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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > December > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRational thinking at Auburn? No way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
And now for the Tuesday Countdown:
10 - Racism is the only logical explanation for the dearth of African American head coaches in Division I college football. Four out of 119 coaches is beyond embarrassing. It’s shameful. It’s certainly more than plausible at a Southern school (Auburn) that has never had an African American head football coach and rejects probably the strongest job candidate (Turner Gill) who happens to be black and is married to a white woman. There’s just one problem.
9 - To assume Auburn gave the job to the overmatched Gene Chizik (5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State) sort of assumes they know what a good football coach is anyway. Remember, this is the same school that secretly [met behind an airplane hanger with Beelzebub’s first lieutenant, Bobby Petrino, when the Tigers already had a great football coach (Tommy Tuberville). When Tuberville went undefeated, they were forced to give him the world or have him walk (which he should have). After one bad season - during which, by the way, Tuberville manned-up and accepted responsibility for hiring the wrong offensive coordinator - Tuberville was fired.
8 - So now Nick Saban turns around Alabama in roughly a week, wins its first 12 games before losing to Florida for the SEC title, and Auburn panics. This is an administration that’s incapable of clear, rational thoughts even in normal circumstances - what would you expect when the heat’s on?
7 - Final word on Auburn. We really can’t know for certain how Chizik will fare as a coach. But there’s no question he’s going to get flattened in recruiting for at least two years, and only 10-win seasons will enable him to make a dent in Alabama’s class. Gill, a young African American with an offensive mind, at least would’ve given Auburn something Alabama doesn’t have in a recruit’s living room.
6 - Letting Rafael Furcal go was one of the biggest mistakes the Braves ever made that nobody wants to talks about. It follows that the possibility of bringing him back, as reported, would be a huge boost for general manager Frank Wren, whose offseason I think is running second only to Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs. The signing would free the team to deal Yunel Escobar in a package for a pitcher, and right now the staff is too dependent on medical miracles.
5 - There was a rumor in a Canadian tabloid this week that Thrashers general manager Don Waddell is close to losing his job. This makes so much sense on every level, except for two obvious ones: 1) The franchise has nobody in the organization capable of taking over at mid-season. Assistant general manager Larry Simmons is a numbers guy, nothing more. The organization lacks hockey minds. 2) To hire a replacement from the outside would necessitate spending money - which isn’t real high on the Atlanta Spirit’s agenda right now.
4 - One final hockey thought (sorry, I know it doesn’t move the meter). The Thrashers are tied for the worst record in the league and, with 22 points in 29 games, are on a pace for 62 points. That would be the fourth lowest total in team history, behind 39, 60 and 54 in the franchise’s first three seasons. Way to build.
3 - The Georgia Force announced it will not play this season. No word yet on whether that will affect attendance.
2 - Evander Holyfield fights Nikolai Valuev Saturday for the WBA heavyweight title. The bout will be held in Zurich, Switzerland. It was moved from halftime of a Force game.
1 - Auburn just gave $5 million to Tommy Tuberville to walk away and $2 million a year to a coach, Chizik, who finished the season with a 10-game losing streak. They’re one board meeting short of being General Motors.
Permalink | Comments (31) | Categories: UGA/SEC
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By ColdHardTruth
December 16, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
I think 4 Black HC’s in College Football is 3 more than Mr. Schultz’s employer has in the Sports Dept. Maybe Jethro should throw down and give a brother a chance at his job.
By Kendawg
December 16, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Anyoone who knows anything about college football knows that Iowa State has been the doormat in the Big 12 for as long as I can remember. If Jeff Schultz thinks that Chizik should have won more than five games in his first two years, he’s a moron. Wait, we already knew that. By the way, the Big 12 is not the MAC. Also, why doesn’t Jeff’s employer, the AJC, have more than one black sportswriter? Is it because the one they have is pathetic?
By jj
December 16, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Why aren’t people not following up on the statements made by the two SEC coaches.Everybody is talking about Sir Charles but I think there should be a follow up by Mark.S. or any member of the press on why these coaches knew that Gill would noit get the job because of his white wife.If this is common knowledge about hiring practice in SEC,there should be a investigation by NCAA and Federal Gov.This is discrimination at it’s worst and for it to be left uninvestigated is just not right.Let’s make these big shots who make these discisions pay just like dog fighters.
By Matt
December 16, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
I will reiterate my point again. I think we should fire every head coach that is not a minority and give that job to a minority no matter the qualifications. That is the only way the media and minorities will be happy. Hell, I may quit my job and let a black person have it. I’m successful, and get to make my own hours. I guess everyone else should have that no matter what. To hell with letting people hire who they want to hire.
By Football Ken
December 16, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Hey Jeff, Totally agree with you about the Fookie trade, the Braves haven’t been to playoffs since he left. Not a coincidence. Speaking as a black college coach, we will never have many oppurtuniies to coach at the D-1 level because of the “inner circle” that exist in the coaching fraternity. To get D-1 level positions, you have to know someone or have played in the NFL. this is known throughout all the coaching groups. Football is football, at Auburn and Morehouse. But oppurtunities will never come to small college coaches because of the stipulations and guidelines set in place by the “inner circle”. They are going to protect their own, hence the continuous rotation of ex-coach here and ex-coach there. Sounds like a conspiracy don’t it, well…….
By John
December 16, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Why can we not know this? If AU is a public university then all the notes and criteria in the selection process and which trustees were involved should be made public. Why can reporter not ask these questions and pursue the answers?
By john
December 16, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
When the black coach was born, were there any blacks even attending Auburn?
By AU Alum
December 16, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Criticizing Auburn for the way this coaching search was handled only works to chill future interviewing opportunities for African-Americans. Congratulations, Mr. Schultz.
The worst part of this story is that if Auburn had followed the University of Alabama’s lead and never interviewed a minority candidate in the first place (see e.g. Alabama searches in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2002, and 2006 and notwithstanding the purported Sylvester Croom interview in the spring of 2003) then the criticism would have been avoided.
By Kendawg
December 16, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Why is Schultz not pummeling Syracuse for not hiring Turner Gill? Aren’t they in the same state? Surely they knew that he’s the best coach since Vince Lombardi. After all, he won the mighty MAC. One of their best teams, Central Michigan, a two time winner of the MAC, held UGA to only 56 points.
By Matt
December 16, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
If you people in the media and everywhere else want to know a major reason more minorities aren’t head coaches, take a look at NOTRE DAME. They fired Tyrone Willingham four years ago. He is a terrible coach and has been fired since, but they don’t go a week without hearing about his firing from Notre Dame. You can’t fire a black coach without being called a racist, so you might as well not hire one, and be called a racist and get it out of the way. Stop talking about RACE
By reality check
December 16, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
All the points are very good, but 3, 2 and 1 are still causing me to laugh! O how the truth hurts at times! Wake up Auburn you made a mistake that will take years to correct! Merry Christmas!
By Herschel Talker
December 16, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
ColdHardTruth:
If Terence is the example, then it’s pretty obvious why there is only 1 black guy at the sport department. Terence is a joke, a clown, and a hack who recycles old material.
HT
By Elmo
December 16, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Let’s just impose Racial Quotas on all Jobs from now on. That will solve the problem “Comrade Jeff”.
By THE TRUTH
December 16, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Auburn has alwys been the doormat of the SEC academically speaking, now it’s looking as if the only good thing that school had to offer is about to move to doormat status as well!
By Fleischman
December 16, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
I think black people should have everything handed to them on a golden platter. They shouldn’t have to work hard for anything. Remember, their ancestors had it bad. Hell maybe I should let a black man take my job, wife, kids and car. He deserves it alot more than I do.
By Pheeeeeeeeeel Hare
December 16, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
You aint gonna find anyone defending you Jeffy, all the colored peoples are still asleep. Or rushing to work because they slept in.
By phil Ritchie
December 16, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Charles Barkley started all this about race.No one would have thought anything about it till he brought it up.
How could Turner Gill have a more experienced resume than Gene Chizik?Is he for real? He wouldn’t care if Auburn went 3-9 under Gill as long as his friend and buddy got the job.
Gone are the days sadly when you got a job on merit!!!!!!!! Turner Gill needs to pay the piper and put his time in before he gets a job like Auburn.
What does Jeff Schultz know about Auburn??Are you going to pick somebody for a job because of the color of his skin? no matter whether he has the experience??Jobs should be gotten on the EXPERIENCE of the individual.Remember this people.
By Andrew Harbin
December 16, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Well lets start having quotas. We need a quota in the Division 1 black coaches. We need a quota in Major League Baseball. At the same time lets start having quotas in the NBA and NFL. No we cant do that. If Turner Gill was so capable, why did his own university of Nebraska not hire him. What about Syracuse. No go ahead and blame in on Auburn. Fat A— Barkley needs to throw the dice one more time. What a loser. If a white announcer said something like Barkley said they would be fired and hammered by the NAACP. As Kramer said it, why do we have Miss Black America and BET. Talk about racism. I guess they want their cake and mine.
By wxwax
December 16, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
You can’t excuse Chizik’s lame performance by saying Iowa State is a doormat. So was Kansas State… once.
Good head coaches make a difference. Chizik didn’t.
He won’t at Auburn either. There’s a long list of talented coordinators who aren’t good head coaches. When Chizik’s fired in 2-3 years, he’ll be taking the Athletic Director with him.
Auburn’s a mess.
By DJ
December 16, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
This white man, who has had 2 kids graduate from UGA, is very proud that we have a young, successful AD, who just happens to be black.
By Dawg Gone
December 16, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
Football Ken Is that the same “inner circle” that prevents the U.S.A. from electing a black President?
By D.Ellis
December 16, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Barkley’s still mad the casino called him out for not paying his tab. Maybe if he put as much money into the AU athletic department as he does on the craps table he would have more say so instead of just nominating someone for the job
By JayRoot
December 16, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Affirmative Action Hires/Interviews are absolutely Immoral What an insult to ALL black people to say we are going to interview because we have to. Aff. Action has the complete opposite effect that its supporters wanted. Thankfully, countrywide, we are starting to see a complete back-lash against ALL forced politically correct interviews/hires. Hopefully, ASAP, we can stop treating blacks as inferior by demanding interviews based on skin color i.e. Affirmative Action.
By D.Ellis
December 16, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Donte-There is a difference in being “ripped in the media” and out on bail for a crime. Mike Vick is in jail for dog fighting….but he is IN JAIL FOR A LONGER time because he was financing an interstate gambling ring….thats fed stuff. He is being ripped in the media because he was an ICON…it;s what the media does to icons wen they screw up.
-The white guy that beat the dog over the head with a hammer actually deserves himself to be hit over the head with a hammer and then thrown out in traffic on 285 non rush hour where everyone is flossing and his chances for survival are slim to none.
By Big MIKE
December 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Racism has reared it’s ugly head,to know avail of rightousness,Did Turner Gill get looked over because he is black? Or was this simply the A.D.’s chose from the onset. I think the key question here is why do you have a coach with Charlie Strong’s background in the S.E.C. consistently looked over? Charles Barkley is entitled to his opinion, and it will upset a lot of white men who root for Auburn every week, but remember Charles is one of your own (A.U.GRAD). do we condenm him when he say’s what is politically incorrect(but often true)or do we open up our thoughts and minds to progess.Jeff Schultz is only saying what is obvious, 119 division I schools and only 4 Black Americans given the chance to lead! I wonder what would UGA,FLA,TEX,and A.U.(the 03 team) would do without the Black players? J. Schultz is not suggesting you give us the whole S.E.C., just be fair in your hiring process. P.S. the next time you turn on a A.U. game racist and bigots remember those young black and white young men do it for the love of the game, something most of you could’nt do or you would not just have been just a fan!
By JayRoot
December 16, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Hey BigMIKE There’s the liberal’s favorite word: “fair” … “given the chance to lead” Ha! You have to earn it pal. Here’s and idea ,let’s take the SEC teams and make them look like a cross-section of America: 15% of the players can look like BigBlackMIKE, 20% can look like me, Latino(light mocha), 65% white, and throw in some Eskimos, Indians, etc., to make up the rest. Come on, those players are based on forty yard dash times and weight … not skin color. What an id—-! AU is not going to hire someone at the point of a gun, simply, because it would make blacks feel good. “Real Cahnge, We Can Beleive In” Ha!!
By Football Ken
December 16, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
DAWG GONE,
As you are NOT aware football coaching is a small fraternity compared to the whole country of America. As we all know, frats have their own rules that operate outside any governing body. America’s people spoke for Obama, all colors. As we know the D-1 football coaches only now have 4 diffrent voices from the majority, don’t be an idiot.
By Freedom Speaker
December 16, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
We now have BLACK MAN as President, there is no longer any RACISM….. Everything is Equal NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW>
Let the R word go and move on with your lives…… Have a funeral and let’s toss some flowers on the caskit…………. Move ON>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Auburn will survie after several bad years.
By JayRoot
December 16, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
FYI Dog Gone More people voted against “Barry” NObama than voted FOR Bush in 2004. So, your argument is invalid. It is NOT unanimous that we are ALL on board for this goon, NObama. Try to find another correlation!!!
By Santa Claus
December 16, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
The AJC has a race issue(imaginary)that they can ride indefinitely. Joy to the world and to all a goodnight..
By Kendawg
December 16, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
If Turner Gill is such a great hire, why did Nebraska and Syracuse pass on him?