Thanks ESPN and NFLN!

Dungy has handled the question very well, IMO, so far. He's acknowledged the accomplishment, but insists that "this is a bigger deal for the Colts organization and the City of Indianapolis". I've heard him say that in at least 2 different interviews so far.

I totally agree with Thelt -- this Superbowl matchup isn't because of AA or the Rainbow Coalition. It's because of two hard-working, ethical, strong, and brilliant men gave their all in a business that demands everything you have and promises nothing in return. The color of their skin is ridiculously irrelevant to their respective accomplishments.

And Dave -- I'm with you about the Saints. There were only two reasons I was rooting for Chicago to win yesterday:

1. I did not want to hear another two weeks, let alone the next football season, of how the Saints rose triumphantly from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina to the World Championship. I am so sick and tired of listening to this marathon Mardi Gras pity party New Orleans has been having, I could vomit. They might as well change the name of the team to the Hurricanes, because that's all that city is about anymore.

2. New Orleans is a division rival.

I also agree that Deion Sanders needs to shut the hell up already.

 

No, a black coach wouldn't have gotten the opportunity then...but that was then, this is now. It's not something you "correct" by blindly interviewing un or under qualified candidates just to suit some societal quota.
Coaching positions aren't reparations...I feel MOST that have gotten the title have earned it. However, I feel that it is wrong to have a requirement to interview someone based on thier skin color...it's reverse discrimination, giving one an advantage based on thier skin color.

 

I swear I'm not trying to be prejudiced in saying this, and I really hope I'm not viewed that way because of what I'm about to say. I think that the education level in general of African Americans involved in pro football has just recently begun to rise to the level of being eligible for top coaching positions. Listen to men like Lovie Smith, Tony Dungy, and Dennis Green. They're sharp, thoughtful, and articulate. So are Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair, and Marshall Faulk.

No one in his right mind would hire a candidate with the education level of a Michael Vick or most of the players in the league right now under 30. Coaching is an intellectual position first and foremost. 40 times and other measurables don't have jack to do with a man's competence level in that arena.

The good news is that as a whole, more and more African Americans are becoming much better educated, and it's finally showing up in the coaching ranks and now in politics, too. I'm glad this is happening, and frankly I never thought of Lovie Smith, Tony Dungy, or Dennis Green as "black" coaches. I've always just thought of them as coaches, and good ones at that.

 

Dennis Green..."Crown thier asses"...take him out of the equation and I agree.:newsmile38:

 

Could be true, but what's also true is the social networking has also risen. That's SO important. People hire people who they know and like. If you don't hang out with black coaches, you won't hire any. That's the purpose of the Rooney rule. The main purpose anyway. To expand the network so that the white owners get to know the black coaches in the 1st place.

 

Exactly. Most of the people in power are white and they are likely to hire people they know. Which puts most black coaches at a disadvantage and gives them limited oppurtunities to even break into coaching. How many black head coaches are in the NCAA? 7 out of 119? Not exactly equal oppurtunity and I am sure there are more qualified canidates out there then seven.

 

As far as college goes, high roller alumni have a huge say so in who is hired.

 

Name some.

The fact is that you don't have the slightest clue what you're talking about, you just want to defend AA. There was certainly racism not only in football's past, but the whole country at that period in time. It's not perfect now, but we've come a hell of a long way and it's pretty silly to suggest that an owner would choose prejudice over a guy who might win more games and thus earn him more money. I imagine that Jerry Jones would hire Farrakhan if it meant more income and a Super Bowl.

The real truth is that the quality of black coaching candidates has risen because more gifted black men are getting into coaching than ever before. Also notice that none of the Rooney Rule token interviews have gone on to get head coaching jobs. Jim Caldwell, Tim Lewis, Ted Cottrell, Donnie Henderson, Ron Rivera, Maurice Carthon, Jerry Gray and Greg Blache are still out in the cold for one reason or another. The guys who got jobs received them because the owners believed in their ability to win, not because of any stupid rule.