Florida Gators' Strong Admits His White Wife Impeded His Career
On the eve of the National Championship game between the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners (01/07/09), the subject of race in college football has come up once again. It looks like it isn't going away folks unless there's a drastic change. Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, a 48-year old Black man, has been working the sidelines for 25 years in college football and has NEVER been offered a head coach position. He was also passed over for a head coaching job at a Southern school he applied for. Why? Strong says it's because of his white wife.
"Everybody always said I didn't get that job because my wife is white," Strong said at media day Monday, according to ESPN. "If you think about it, a coach is standing up there representing the university. If you're not strong enough to look through that [interracial marriage], then you have an issue."
The face of college football was looked at this year when a study showed that there were only three Black college football head coaches at 119 major football schools. In December, four Black coaches were hired, raising the number to seven. Charles Barkley also brought up the issue when his alma mater hired a white coach with a poor coaching record over a Black coach with an impressive coaching record. According to ESPN, some say he was passed over because of his interracial marriage as well.
Comment: Do you think being in an interracial marriage is holding some Black coaches back while trying to further their career?
"Everybody always said I didn't get that job because my wife is white," Strong said at media day Monday, according to ESPN. "If you think about it, a coach is standing up there representing the university. If you're not strong enough to look through that [interracial marriage], then you have an issue."
The face of college football was looked at this year when a study showed that there were only three Black college football head coaches at 119 major football schools. In December, four Black coaches were hired, raising the number to seven. Charles Barkley also brought up the issue when his alma mater hired a white coach with a poor coaching record over a Black coach with an impressive coaching record. According to ESPN, some say he was passed over because of his interracial marriage as well.
Comment: Do you think being in an interracial marriage is holding some Black coaches back while trying to further their career?
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