[LuckE2Bhere]

With so much racial negativity flying across the airwaves and internet these days, it was very refreshing to see this article by ESPN's Ivan Maisel, which captures a lot of what I've been thinking, but says it much better than I ever could (of course).
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...ports-ncaa

[LuckE2Bhere]

With so much racial negativity flying across the airwaves and internet these days, it was very refreshing to see this article by ESPN's Ivan Maisel, which captures a lot of what I've been thinking, but says it much better than I ever could (of course).
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...ports-ncaa

[Hank 91]

Newton?

[Hank 91]

Newton?

[Robbie]

Dennis Green became head coach at a time when there were very few minority head coaches in college football. When he took over Northwestern in 1981 he was only the second black head coach in NCAA division one history. He knew he was a trailblazer, and the opportunity came for him to continue blazing a trail to the NFL he took it.

Tyrone Willingham also became head coach when there were very few minority head coaches. There was a website to promote the hiring of minority coaches, and the only public resume they had up was his. He knew that his success would open doors for others to follow. I suspect that one of the reasons he left Stanford was to break through the glass ceiling of being the first minority coach at a football factory.

In both cases the two previous minority Stanford coaches seemed to be very aware of their status, and in both cases I think that one of the main reasons that they moved on was because they felt that it was the right thing to do in order to opens doors that had previously been closed.

David Shaw has arrived at a time of lessened sensitivity to these issues. Not that it never comes up - it's just not as big a deal as it used to be, and particularly at Stanford, where he is the third minority head football coach.

And there is more than a little bit of animosity toward Johnny Dawkins among Stanford fans. I doubt that even a little bit of it is racial, though. He just isn't attracting good players, and building the players he attracts into a good team.

And WHEN (not if) Bernard Muir hires a new basketball coach next year let's hope he can solve those problems.

[Robbie]

Dennis Green became head coach at a time when there were very few minority head coaches in college football. When he took over Northwestern in 1981 he was only the second black head coach in NCAA division one history. He knew he was a trailblazer, and the opportunity came for him to continue blazing a trail to the NFL he took it.

Tyrone Willingham also became head coach when there were very few minority head coaches. There was a website to promote the hiring of minority coaches, and the only public resume they had up was his. He knew that his success would open doors for others to follow. I suspect that one of the reasons he left Stanford was to break through the glass ceiling of being the first minority coach at a football factory.

In both cases the two previous minority Stanford coaches seemed to be very aware of their status, and in both cases I think that one of the main reasons that they moved on was because they felt that it was the right thing to do in order to opens doors that had previously been closed.

David Shaw has arrived at a time of lessened sensitivity to these issues. Not that it never comes up - it's just not as big a deal as it used to be, and particularly at Stanford, where he is the third minority head football coach.

And there is more than a little bit of animosity toward Johnny Dawkins among Stanford fans. I doubt that even a little bit of it is racial, though. He just isn't attracting good players, and building the players he attracts into a good team.

And WHEN (not if) Bernard Muir hires a new basketball coach next year let's hope he can solve those problems.