Last week in my post about the Mike Price firing at the University of Alabama, I failed to mention one aspect of Southern culture that seems to be as pervasive as Christianity and college football: racism. At the time, I really didn’t suspect that there was any need as this issue had to do with a man’s judgment in his private life affecting his public position. But like the weather in Alabama, if you wait fifteen minutes things will change. Not that Price’s “jigginess” had any racial overtones, but the resultant hiring has started a bit of a wildfire. With the history of that state—not to mention the school—those little wildfires can be difficult to put out.
After Price’s removal, the University immediately began a search for a replacement. Having gone outside the family the last two coaches, it seemed only natural that they would look within for the new coach, someone to right this quickly sinking ship. The two likely candidates were Sylvester Croom, a former All-American at Alabama, and Mike Shula, a former Alabama quarterback and son of legendary NFL coach Don Shula. After a very short interview process and some consultation with the likes of Jesse Jackson, they hired Shula.
Now comes word that Jesse Jackson is outraged. “This issue is just suggestive that the culture of racial exclusion ... is still prevalent in Alabama," he said. "It's not just in football coaches, it's in bank lending, mortgage lending, the criminal justice system." And Jackson may have a point.
On the other hand, I’m not sure anybody, especially an African-American, needs to be overly excited about landing this job. It seems like this is nothing but a no-win situation. Many experts believe that it will take the University up to five years to overcome the scandals and probations. Meanwhile the person who will be asked to straighten out the mess will invariably be the one to be the fall guy if the mess isn’t straightened fast enough. Croom would have been a great choice and it could have done great things for racial relations in the state. But it could have ended in disaster. Sadly, the fact that Shula is white may buy him more time and a little more patience, something Croom or anyone else would have needed. If nothing else, I truly hope that this will begin some open and honest discourse that will level the playing field for African Americans not only in sports but in all areas of life in the state of Alabama. They’ve come a long ways, but there’s a long ways to go.
