MIAMI — Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong believes race was a reason he hasn’t been offered a head-coaching job during his 25 years in college football, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
Strong, a 48-year-old black man, shook his head affirmatively when an Orlando Sentinel reporter asked him if his interracial marriage was a factor in getting passed over for jobs including one at a Southern school a few years ago. Strong, whose wife is white, said he heard that too many times for it to be rumor.
“Everybody always said I didn’t get that job because my wife is white,” Strong said at media day Monday. “If you think about it, a coach is standing up there representing the university. If you’re not strong enough to look through that (interracial marriage), then you have an issue.”
There are seven black coaches at the nation’s 119 major football schools after four were hired in December.
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said last month when he said “race was the No. 1 factor” why Auburn chose Iowa State coach Gene Chizik over Buffalo coach Turner Gill. Gill, a black man, also is married to a white woman, and ESPN later reported that two Southeastern Conference coaches said Gill got passed over for the job partly because of his interracial marriage.
Strong had a message for those who hold his wife’s skin color against him.
“She makes no calls and she plays no defense,” Strong said.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 215
volroadwarrior writes:
Excuses---excuses. Who cares? If he can win championships I don't care if she is an alien from outerspace. Must be a slow news day.
Hoss44 writes:
This is a travesty
10uhsea writes:
This is sad. He is a great football coach
TxFatBoy writes:
If this is the real reason that he's being passed over then shame on all the Universities that think that way. If it's NOT true then shame on everyone who plays the race card just to stir things up.
Waldorf writes:
Where has he applied for head coaching jobs?
No doubt in my mind that this is a factor if he wants a job in the south, but I would think there are many schools where this is not a problem and he could get a job if it weren't for other reasons.
mtnbikrtn writes:
Barkley's credibility has been severly damaged by his DUI arrest in Scottsdale, AZ.
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
I would say that there is some truth to this. Sad, but probably true.
I am a Vols fan, but Charlie Strong has my respect as an outstanding football coach and hopefully someday a university will give him the opportunity to be a head coach.
DCflorida, when this happens will you guys please bring back Jon Hoke...we liked him. Even Randy Sanders scored plenty of points on his defenses.
KCHS63 writes:
The only question I would have is the ESPN reference. I don't believe anything out of their mouths. Two SEC coaches told them that was the reason, but of course ESPN can't name them. Two SEC coaches would take the chance to make that accusation, knowing that ESPN couldn't be trusted to protect their identities? I don't believe them. You can't believe anything from the Charles Woodson/UConn Sports Network.
TNfaninMS writes:
WTF ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KCHS63 writes:
How's everything looking for ya back there in the 12th Century?
orangevolunteer writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
shopsports#273141 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
JBruce writes:
"Everybody always said I didn’t get that job because my wife is white,” Strong said at media day Monday."
Who's the "everybody" he has been talking to? Athletic Directors or reporters? Big difference when it comes to the relevance of this story.
He will be a head coach within the next 3 years.
TxFatBoy writes:
It's just very hard to believe that NONE of the Universities out there would give him the opportunity to coach.
Alumni_06 writes:
amazed at the ignorance on this matter
HallowedHill writes:
I can't believe that 100% of the schools refuse to hire him because his wife is white. Here's a tip, take a job at a lesser school, work your butte off, win a bunch of games and then see how many schools care if your wife is white.
I had to suck it up through 2 extremely sorry jobs, working hard for long hours, and you know what? It paid off.
Everyone has excuses, i.e. too fat, too old, too white, too black, no degree. Winners overcome hurdles, losers get sidelined by them.
If Strong really wants to be a head coach, then he needs to find a head coaching job and do it well. Even at a sorry school, he'll still end up making more than 95% of the rest of us.
SmokeDog72 writes:
herecomethejudge,
"To marry interracially when it is clearly something many people believe is wrong...WHICH THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BELIEVE BY THE WAY!"
I think we have laws on the books today to protect those that are discriminated against from those that "believe" that way.
Sure, I guess according to you, one has the "right" to rob a bank. But, it is against the law. In much the same way, when people are discriminated against due to race, religion, or gender it is a violation of the law. Regardless of what you "believe" about interracial marriage, it is against the law for it to influence someone's employment.
uwishuwereassmartasme (Inactive) writes:
herecomethejudge
The dry cleaner called. Your robes are ready for the cross burning tonight!!
JBruce writes:
"According to a recent poll, of the 119 universities in the bowl subdivision, asking the ethnicity of coaches, athletic directors, presidents, faculty, players and NCAA faculty representatives. According to the report, 56% of college athletes are minorities while 91% of athletic directors and presidents are white. Minority representation in all categories increased last year by less than 1%.
The study found that 12.2% of the 255 offensive and defensive coordinators are African American."
According to my math that means 30 of the 255 coordinators are African American. The numbers speak for itself.
White athletic directors hire white coaches who in most cases hire white coaches.
That needs to change.
TheVolMan writes:
Yep...
volwalk writes:
Nice summary!
Everybody has an excuse if they choose to use it. white, black, purple.......
My advice is quit crying and focus on stopping the sooners. Quit worrying about what you cannot change..Do your job and do it well and you will get what you want in due time.
JBruce writes:
You're an idiot.
Unfortunatey alot of people probably agree with you... They are all idiots as well.
volwalk writes:
obviously you are trying to stir it up.
russ writes:
What is the percentage of black assistant coaches in D1? I would bet that 40-50% of all assistant coaches in D1 are black.
But we are not supposed to see color, so why are all the black people complaining? I guess they are allowed to see color.
JBruce writes:
12.2% of the 255 offensive and defensive coordinators are African American."
Which means that there are fewer assistants than 12%. I don't know the exact number, but you get the picture.
cjraney writes:
Please stay away from my children lest they be influenced by your bigotry.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Strong could probably coach at UT ... but I guarantee it would disqualify him at LSU.
russ writes:
I can't believe that the percentage of minorities is that low (56%). Wonder what that percentage is when you remove the walk-ons? What happens when white people complain about the percentage of minorities getting all the scholarships? They are called racist!!
MLS_1 writes:
THIS IS NOT STUPID. IT'S THE TRUTH. AND YES IT'S IMPORTANT TO SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS MAN MORE THAN LIKELY ISN'T GETTING WHAT I'M SURE HE HAS WORKED HIS TAIL OFF FOR. YOU SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HIM. I DON'T CARE WHO HE COACHES, WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT. HE ALWAYS HAS A TOP NOTCHED DEFENSE AT FLORIDA. HE MUST KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING. SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM IS HIS RACE AND THE RACE OF HIS WIFE. SOUNDS LIKE YOU AGREE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HIM. I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEAD AND HEART ARE.
russ writes:
I'm not talking about just coordinators. UT had at least 4 minorites last year.
TxFatBoy writes:
Surely this post is simply to try to see how many responses you receive, I can't believe anyone really still thinks that way...barring a few skinhead groups.
TVT1 writes:
I doubt that very seriously.
russ writes:
What about Chavis? Is he not black enough? I don't see you taking up for him. I think he has been a better coach than Strong over the years.
cjraney writes:
People have a right to think whatever they please. However it is illegal to make hiring/firing decisions based on specific factors, such as race or religion.
People also have the right to withhold medical care from their own children if they follow that "prayer heals" religion [don't recall the name]. However, if things don't work out they will be prosecuted for child abuse/neglect.
Finally, why should anyone have to think about anything other than "Do I love this person and want to marry him/her?" when choosing a spouse?
PLEASE tell me sir, is ignorance truly bliss?
russ writes:
That makes sense....but most of them are not getting a full scholarship unless it is a female sport.
russ writes:
I think that % is higher at traditional powers and major conferences.
MLS_1 writes:
WHY DOES IT MAKE YOU SICK? DID A BLACK MAN TAKE SOMEONE FROM YOU? PROBABLY. I GUESS THE WOMAN I GUESS WOMAN SAW THAT YOU WEREN'T ABOUT ANYTHING. GOOD FOR HER.
uwishuwereassmartasme (Inactive) writes:
FFULMER
You are right. If we all married our cousins like you, then we wouldn't have to worry about interracial marriages!
cjraney writes:
You sound very disappointed that things are not the same as in the "America of years ago."
volwalk writes:
gator,
how long has Strong been the dc at Florida? I'm pretty sure he was at SC last year??? Strong is moving in the right direction SC then to FL maybe another year or two at FL then he will get opportunities for a HC jobs at the D1 level. I'm sure a mid-major like Memphis, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech etc. would love to have a Charlie Strong, as long as he continues to show his competance and hard work as DC at FL.
Sorry its hard for me to believe that ADs and boosters are more concerned about a person's race or their choice of life partner vs. the ability to build a winning program.
Maybe Strong should call Randy Shannon and get some advice---Shannon is the hc at Miami and seems to be doing pretty well.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
maybe he orta get him a black wife .
MLS_1 writes:
NO. I MARRIED YOUR COUSIN AND SISTER. SEE YOU AT THE REUNION.
topgun writes:
UH OH, put my torch in the closet and burned my house down.
Everybody calm down. No one knows if the coaches' comments about his wife are true or not. ESPN's sources??
drum45 writes:
whatever.....drop it already!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
You guys are arguing against nature;
-it is natural for a race to NOT like it's women hitching up with another race. You can also bring this down to any 'group', such as religions. For a very long time, catholic and protestant parents very much disapproved of mixed-religion marriages.
-for whatever reason, and I suspect it's more evolution than anything else, blonde women (true blonges, not fakes) seem to be very attracted to black men. There are a LOT of subtle biological signals that go into attractiveness, and for these women, black men are the most attractive. Similarly, there are certain black men VERY attracted to blondes.
-the reason you don't see massive interracial relationships amongst blacks and whites again goes back to what makes people attractive to one another. You'll find black guys who think white women are scrawny and whiney, you'll find white guys who think black women are not attractive at all, except for ones who are 'near white' in appearance, such as beyonce or Hailie Berry (sp) or some of the Miss American ladies. You certainly can't generalize that 'all' black men want white woment, and you can't generalize that 'all' white men do NOT want black women.
-there is our pop culture. Who do you see on tv and magazines, and the net??? Paris Hilton, Brittney Spears, Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Erin the Sideline Babe, ... blondes, blondes, blondes. How many girls with VERY black features are paraded before us every day as the 'it' of our affections?? For some of these guys, they want 'the best', and 'the best' is packaged in a blonde. Now, I think this is a small gorup of men who do this, but it does happen.
So..... Charlie Strong ain't lying. There are people who would kill him if they could. As different as the white and black races are on the extremes in terms of appearance, interracial marriages will maybe always be a bit of an issue. At some point, it may become more accepted, but peopel will still 'notice'.
As for me?? I group up in the South, but I really don't care WHO you marry. Marry your damn dog, for all I care. In my view, it's time to move on, us whitey's will be gone in a century, any way.
MLS_1 writes:
SORRY UWISH. HIT THE WRONG BUTTON. MEANT IT FOR FFULMER'S SILLY CAVEMAN A--.
thevoice writes:
What a controversial comment, but I tend to believe much is correct (for society, not me). I believe most of the posters on here are 95% on board with a white wife, purple wife, fat wife, short wife, 3-legged wife, or no wife. Problem is, many of the donors to these programs are not like you and I. They are 65+ and remember this is the conservative south. Even though I in no way agree with it, I guess ADs are watching out for the perceived economic good of their programs. My 73 year old parents have a certain image of an interracial marriage, right or wrong, legal or not. Can't change it, can only hope for the next generation to be more accepting, or go where it IS more accepting.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Sorry, but the numbers are not even close. There are as of today seven black head coaches out of 119 FBS (formerly Division-1) schools. That comes out to about six percent. Four of those were hired in the last month. Blacks make up about 15% of the US population. The proportion of black athletes at those schools is at least twice and possibly four times that of blacks in the general population. Facts can be annoying, can't they?
thevoice writes:
Huh? Ya lost me after "true blonges."
russ writes:
I find it hard to believe that he hasn't had a chance to get a job at a lower division school. Look at your man Urban the legend, he started at boling green, most big time school coaches don't get their first HC job at a major school. Willingham keeps getting jobs for some reason, if everyone was so racist then I would think they would have an excuse not to hire him again.
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