For all you Jesse Jackson fans... what he's up to now!

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Notre Dame Urged to Hired Black Coach

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Notre Dame has never had a black head coach in any sport. The Rev. Jesse Jackson urged the Irish to start with football.

``They should consider one, at least put credible black coaches in the mix,'' Jackson said Wednesday. ``A university of that magnitude, if they were to hire an African-American coach, it would be a huge breakthrough.''

Jackson is working with the Black Coaches Association to help promote black candidates for all Division I-A openings. The BCA sent a list of prospective black candidates to all Division I-A athletic directors and university presidents in October.

Jackson first issued a statement asking Notre Dame to hire a black coach on Dec. 10, a day after the school introduced George O'Leary as Bob Davie's successor. But O'Leary resigned five days later after admitting he had lied about his athletic and academic background.

There were only five black Division I-A coaches this season.

Jerry Baldwin was fired by Louisiana-Lafayette after going 6-27 over three years. Tony Samuel is 19-35 in five seasons at New Mexico State. Fitz Hill was 3-9 in his first season at San Jose State. Bobby Williams is 12-11 in two seasons at Michigan State.

The other coach is Stanford's Tyrone Willingham, who has a 44-35-1 record over seven seasons. According to published reports, athletic director Kevin White received permission to talk to Willingham before hiring O'Leary, but never interviewed him.

Willingham declined to comment Wednesday.

``I don't get into speculation and I don't try to discuss rumors,'' he said.

Notre Dame spokesman Lou Nanni said the university agrees the percentage of head football coaches who are black is ``deplorable.''

He said, though, that the university has made progress in diversity since White was hired in March 2000, pointing to the hiring of an associate athletic director and two assistant athletic directors, all of whom are black.

``There needs to be better representation,'' Nanni said. ``It's something we need to do because it's the right thing to do. But that's not the sole criteria ever. ... When the right person surfaces, whether it be in the football position or in some other position, it certainly will be a priority for Notre Dame to have a minority coach, African-American or otherwise.''

Oregon coach Ernie Kent last year interviewed for the head basketball coach's job at Notre Dame, saying he got as far as talking money, but decided he was not interested. White has never said who he talked to other than Mike Brey, who was hired.

Since the end of the 1995 college football season, there have been 112 head coaching jobs at Division I and five have been filled by minorities, BCA executive director Floyd Keith said.

The key, Jackson said, is for alumni to support black candidates.

``They've gotten over the issue of recruiting black athletes. They've gotten over recruiting black quarterbacks, they've come to grips to that. Every step is some trauma,'' he said.

The successes of Dennis Green with the Minnesota Vikings and Tony Dungy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has proven that blacks can coach at the top level, Jackson said.

Among the criteria White has listed for the next Notre Dame coach are head coaching experience and a record of success. Jackson said that leaves too many black candidates out.

``We must remove this idea that we set criteria that eliminate people from possibilities,'' he said.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2001

Answers

Is it just me?

Among the criteria White has listed for the next Notre Dame coach are head coaching experience and a record of success. Jackson said that leaves too many black candidates out.

``We must remove this idea that we set criteria that eliminate people from possibilities,'' he said.

So maybe we should just do away with the criteria for, say, doctors. No surgical residency? No problem--just cut on that dotted line, you'll get the hang of it.

God help us.

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2001


Old Git,

You would say that about surgeons today of all days...

Let's hope that my doctor didn't get his license to cut from a cereal box.

apoc

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2001


I'd say "Brotha Jessie" needs to tend to his own business and keep his grubby nose out of the affairs of others ...what Notre Dame does with its football team is none of his business ! Take a hike chump ! Go chase yer secretary or somethin ....

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2001

I'm trying to work out a smart comment using the term "Black Irish", but it just isn't coming...

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2001

How about, "He's black, but he ain't Irish!"

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2001


OG, any knowledgable football fan will agree with you 100%. A school like Notre Dame will require previous successful head coaching experience. The Jesse Jacksons of the world will say "what about successful black assistant coaches?" Not the same thing at all (as a Redskins fan, just past the Norv Turner era, I speak with authority).

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2001


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