2 Black NFL Head Coaches to Superbowl XLI!!!

AlphaFrog · #1 01-23-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Tom,
I don't assume any negative intent in your comment

Then you don't know Tom very well.

33girl · #2 01-23-2007, 11:20 AM

Speaking of Super Bowl...the Super Bowl XL champions (THAT'S THE STEELERS IN CASE YOU FORGOT) just named Mike Tomlin their new head coach. He is the first Black head coach in Steelers history (and much nicer to look at than Russ Grimm, might I add).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/...eelers_coach_7

shinerbock · #3 01-23-2007, 01:52 PM

Not to rain on the parade, but I think it's a stupid discussion. I mean, its fine to be excited about it, but I do think it is dumb when people act like this is some victory in the fight against discrimination. I'm pretty excited that there are two white SEC QB's in the Super Bowl.

DeltAlum · #4 01-23-2007, 02:57 PM

Considering that it wasn't all that long ago that there were no black NFL head coaches at all, I think that this is a nice milestone and worthy of note.

I think the first was Art Shell in 1989, hired by the Raiders. But I'm not an NFL historian.

shinerbock · #5 01-23-2007, 03:00 PM

I agree, not having any would be rather suspicious. However, we don't need an exact percentage for things to be fair. This stuff goes on in college coaching, and its ridiculous. Alabama got crapped all over for not hiring Sylvester Croom, who may not even be the coach at Miss State much longer. If the ability is there, they'll get a shot. I have a tough time believing that organizations are purposefully avoiding black coaches. Then again maybe they are, just like NFL scouts avoid white running backs.

DeltAlum · #6 01-23-2007, 03:16 PM

Well, the NFL became the official name of an already existing league in the early 1920's -- and the first black head coach wasn't named until almost 1990.

So, were there no qualified black head coaches for the first nearly seventy years of the league?

I can't believe that.

But that's not the point of this thread.

My opinion still is that this is a worthy milestone to note.

shinerbock · #7 01-23-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Well, the NFL became the official name of an already existing league in the early 1920's -- and the first black head coach wasn't named until almost 1990.

So, were there no qualified black head coaches for the first nearly seventy years of the league?

I can't believe that.

But that's not the point of this thread.

My opinion still is that this is a worthy milestone to note.

Well, I think more likely during most of that time there weren't many black coaches at all. Not that they would have been allowed to coach in the NFL if they were around. Like I said, its good that things are more open now, but I don't think we need all the rhetoric to go with it.

abaici · #8 01-23-2007, 10:18 PM

I'm so tired of people telling other people what and who they should celebrate or what should be important to them.

Sistermadly · #9 01-24-2007, 02:55 AM

Canada did it first in 2005.

Tom Earp · #10 01-24-2007, 07:10 PM

Yes, I agree, it is a big deal. I admire the MEN whether Black or White, they are hired for the knowlege that they have aquired from working hard, not because it is of color.

Why don't you ask them?

They spent their times in the trenches and proved themselves noteworthy, not because of color but brains, training and damn hard work!

UGAalum94 · #11 01-23-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I agree, not having any would be rather suspicious. However, we don't need an exact percentage for things to be fair. This stuff goes on in college coaching, and its ridiculous. Alabama got crapped all over for not hiring Sylvester Croom, who may not even be the coach at Miss State much longer. If the ability is there, they'll get a shot. I have a tough time believing that organizations are purposefully avoiding black coaches. Then again maybe they are, just like NFL scouts avoid white running backs.

Uh, you are probably being too hard on Sylvester Croom. He's been working through a pretty bad situation (they were on probation for his first few years when he took over because of Jackie's stuff) and MSU beat Alabama, believe it or not. I think he probably would have been successful at Alabama.

I think we're still at the point when it's appropriate to celebrate a bit when black people reach the top. I hope we get to the point when the playing field is so level that we don't find it noteworthy, but I don't think we're there yet.

shinerbock · #12 01-23-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Uh, you are probably being too hard on Sylvester Croom. He's been working through a pretty bad situation (they were on probation for his first few years when he took over because of Jackie's stuff) and MSU beat Alabama, believe it or not. I think he probably would have been successful at Alabama.

I think we're still at the point when it's appropriate to celebrate a bit when black people reach the top. I hope we get to the point when the playing field is so level that we don't find it noteworthy, but I don't think we're there yet.

I like Croom fine, he may be a good coach. That being said, I don't think there are any indications that he is a better coach than Shula was. So if there are two qualified coaches, of comparable ability, and the white one is chosen, I think its pretty ridiculous to go crazy about it.

I still think it is a double standard. If I cheer for a white receiver, because he's white, people are gonna look at me funny. And when I say look at me funny, in Atlanta that means people might point guns at me. What do people expect AD's, GM's and owners to do? Can you name a lot of black candidates who have been shafted in favor of unqualified white candidates? I think things are right where they should be considering the pool of qualified coaches they're choosing from. I think its unrealistic that somebody making a hire cares so much about skin color that they'd sacrifice wins in order to hire a white person. If the quality black coaches are there, they'll get hired. I think its great that 2 black head coaches are in the Super Bowl, I truly do. However, I think to brag about it (this has nothing to do with the person who started this thread) or use it as a selling point for owners is pretty stupid.

DSTCHAOS · #13 01-23-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

WOW, more important than who is going to the Super Bowl.

Granted, it is news, but it will be news forever.

So, there were two Men who are Coaches who are Black. It is something that has been to long in coming. So, now lets concentrate on FooseBall and not people!

Oh, who is playing anyway?

Shut up.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Not to rain on the parade, but I think it's a stupid discussion. I mean, its fine to be excited about it, but I do think it is dumb when people act like this is some victory in the fight against discrimination. I'm pretty excited that there are two white SEC QB's in the Super Bowl.

Shut up.....