Turner Gill Opening Doors for Black Coaches

Right now, we are seeing the ridiculous media generated story line that Turner Gill is a victim of discrimination by Auburn University. Total nonsense.

The truth is that of the three high profile jobs that Turner Gill interviewed for, Auburn University was A) the worst fit between Gill and institution and B) the only one where he actually had a shot at getting the job. Gill was a much better fit for both Nebraska and Syracuse, and Gill had no shot at either job. 

Instead, let us look at something that is both true AND positive. Despite what you have heard, the pace of black hiring of coaches at the I-A level has picked up this year. The rub: it is at the mid-major level. Because there have been no black hires at the major level, we presume that no progress is being made. But the truth is that three blacks getting hired at the I-A level in a single year is almost unprecedented and also a very good thing. 

What about the lack of progress at the top level, at the BCS conferences or even the traditionally stronger mid-majors? My answer: what about it? As Jason Whitlock correctly points out, black coaches have not accomplished squat at the big time programs.

Best record: Karl Dorrell. Biggest accomplishment: Tyrone Willingham winning the Pac-10 with an 8-4 record. Biggest victory: Bobby Williams and Michigan State over Florida and Steve Spurrier in the Citrus Bowl. Anybody want to hire Dorrell, Willingham, or Williams as their head coaches right now? Didn't think so. 

Now this lack of success is not the fault of the black coaches that have not gotten the opportunity. It IS, however, the fault of the black coaches that were. And do not peddle the nonsense about "it should be about qualifications not race" because one of the best arguments for Turner Gill and Auburn was the belief that Gill's race would help him recruit against Nick Saban and the rest of the SEC.

So, race matters when it is a positive, but when it is a negative we should be colorblind? That is inconsistent. 

But if this is the case, then why are blacks getting jobs at the mid-major level? I am certain that it is in no small part because of Turner Gill and Buffalo. Gill showed last year that winning was possible at Buffalo by going 5-7 at a program that had been 10-69 since moving to I-A, and this year won the MAC. So the result of Gill's success at the mid-major level? Three blacks getting hired at that level this year. 

Now some people are claiming that Gill's accomplishments at Buffalo are being overstated. Well, talk to the people who are in the best position to know: Buffalo's MAC competition. Those folks know how bad Buffalo used to be. The result: two of the three black head coaching hires were in the MAC.

As a matter of fact, see this quote regarding Mike Haywood gaining the Miami of Ohio job: I think one thing that helped Mike land the job was Turner Gill

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?