Does Bama Have the Courage? Hire an African-American Coach Now!

Please, please...Mal Moore...hire an African-American head basketball coach at Alabama!

The University of Alabama's reputation among those outside the deep south regarding race relations is pitiful. In fact, many inside the deep south are embarrassed. I grew up in Tuscaloosa and moved away 20 years ago and am amazed at the looks I still get whenever I tell anyone that I'm from Alabama.

And many will say "hire the best qualified, no matter his skin color," but I'm saying in this case, too much water has gone under the bridge. With all the great choices available among African-American coaches that are qualified to take over an SEC program, there is no excuse NOT to hire one!

No, this isn't reverse racism. This is "about time" ism. Time to have some courage! Time to say enough is enough. Time to do the right thing and acknowledge what the rest of the country long ago acknowledged, that all men are indeed created equal, including coaches.

Now, that point made, for the next coach, whoever he is, Bama needs more than a spark. Bama needs a whole box of fireworks! This team is in disarray. Lethargy is getting more minutes than Ron Steele used to. And there is seemingly no leadership anywhere.

The University not only needs some healing to happen in this hiring, but the team needs some good old fashioned chalk-line walking to be required. The days of laid back defense and limp wristed passes needs to be over. The athletes on this team are too talented to have their time to shine ruined by such sloppiness.

Who would I hire you ask? You did ask didn't you? How about Mike Anderson, T.R. Dunn, Tubby Smith, or Anthony Grant? All four know how to win and how to get teams to play hard with reckless aggression for 40 minutes per game. Any of them would be successful at Bama. I know there are more, but these are my top choices. Since you asked.