Tackling The Quiet Crisis In The Raider Nation and in America

There is a quiet crisis in America. Too few students are majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Not enough people are creative and innovative in the STEM professions.

There is also a quiet crisis in the Raider Nation.

What is at stake? In America, either we innovate or we abdicate the position of leadership in a global economy and society.

In the Raider Nation, we must aggressively pursue innovation and excellence in coaching and in the execution of the plays on this Sunday and henceforth.

Here are links to calls to action and documentation in American education, focusing on our need for more STEM professionals:

http://www.futurecityhamptonroads.org/The%20Stem%20Crisis.pdf

http://www.nctq.org/p/docs/nctq_nmsi_stem_initiative.pdf

http://school.wronka.org/homepage/quietcrisis/ps020706-sec.html

The call to action to create more public awareness about STEM was responded to by Bleacher Report. A page titled, "Sports and STEM" was set up. It is a team page.

Several articles are posted but considering the potential of such a page, far more articles need to be written and tagged for the page.

There is so much powerful enthusiasm and data in the world of sports. Albeit, most folks have a surface understanding of all the parameters and measures that can be employed to analyze sports data. Good analysis have been done; better analysis will be expected.

For example, you may hear a comment "Cable is the worst coach...." The data says something to the contrary.

During Cable's two years as head coach, his win-loss percentage is not the worst in NFL history. The data analysis sheds new light on where he stands when compared to others who have a two-year tenure as head coach.

Another example: Some people say that Oakland is at the bottom of the pit in wins. Not so! Historical data is the focus.

The Oakland Raiders have had a struggle for the past five or six years, but their performance was so outstanding before the slump that the win-loss percentage still exceeds the percentage of a number of NFL teams.

Again, light is shed on a situation because of the research and the data analysis using mathematics, technology, and even science and engineering.

Yet another example is available for our perusal.

During the fifty-year history of the Oakland Raiders franchise, there is a consecutive three-year period when the Oakland Raiders win-loss percentage was the highest in the history of the franchise. Again, research and data analysis using mathematics, statistics and technology affords a deeper view of what has transpired in the history of the Raiders.

Public awareness is an important stage in dealing with what politicians, educators and legislators call "The Quiet Crisis."

I am highly motivated because I see a symbiotic connection. There is a quiet crisis in the Raider Nation, there is a quiet crisis in the American nation. Both must be dealt with, aggressively and passionately.

Maintaining or regaining a position of leadership in excellence, innovation and power will not be easy for the Raider Nation, and, similarly, the American nation. Every player and stakeholder must be in his or her place, doing his or her job to regain the majesty and glory we believe we have the talent and character to grab.

Bleacher Report has created an opportunity for stimulating interest and discussion of ways of being innovative in the use of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to shed new light on performance and potential.

Forward thinking executives responded to Mr. Leroy Watson's proposal to set up the team page. I was somewhere in the shadows as a support person.

The Sports and STEM initiative can work. So many college students have joined. There are 109 members of the STEM page to date. Many of the members are B/R writers and others are new to Bleacher.

Many of the members, who are students, are beginning to strengthen their writing skills so that they can post articles to help stimulate broader and deeper discussions in sports.

Hopefully, the public awareness inspired by this page will encourage our youth to tackle tough majors during their collegiate years. Those mature persons who need to re-career may even begin to think of studying in related areas of mathematics, science, engineering and technology. Integrating these areas into any discipline will definitely add more rigor, exactitude and veracity to discussions.

America has been in a leadership role for some time. History has periods of power shifts. If public awareness is not increased and if the American public does not respond to a call to action, then America's position of leadership in innovation will be greatly diminished.

Are you willing to tackle this "quiet crisis" or, are you willing to abdicate your position of dominance in a world economy.

Americans still have a love and passion for competitiveness in sports. That love and passion must be shared and transferred to a world which integrates sports, science, engineering, technology and other disciplines that are critical to our sustaining and maintaining our position in a world economy.

Finally, the performance of the Oakland Raider franchise must be punted upward and forward so as to retain the health and strength of the value and spirit of the Oakland Raiders at all levels.

We hear a clarion call to deal with our quiet crisis in our beloved and favorite team, and in our beloved and favorite homeland.