Jesse's plea- Rev. Jackson: 'Bama should consider black coach

Sports Illustrated ^ | 05/05/03

[kcvl]

Or if they can couch!

[Dan from Michigan]

Being a Spartan, I know ALL about Bobby Williams.

Although I don't think he was really as much racial hire as it was a continuity. He was the most experienced coach there, Saban left, and the players wanted him there. On paper, it really wasn't a bad hire at the time.

It just didn't work out. IMO, Bobby Williams was too much of a player's coach. He'd be a good assistant, and may be a good head coach someday. The nuts came out when he was fired though, that's for sure.

That all said, my first choice was either Ty Willingham or Steve Mariucci.

[Migraine]

You did that? I've been wondering who I should thank.... :-)

OK -- see how it works? Ya don't gotta do "jack, son". Just get out there and act like it's your harrangue, and only that, which keeps the whole country in line.

[Howlin]

Oh, yeah, that, too!

[ffusco]

My other accomplishments include keeping Arizona elephant-free.

Was that YOU!

I was one of the people that prevented NY from becoming player on the Rodeo circuit. It requires vigilence, lemme tell ya......

[Princeliberty]

Maybe he wants them to hire him.
Coach Jesse Jackson!

[Migraine]

I was one of the people that prevented NY from becoming player on the Rodeo circuit. It requires vigilence, lemme tell ya

Yeah, but it didn't keep YOU from throwin' the bull :)

[smalltown]

Willie, why would you want to send a good man like Larry Johnson into the rat's nest that Bama football has become?
Give the man a break. Anyway, JoPa can't last too much longer, can he?

[DaBroasta]

Rainbow PUSH should consider having a white man run it. Even David Duke has more concern for the welfare of Americans who happen to be black, than Jackson and the hoodlums at PUSH have.

[WhaChuLookinAt]

Sure, hire one of Jesse's "friends" like Coach Nolan Richardson

Wrong sport. Actually, the same system looking for a new head football coach already hired a former Richardson assistant, Mike Anderson, to coach UAB's men's basketball team; so we gotcha covered, Jesse Jackass. As an alumnus, even though I can't stand watching the sport anymore, I hope the end of the season, especially the run in the conference championship tournament, is indicative of the future of UAB basketball.

[Willie Green]

JoePa seems to be in pretty good health and does a good job of keeping fit.
And don't let rumors of his retirement fool you.
Joe has no outside interests (other than his family).
He wouldn't know what to do with himself if he retired.
It'd drive him nutz.
Joe's gonna keep on coaching until he's no longer physically able to, and who knows when that's gonna be?

As far as sending Larry Johnson to 'Bama, I gotta admit that I have reservations about that.
I'm really not sure that I'd like to see 'Bama get the inside scoop on some of Joe's defensive magic.
But what the heck, Larry's a good man and deserves a shot at it if he wants it. And if he can instill some of Joe's philosophy and integrity into the 'Bama program, it may go a long way toward restoring their tarnished reputation. That'd be good for college football in general.

[WhaChuLookinAt]

Or if they can couch!

"Couching" (aka "bedding") is what got Je$$e Jacka$$ in trouble on the homefront.

[WhaChuLookinAt]

Jackson's comments came as he traveled to Birmingham for a meeting with black ministers about the Alabama coaching job and other issues.

Knowing conditions in Pratt City and the general West Birmingham area, one would think the good Reverends might have slightly more pressing concerns.

[FReepaholic]

>>...Or if they can couch!...<<

That's what got the current coach fired.

[Arpege92]

"you shouldn't get these jobs by incest and inheritance. You should get them based upon some track record of service."


Did I read this wrong or is Jesse Jackson saying that a person should be hired by qualifications only? Sounds like he threw the whole affirmative action attitude out the window!

[MikeD]

Being a Spartan, I know ALL about Bobby Williams.

Heh, I was there when he was fired. I was there when he was hired. I think he's a good guy and a great running back coach. He just doesn't have the authority to be a head coach.

Having said that, he may not have been a racial hire, but it didn't hurt. Race was certainly an issue when he was fired, despite the fact he had one player on drugs and another arrested for drunk driving & resisting arrest.

Interesting you mention Ty Willingham -- if they would have made a push three years ago, they might have had him. He got his coaching start in East Lansing, after all.

As for Mariucci, I feel sorry for the AD who has to tag team with him AND Izzo...

MD

[Arpege92]

Alabama should tell Jesse to just shut up! We hire who we think is the best person to fill the job....black or white!!

[putupon]

Jesse's son Yusef played linebacker in college; JJ already shook Anheiser Busch down to get the kid a beer distributership, now maybe he has the a second career in mind for the kid.

[Old Professer]

I am a voracious reader, but every month I throw away almost 400 pages of newsprint, namely the sports section of my newspaper -- I hate sports, dumb games for boys who can't be men; but maybe Jesse has the right idea, after all we know that black football players are all paragons of virtue, don't we?

The last I heard, O.J. wasn't really busy.

[smalltown]

Paterno's got class. The turnaround last year was spectacular.
My bet is that Bama does hire a black coach. Although Jesse's interference makes it less likely.
It would buy them a pass from the national media and, dare I say, would be a major plus in recruiting.
As far as qualifications, it's a little like the thread about overpaid CEO's. There are plenty of people who can do the job. It's football, not rocket science. At the head coach position, intensity and personality matter more than X's and O's.