Mike Bianchi: Charlie Strong's Interracial marriage hurts his chances of getting a

[O-town Gator]

Bianchi likes to instigate trouble and stir controversy, no doubt. Here is a link to his blog post: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_bianchi/2009/01/florida-defensi.html

My two cents: If interracial marriage was that big of an issue, would Lovie Smith be the head coach of the Chicago Bears and Turner Gill the head football coach at the U. of Buffalo (they're both black, married to white wives)? No way. Unless he's insinuating that Strong can't get a job at an SEC school because of that, he's off base.

Let's hear your thoughts.

 

[inthestands]

I think this is rediculous. The media is always looking for a way to play the race card. I have heard too much complaining about the number of black coaches, etc. If everyone has a problem with that then I guess I have a problem with the fact that there are no white running backs, wide recievers, and corners in football. People just need to get off the race subject. It is getting a little exhaisting.

 

[Warf_GatorFanForLife]

its very sad to me. My best friend is black and he dates a white girl and I would hate to know he dose not get something because of his girl friend ugh people make me sick sometimes. I believe charlie would be a great head coach if he could get a good offense mind with him it'd be great

 

[GatorGal15]

This is crazy! It shouldn't matter if he is married to a black, white, red, purple or orange woman! If he has the credits and can do the job the best, he should get the job!

 

[O-town Gator]

Agreed on all points. I've been with an Hispanic man for going on 10 years now (I'm a white girl, in case you didn't know), and if anybody scoffs at this I could care less.

I don't know if Bianchi's just being a jerk for snorts and grins or is oblivious to this fact, but Jim Crow laws ended 40+ years ago in the South as well as laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Things and times have changed, and we've grown a lot more tolerant as we've learned to open our eyes.

The "Slantinel" seems to attract hack journalists like those of Bianchi's ilk. Two years ago they had a writer there by the name of Jemele Hill who called out Gator fans over the fact that Chris Leak was being booed during the Kentucky game in 2006, and according to her she felt it was racially-motivated, which was far from the truth - his performance left a lot to be desired that day.

If Auburn or other schools felt that Strong was the right fit for their program, he would have been hired away, in spite of what Mark Schlereth at ESPN thinks. The rumor mills allegedly had Strong going to UCF in the event George O'Leary was to be fired (which turned out to be just that - a rumor), and if his interracial marriage was that big of an issue, would they have courted him? No way.

If interracial marriage was still that big of an issue down here, there's no way we'd see guys like Vance Bedford or Kenny Carter holding assistant coaching positions at an SEC school like Florida - they too are married to white women.

Methinks Mikey must really be bored rambling off at the typewriter, as he likes to say. And YES, all this "playing the race card" nonsense needs to stop.

 

[Warf_GatorFanForLife]

Most people don't know this but Kenny carter was a coach at my high school during his time away from Florida. His white may be white but my god she is the sweetest person ever

 

[MahxFahn]

I have only 2 words in answer to this article and in my book they are synonymous with asinine....... mike bianchi

 

[shandsgator8]

I think interracial couples are pretty cool, but I know there are a large number of people in the south (and other parts of the US) than do not like interracial marriage/dating and think it's wrong.

As to whether these feelings will actually keep a football crazy school from hiring the most qualified coach does seem like a stretch, though. However what Auburn did does look funky. I mean, if they hired Kiffin, Shanahan, or some other arguably-qualified coach, they could "get away" with not hiring a black coach.

 

[Warf_GatorFanForLife]

I hate to seem rude here but turner gill is not that good if u ask me...his record at Buff is not that good...I can see why auburn didn't hire him the hire they did was no better tho

 

[Leakfan12]

Maybe BC will consider Mr. Strong.

 

[shandsgator8]

I hate to seem rude here but turner gill is not that good if u ask me...his record at Buff is not that good...I can see why auburn didn't hire him the hire they did was no better tho

I don't think Auburn not hiring Gill was that big of a deal, as long as Auburn hired say...Dan Mullen or something.