Should the NCAA institute something like the "Rooney Rule"? - SPTO's Blog

SPTO's Blog

Should the NCAA institute something like the "Rooney Rule"?

Posted on December 16, 2008 at 11:18 AM.

(5)

So I know i'm way late on this but the point I want to make brings up race and that's taboo in the forums so I'll make my point here. This is about the Auburn hiring of Gene Chizek. Chizek's record as a head coach is, well mediocre to put it best yet he was chosen ahead of Turner Gill. There were reports before the Chizek hiring that Gill was one of the favorites for the job but apparently those in charge of the Auburn Athletic department didn't interview him or even made serious overtures.

This seems to be a recurring pattern for Auburn as just recently Charles Barkley has blasted his alma mater for this same kind of discriminatory behavior. During the '90s Barkley agreed to be part of a search committee for a new basketball coach on the condition that Auburn interview three black coaches who would be interested and able to take on the job. Auburn did this but eventually hired a white coach who had a poor record as a head coach before taking the job.

This kind of behavior is pretty sad and disturbing especially after the recent affirmation of the American public's willingness to hire on the basis of qualification rather then race as we saw in the recent presidential election. Obviously this is not just a problem with Auburn but with the schools in Division 1 Football. (i'm not too familiar with the situation in the basketball ranks but i have a feeling it's not as bad) Out of the 119 schools in big time college football this past season only FOUR are black and we're now basically down to two since Ty Willingham's firing and Sylvester Croom leaving Miss. State.

I truly believe that the Powers That Be in the NCAA need to seriously take a look at this. Now I know the Rooney Rule in the NFL is not perfect but I strongly encourage the NCAA to look into adopting some kind of rule to that effect. I also heard something pretty shocking and sad last night on the radio. Jim Kelley (the sports writer) related how he's had off the record conversations with those involved in college football. One of the main reasons why black coaches don't get hired, much less interviewed is because the ADs are scared. Why? They're scared that if they hire a black coach that they can't fire said black coach at all.

What kind of *** backwards cockaminie line of thinking is this?! Are there people running the athletic departments of major colleges and universities that truly believe this pap they're spewing? Now I know there's the issue of boosters especially down south where the racial attitudes are less tolerant but damnit schools shouldn't be beholden to a bunch of old guys who are living in the 1950s!

This has been an issue in college football for years now but I gotta think that the Turner Gill situation HAS to be the tipping point. This kind of nonsense has to end.

Comments

# 1 The GIGGAS @ Dec 16

You make some good points, SPTO. Turner Gill should have gotten that job hands down over Chizik any day of the week. I've seen some articles saying that the Tuberville era is over, and the Chizik error is starting. That's brutal.

I can't imagine Auburn fans are too happy with that. Tuberville had some amazing successes there, and he gets forced out, and replaced by someone who couldn't do anything in the Big 10.

Yeah, that's an upgrade

# 2 rudyjuly2 @ Dec 16

Totally agree. It's absolutely ludicrous that there are only 2 black coaches in division I. There has to be a Rooney Rule put into place. While racial issues still linger in certain parts of the country, I don't think that has been the problem. The U.S. just elected a black president - certainly people are willing to accept a black coach.

I don't know the exact reason for this stupidity but the interview process has to be opened up in order to stop it.

# 3 rudyjuly2 @ Dec 16

Just to correct the original number of black coaches, there are four right now (still way too low).

"There are only four African-American coaches among 119 programs in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision. Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was hired as New Mexico's coach last week; the others are Gill, Miami's Randy Shannon and Houston's Kevin Sumlin. "

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3770769

# 4 jmood88 @ Dec 16

I've had mixed feelings on the Rooney rule and I don't know how to solve this blatant discrimination. On the one hand, I hate seeing people interviewed who have no chance at getting the job just to have a team say that they at least interviewed someone but on the other hand, at least minorities get a chance at blowing someone away at an interview.

# 5 rudyjuly2 @ Dec 16

I agree that token interviews aren't good but there isn't really any negative in it either. There is always a chance that you really blow someone away and get the job. I think the real benefit of doing the interviews is that if you do impress someone, they might push your name out there giving you a better chance at another job. Just gaining notoriety and publicity can be a real help along with the interview experience. I think we just have to accept a "token" interview as part of a process that would do far more good than not.