The unfortunately politically charged world of sports
Off the foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: Sports
After a historic presidential election in which America elected its first black president, a study has shown the number of black coaches in major college football is at its lowest in 15 years.
The recent dismissals of Tyrone Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State leave only four black head coaches in the 119-member NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
Richard Lapchick, the co-author of the study, has asked the NCAA to adopt a rule to mandate that minorities be interviewed for head coaching jobs. Lapchick calls it the "Eddie Robinson Rule" and said it would be a college version of the NFL's Rooney Rule, which punishes teams that do not interview a minority candidate.
Is this a bad idea?
Probably.
When looking to make a hire, a company should interview the best candidates for the job, regardless of race, gender, religion or age.
The same should be true for college football coaching positions.
If the college or university making the hire is missing out on the best possible candidate because it won't interview a minority candidate, then yes, there's a problem. But that's an institutional problem that opens up a whole other can of worms.
But if the university finds a candidate it wants to hire, should it be forced to interview a minority candidate just for kicks and giggles?
The answer should be a resounding "no."
Not only would it be an amazing waste of the university's time, but it would also waste the time of the minority candidate, who could be searching for another job rather than sitting in on a interview that shouldn't be conducted.
In simplest terms, a college or university should interview - and eventually hire - whomever they think is the best candidate for the job.
Race should not be a problem.
If the new coach is white, black, Hispanic, Asian, purple, green or even pink polka dot - so be it.
Last season, 30 percent of the candidates interviewed for 22 coaching positions were minorities. Two were hired.
The recent dismissals of Tyrone Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State leave only four black head coaches in the 119-member NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
Richard Lapchick, the co-author of the study, has asked the NCAA to adopt a rule to mandate that minorities be interviewed for head coaching jobs. Lapchick calls it the "Eddie Robinson Rule" and said it would be a college version of the NFL's Rooney Rule, which punishes teams that do not interview a minority candidate.
Is this a bad idea?
Probably.
When looking to make a hire, a company should interview the best candidates for the job, regardless of race, gender, religion or age.
The same should be true for college football coaching positions.
If the college or university making the hire is missing out on the best possible candidate because it won't interview a minority candidate, then yes, there's a problem. But that's an institutional problem that opens up a whole other can of worms.
But if the university finds a candidate it wants to hire, should it be forced to interview a minority candidate just for kicks and giggles?
The answer should be a resounding "no."
Not only would it be an amazing waste of the university's time, but it would also waste the time of the minority candidate, who could be searching for another job rather than sitting in on a interview that shouldn't be conducted.
In simplest terms, a college or university should interview - and eventually hire - whomever they think is the best candidate for the job.
Race should not be a problem.
If the new coach is white, black, Hispanic, Asian, purple, green or even pink polka dot - so be it.
Last season, 30 percent of the candidates interviewed for 22 coaching positions were minorities. Two were hired.
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