at work in U.S. college football.
Why has only Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom coached a major white
Southern school's football team?Explain that one,boys.

HandsomeLustyBlackLad | 05/17/08, 02:57 PM

I think Willingham's right that there is an "old boy" network, but I think that it goes beyond being race-based, actually. The nature of it does exclude minorities (I mean, how the hell has Norm Chow not gotten a head coaching gig, for that matter?), but what happens is that I think the same old retreads keep get putting into place. AD's would rather hire someone who's been a head coach before than take a chance of going outside that network.

jake_lex | 05/17/08, 03:10 PM

Alumni rule college sports. Rich white guys, get it ?

golfwacko | 05/17/08, 03:13 PM

There CERTAINLY IS agood ol' boy system at work in U.S. college football.
Why has only Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom coached a major white
Southern school's football team?Explain that one,boys.

HandsomeLustyBlackLad | 05/17/08, 02:57 PM


Steve Spurrier, Jackie Sherrill, Nick Saban, Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson, Bobby Bowden, Les Miles, Houston Nutt, Mack Brown, R.C. Slocum, Mike Sherman, Spike ****, Mike Leach, Tommy Tuberville. Shall I go on?

Oh, isn't Randy Shannon at Miami a person of color? Last time I checked, Miami was in the Southern U.S. And who was the really big guy who coached at Clemson? He was Black. I remember his very emotional good-bye after a reasonably unsuccessful stint as Clemson's head coach.

Looking at the list above, what Black college coach is more deserving (or was at the time some of the retired guys were still in the game) of being a head coach than the guys who got the job? Let's stop with the Vast White Conspiracy and tell me how ANY Black coach--NAME ONE, Lusty--is more qualified for a head coaching spot than the guys listed above. You're the one who brought up the South. Defend yourself with FACTS, not unfounded hysteria.

I think I just "explain[ed] that one, boys."

localboy54 | 05/17/08, 03:31 PM